 | 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
(I am having problems with the phone-in version of this podcast, so have had to suspend it. Spotify is also playing up, so if you subscribe on Spotify, this week's and future podcasts can be found here. Access to past podcasts here. It is simpler to use the Youtube link in the picture above, however!)
DONATE TO SEAL CHURCH HERE - all contributions gratefully received to keep the church thriving! |
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In the church building today
10 am TRINITY: Holy Communion
6.30pm Evensong (said, with hymns)
This week:
Wed No Choir (Half-term)
2-4pm Eco church activity in the churchyard Sow seeds, explore the churchyard. See below for more detail
Friday 9am Morning prayer in church
10.30am Friday Group in the Church Hall
Next Sunday
10 am Holy Communion
6.30pm Evensong (said, with hymns) |
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TRINITY SUNDAY
The idea of the Trinity is one which most of us struggle to understand intellectually, but, in a way, that is the point. You wouldn't make it up! It springs not from intellectual curiosity, but from the lived experience of Jesus' first disciples, who believed that they had met the God they had always known as Father in Jesus, and in the experience of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Putting all this together, the only explanation they could come to was that Father, Son and Holy Spirit were one God, but three distinct persons. Jesus' had spoken of the relationship of love he had with his Father, and the doctrine of the Trinity emphasized that at the heart of God there was a loving relationship, not an isolated and distant divinity. More than that, it is a relationship in which we are all invited to share, as we learn to love and be loved by God and one another. We can't exist on our own either.
 In Matthias Stom's painting, Jesus and Nicodemus are surrounded by darkness. Nicodemus comes to Jesus "by night", according to the Gospel. He is a prominent religious leader, and doesn't want to be seen coming and asking theological questions of a carpenter from Nazareth. The darkness also symbolises his own sense of confusion. Jesus shouldn't be able to teach and act with the authority he does, and yet Nicodemus sees he has genuine power. For all his 'book learning' - he not only has the book on the table, but a servant carrying a second volume - he can't make sense of what is happening in Jesus. The only source of light in the room is a single candle, to which Jesus points. It reminds us of the beginning of the Gospel of John, which identifies Jesus as "the light that was coming into the world".
We meet Nicodemus once more, at the end of the Gospel, when he comes to help bury Jesus' body, bringing spices to anoint him. He has finally decided to identify himself with Jesus, even if, at that point, it must seem too little, too late. The fact that his story, and his name, were preserved suggests that he became part of the early church community after the resurrection, when he discovered that he was not too late to follow Jesus after all.- If you could pull up a chair and join the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, what questions would you want to ask?
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All Age Ideas
Today is Trinity Sunday, when we think especially about the idea that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It's hard to understand how God can be three people, but one God, but the idea grew up because Jesus first followers were convinced that in Jesus they were meeting God. It is a hard idea to understand, but it reminds us that God isn't on his own. At God's heart is a loving relationship, and we are invited to be part of that. - Do you know how to make a plait? If you don't, ask a grown up to show you how.
- Take three ribbons, or pieces of string, or strips of cloth and plait them together. Take a fourth ribbon and write your name and the names of those you love on it. Thread it into your plait as you pray for those you have named, asking God to help them know that they are woven into his love.
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CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
SOW SEEDS TO TAKE AWAY, ECO CHURCH ACTIVITY
Wednesday 29th May 2-4pm (School May holiday), to celebrate World Bee Day & No Mow May?
We shall focus on bees and butterflies (art & craft activities) and bless seeds (mostly pollinating flower seeds), make biodegradable pots & sow into these to take home to family's own green spaces/window sills. We'll have some herb activities /tasting/salad to top, too, ahead of starting with herbs in the new planter for a multisensory experience for passers-by. Also amphibian & reptile themed activities in celebration of Stone Street's Toad Patrol & our wildlife area slowworms. We'll have litter pickers available & depending on who comes along, hope to do some churchyard tidying & logpile construction.
An appeal: we are looking for bee & butterfly-friendly plant seeds to be donated for our seeds sowing, and some old small pots or seed trays for reuse & rehoming, ahead of 29th May.
These can be handed to Lise or Babs or put under the Eco Church display table for our collection, thank you.Any donations of biscuits or cake would also be much appreciated!
GARDEN PARTY AT 17 ZAMBRA WAY SEAL IN AID OF SEAL CHURCH
SATURDAY JUNE 22nd .
Garden Party 22nd June
17 Zambra Way Starts at 10.00 till 3.00
Stalls Plants, Cakes, Grifts& Bric-brac
Light Lunch Menu Tea & Coffee
And Maggie's Famous Quiche
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE PARISH GIVING SCHEME?
Back in the Autumn we signed up for the Parish Giving Scheme which is a simple system to replace Standing Orders as a way of giving to the church, and automates the collection of Gift Aid for those who are tax payers, which saves a great deal of time and effort on the part of the volunteers who help to look after the churches finances and means we get the Gift Aid very quickly.
It would be great if more people could give through this scheme, as it simplifies the administrative burden so much! If you are a regular giver to Seal (or would like to become one!) please would you consider using this route for your donations.
You can find out more here, or contact us if you would like to know more, by emailing financesealpandp@gmail.com
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