Sunday worship podcast and other news from Seal Church: June 23

 

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 DONATE TO SEAL CHURCH HERE - all contributions gratefully received to keep the church thriving!

In the church building today 10 am  Holy Communion 2pm     Wedding anniversary thanksgiving:  6.30pm Evensong (Said, with hymns) This week:  Wed                       7.15 am Choir practice 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)

TRINITY 4 Jesus' disciples are "all at sea" in today's Gospel reading, despite many of them being experienced fishermen. When I visited Galilee, the lake was glassy calm, but apparently it can blow up into a storm remarkably quickly, and it can catch out even those who know it well.  But the disciples fear of the storm is, as I explore in today's sermon, soon replaced by another fear, when they realise that Jesus, who has stilled the storm, is far more than just an ordinary Galilean carpenter, or even a wise teacher.  Rembrandt's picture captures well the scale and the terror of the storm, but if you look closely, you can see the figure of Jesus, serene and shining with glory, in the stern of the boat, about to say "Peace! Be still!" Do you recall any savage storms you have been in? What was it like? Have their been other "storms" in your life? What has helped you when you are in them?

All Age Ideas The picture above is of a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The Gospel story today tells of a time when Jesus' disciples were sailing back across the Sea of Galilee - really a large lake - with Jesus asleep in the boat. Suddenly a storm blew up, and the disciples thought the boat would sink. They woke Jesus up, and said "Don't you care that we are dying?"  But Jesus just said "Peace! Be still!" and the storm stopped.  Jesus always cares, and though sometimes life does feel "stormy" he is always with us to help us.  Have you been in a storm? Are you frightened or excited when there are high winds or thunder? What helps you when you are feeling frightened? You could make a storm bottle. Fill a bottle or jam jar with water, and add one drop (no more!) of washing up liquid. Then add some glitter and other small things. You could also add some food colouring if you want it to be coloured.  Put the top on really tightly. If you can add some tape around the lid it will be less likely to leak!. Shake it up, and then watch the glitter and other things settle.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS Congratulations to those confirmed last Sunday in Farnborough. It was a lovely service, and great to see them taking this new step in their faith journey.  SEAL GARDEN SAFARI SUNDAY JUNE 30th Sunday 30th June 12-5pm £6 per person £5 if paid in advance Tickets from Seal village stores or Frances Fish 01732 760007 or 07749240456 Children accompanied by adult free Money to go to Cancer and Mind charities Raffle and plant stall at 2 Zambra way Refreshments now at 2A Zambra way ( not at the allotment) Tickets now available from Seal Supermarket FREE ! Children's books in the church porch. I am downsizing my rather ridiculously large collection of children's books. Please help me out by helping yourself, if you have children, grandchildren, godchildren or other small friends... They will be in the church porch until Sun 30th, after which any left over will go to a charity shop! FREE ART EXHIBITION - VILLAGE HALL June 29th and June 30th Donations will go to Seal Village Hall fund Saturday  29th June 12 - 4 pm Sunday 30th June 11 - 4pm Seal Village Hall There will be a lovely selection of artwork from the Thursday U3A art group which meets in  Seal Village Hall each week. We are also having a board with some small pieces of artwork from each of our members for sale costing £5 which will be sold and the money will be going to the Seal Village Hall fund.. Other artwork will be on sale ... please come and browse and enjoy the atmosphere!  ENHANCED LISTENING COURSE 20th and 27th July - 10.30 to 12.30 in Seal Church hall. Two sessions to enable group participants to recognise the listening skills they already have and enhance them with confidence. Please contact Sue Buddin – 07737026701 or 01732 760990 densuebud@aol.com if you think this could be useful to you or want further information   BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT 12th – 14th July. Thank you to Babs and all who came along to help survey the churchyard during this past week. Following on from that, can you spare some time to do some butterfly and moth spotting in the churchyard? If so, please contact Babs Bartholomew to help out - babsvmurray@gmail.com. More details at https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND FAREWELL TO ANNE AND PHILIP Sunday July 7th between 10 am  and 4pm  Philip and I would be very glad to see anyone who would like to come along and join in the celebrations to mark our last day in the parish before my retirement on July 7.  The day starts with the Patronal Festival and Farewell service at 10 am, but continues with a shared lunch, bbq, music, activities, tree planting in the churchyard, and then strawberries, cake and tea in the church hall. Details in the pic below. If our paths have crossed at all during my time at Seal - weddings, baptisms, funerals, through the school, Know Your Neighbours, or in any other way - it would be lovely to see you, so do drop in! Many, many thanks to all those who have been involved in organising this lovely assortment of activities to mark the day! We are bowled over already by the thought and care that have gone into making this a special day.  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