Sunday Worship podcast link and other news: Feb 4

 

Dear Friends Listen to today's worship podcast by clicking on the picture above.  Anne Le Bas Worship Online Worship podcast - Click on picture above Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061 DONATE TO SEAL CHURCH HERE - all contributions gratefully received to keep the church thriving!

In the church building today 10 am Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week:  Wed    10 am Good Book Club             4.30-5pm Children's Choir             7.15 pm Adult choir practice Fri        9 am Morning Prayer in Church             10.30am Friday Group in the Church Hall Next Sunday 10 am All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion

Second Sunday before Lent Today in church some of our Eco Church team will be launching a survey to try to help us all think about what we are doing to help the environment - you can find out more and complete the survey here. This links with the theme of the readings today, in which we hear of God's delight in his creation, and his love for it, which was so great that he came in Jesus - the Word made Flesh - to share in the life of the world. Today's sermon explores this and asks us what we think about the material world, and our own material bodies as part of it. The reading from the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 8. 22-31) paints a picture of Wisdom - the personification of God at work in the world, often identified with Jesus, or with the Holy Spirit - dancing at the making of the world, a wonderful image of joy at the variety of creation. Jan Brueghel's picture of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden captures some of that variety. Brueghel (whose "Adoration of the Kings" we looked at through  Lent, was taken under the patronage of Cardinal Borromeo, the Archbishop of Milan, who had a private zoo with many exotic animals in it (being an Archbishop is not what it once was...) Brueghel had obviously taken maximum opportunity to paint these animals, many of which came from the Americas, still fairly newly discovered by Europeans. Click on the picture to zoom in and see how many you can find.

All Age Ideas Today's readings from the Bible help us to think about the wonderful world we live in, and God's love for it. The picture above is called Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but it's quite hard to spot Adam and Eve (they are in the background) because of all the animals and birds the painter, Jan Brueghel, has painted.  Can you spot...? Two guinea pigs A porcupine Some cats climbing a tree A bird with red legs Two camels  Which are your favourite animals in the picture? You could make a picture full of your favourite animals, like Brueghels. You could set it in a different landscape - the desert, the ocean, the North Pole...? Spend some time outside today and see what you can find. Can you find something natural in every colour of the rainbow? One of the ways we thank God for the world around us is to take care of our environment. What do you do in your family to care for the world?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS FROM SEAL COMPLETE OUR ECOCHURCH SURVEY HERE!  LENT COURSE - cancellation of Zoom course Lent begins on Feb 14, Ash Wednesday, and our Lent course stars the following day, on Thursday 15th from 10- 11.30am in the church hall. I can fit a couple more people into the sessions, but it is nearly full. I had planned to offer the course on Zoom, but there has been very low take up for this, and I have also had to fit in some meetings in my role of Area Dean, so have sadly decided to cancel the Zoom session. Anyone who wants to follow the course themselves can download a copy of the course booklet here.  Thank you to all the team who organised our Candlemas Veganuary lunch last week. We had a delicious meal with lots of different contributions from those who came.  GOLDEN WEDDING Hilary and Jim Curtis After our 10 am service next week, Hilary and Jim Curtis invite us all to share in some refreshments to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary as we gather for our normal post-service coffee. Congratulations to Hilary and Jim in advance, and many thanks! SEAL KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET PLUS SEAL VILLAGE FUND AGM On Saturday March 16th, there will be an opportunity, to find out just what goes on in our village. We try to have an annual session, where new residents, or anybody who wishes to know more about village organisations, can come along, have a chat, coffee and cake, and meet those who run the local groups. We will be in the Village Hall between 11.30 and 1pm, along with information for you to glean. Do, please join us. SVF AGM Around 20 minutes of this session, is taken up with the Seal Village Fund AGM, where you can see our accounts, and where your money has been spent, and how this year's funds are being allocated.  If you belong to a local, non profit making organisation, have a specific project for this year, and need a small grant towards this, please make your bids before March 1st. Please contact Becky Watson, the SVF Secretary, for more information. If you have received funding oin excess of £400 over the past 2 years, from this source, other organisations will be prioritised.  COMING EVENTS The Church Events Team have been busy planning events for the first part of 2024.  HERE ARE THE PLANS SO FAR:- ECO CHURCH EVENTS INCLUDING VEGANUARY LUNCH AND WALKS ON ALTERNATE SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT LENT(MORE DETAILS BELOW). MOTHERING SUNDAY CAKE SALE QUIZ NIGHT MARCH 23RD ZAMBRA WAY GARDEN PARTY AND SALE JUNE 22ND PATRONAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS JUlY 7th -PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE TEA FOR 2 IN VILLAGE GARDEN BETWEEN AUG 5TH AND 12TH RETURN OF THE GLORIOUS LITTLE GARDEN TEAS/LUNCHES THANKSGIVING SUPPER IN OCTOBER HARVEST ECO ACTIVITIES FOR HARVEST. Please watch this space for more detailed information nearer the time. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Marion Gilchrist says "Thanks to those of you who have come forward to volunteer to organise the lights for Christmas 2024. WE WILL SOON HAVE A LITTLE GET TOGETHER TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESSES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. tHERE IS STILL ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO HELP OUT - PARTICULARLY IN AN ADMIN ROLE." REGULAR VILLAGE ACTIVITIES TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - First Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15am-11.15am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. FRIDAY GROUP Meets each Friday morning in the Church Hall between 10.30 and 12.30   Coffee, chat, by all means, bring your crafting with you but mostly, enjoy the company. SEAL TIDDLERS  In Seal Church Hall £2 per session pre schoolers and parents/Carers Monday mornings 9.30-11.30 tea drinks snacks for children art activities singing. Term time only. SEAL OVER 60S As from March, the cost of the over 60s meetings will be increased to £5 per head. (It has to be said though, that this is still excellent value for a great tea, and often very interesting speakers or entertainment.)