 | 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 Holy Communion, including a presentation of a book containing a detailed record of the fabric and furnishings of the church, made by the Sevenoaks Decorative and Fine Arts Society.
6.30pm Evensong (said with hymns)
This week:
Wed 10 am Zoom Church (This will be our final Zoom Church)
4.30pm Children's Choir in the hall
7.15pm Choir
Thurs ASCENSION DAY 8pm Breathing Space Holy Communion
Friday 9am Morning prayer in church
10.30am Friday Group in the Church Hall
Saturday 12.30 Baptism
Next Sunday
10 am All Age Worship followed by Annual Parochial Church Meeting
6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion |
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Easter 6
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells his followers to 'abide' in his love. It follows on from the passage we heard last week in which he compares himself to a vine, and his disciples to the branches, which need to abide in the vine in order to receive the sap which enables them to bear fruit. The sermon today explores what it means to "abide".
 Today's first reading is the end of the account of Peter's visit to Cornelius, a Roman soldier who asked Peter to come to talk to him and his household about Jesus. This seemingly straightforward request opened up a huge can of worms for Peter. Cornelius was a Gentile, and while he seems to have been a good man, who was interested in the Jewish faith, he wouldn't have been brought up to obey the Jewish laws around, for example, food, and might also have had statues of Roman deities in his house - most households had a shrine with their household gods in a prominent place. But, inspired by a vision he had from God, Peter went, and found that God had got there before him, and was already at work in the lives of Cornelius and his household, abiding with them, so Peter was able to abide with them too.
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All Age Ideas
The story behind the first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles (10.44-end) is of a visit St Peter made to a Roman Centurion called Cornelius. Peter wasn't sure whether he should go, because he had been brought up not to mix with people who weren't Jewish, like him, because Jewish people weren't allowed to eat some of the things that other people did, like pork, and because he knew that Cornelius might have statues of Roman gods in his house. Jewish people only worshipped one God, and weren't allowed to make pictures or statues of God.
But God had told Peter that it was ok to go, and so Peter went. When he got there, he found that God was already there, inspiring and helping Cornelius.
The story helps us to think about times when we might feel uncomfortable being with people who are different from us, and it reminds us that God loves everyone.
There's a video of the story below. |
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CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
 Ascension Day is this Thursday. There will be a service of Holy Communion at 8pm in the Lady Chapel to mark this important time when we think of Jesus' Ascension into heaven.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting - May 12th at 11.15am
We will gather for our APCM this year on May 12 at 11.15am in church, to elect new PCC members (and churchwardens if anyone volunteers - contact me if you would like to know more!) and to receive the reports and accounts for the last year. Everyone is welcome, but only those on the church electoral roll are allowed to vote. Reports and Accounts are available here.
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.
So far, though, only 13 people have transferred from giving by Standing Order to giving through this Scheme. 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
UPDATE ON SEAL CHURCH CLOCK
THE PROBLEM
The clock was installed in 1854 and has been regularly maintained by Gillett andJohnson (G&J) of Edenbridge. During 2022 it became increasingly temperamental, and G&J advised that some bearings had become worn and some teeth were damaged. They recommended that
the clock be removed, repaired and reinstalled. Permission for this from the Diocese of Rochester is required, and was first requested in January 2023.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Unfortunately the Diocesan Clock Adviser, whose advice is required for approval to be given, died just before Christmas 2022. This caused long delays as the work had to be covered by the person holding the equivalent role in Southwark Diocese We were required to obtain several quotes, which was a time consuming process as there are few church clock maintenance specialists in the country. In the event their quotes differed widely, and there were concerns expressed by the Diocese that the possible scale of the work might escalate. It has taken a while to resolve this and to come to a sensible view of what is really needed.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The Diocese has today confirmed that in the next few days it will send the paperwork confirming approval to the works being carried out by G&J, and they have been asked to advise when the work will be completed. Hopefully this long running saga is near its end,
and it won’t be long before we have a working clock chiming the hours once again!
Many thanks for your patience and understanding!
Paul Thompson 12 April 2024
SATURDAY MAY 11TH SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS MIDDAY - 3PM
Plant Sale and Refreshments - ALL WELCOME!
SEAL VILLAGE HALL NEWS
The feedback regarding the idea of a pop-up cinema, has been phenominal - clearly a popular idea, and one that the Friends of Seal Village Hall, look forward to getting set up.
If you haven't already, please let me know if you would be interested in coming along to such an event, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ABLE, to help with the organisation of it.
We all look forward to further responses.
SEAL PARISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY MAY 15TH
Seal Pavilion at 7.30pm. All welcome.
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