Services at St Margaret’s Underriver during February 2018 St Lawrence, Seal Chart Parish Magazine

February 2018 Sunday 4 Feb 11:15 All Age Family Service

Sunday 11 Feb 08:00 Holy Communion BCP 11:15 Matins BCP

Weds 14 Feb Ash Wednesday 10:00 Joint Holy Communion at St Margaret’s

Sunday 18 Feb 11:15 Short Holy Communion CW

Sunday 25 Feb 11:15 Parish Communion CW

Sunday 4 Mar 11:15 All Age Family Service

ST LAWRENCE CHURCH AND VILLAGE CONTACTS Vicar - Rev Serena Willoughby Reader - Mrs Gretel Wakeham - 01732 761534 Admin Assistant - Tim Pearce - 01732 832408 [email protected] Parish Web Site - www.sealstlawrence.org.uk

Churchwardens Rob Otto 457442 Sevenoaks District Council Vacancy Councillors Julia Thornton 07831 234449 PCC Hon Secretary John Morris 810227 Roderick Hogarth 760325 PCC Hon Treasurer Andy Rowell 884950 Seal Parish Council Electoral Roll Clive McLintock 452964 Chairman Edward Oatley 465905 Covenant & Envelopes Rob Otto 457442 Vice-Chairman Rick Bourne 762941 Organist Alex Trigg Clerk Lorna Talbot 763488 Choir Director John Morris 810227 Ward Councillors Rick Bourne 762941 Bellringers Hon Secretary Peter Wharton 810388 Gary Aldridge 761279 Sevenoaks Deanery Synod Ron Drury 810214 Tony Bulleid Vicar Reader Peter Wharton 810388 St Lawrence Village Hall Management Committee Sunday School Hilary Darque 453929 Chairman Peter Wharton 810388 Rev Serena Willoughby Mrs Gretel Wakeham Child Protection Rep Kate Clark 810829 Secretary Janice Brooker 760843 St Lawrence Vicarage The White House Church Flowers Sheila Jackson 811422 Treasurer Andy Smaggasgale 760552 Bookings Secretary Andy Smaggasgale 760552 Stone Street Bitchet Green St Lawrence CE Primary School Cricket Club Secretary Robin Webster 01892 862017 Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0LQ Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0NA Headteacher Alison Saunders 761393 Badm’ton Club Contact Peter Wharton 810388 Chairman of Governors Paul Martin 761393 Archery Club Secretary Mike Davies 762266 01732 761766 01732 761534

Clerk to the Governors Valerie Maunder 761393 Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Stone Street Contact Janice Brooker 760843 Church Wardens 1st St Lawrence Brownies Janet Boswell 01959 523953 Seal Chart Contact Nicola Mitchell 764202 Rob Otto Copy for the next issue should be sent, preferably by e-mail, to the editor at [email protected] 23 Hillingdon Avenue Vacancy to arrive by 08:00 on Wednesday 14 February 2018 Sevenoaks The next issue of the Parish Magazine will be in Church on Sunday 22 February 2018 Until a volunteer Edited and Typeset by Brian Sutton, 50 The Crescent, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3QY (01732 450873) Kent TN13 3RB comes forward Printed by Highland Printers, Church Farm, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0AN (01732 762131) 01732 457442

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From our Vicar For the Children Hello everyone, As we begin February, the ’s resolutions can seem a long time ago now can’t they, how are you all getting on with keeping them? I’ve done so well that I’ve had to replace my now famous white trainers, well in all honesty it wasn’t the many miles I was running in them but more like a close encounter with a puddle outside St Lawrence’s at the beginning of January! I guess it’s really a case of thinking that every day is a fresh start and even if we haven’t kept our new year’s resolutions then we always have the oppor- tunity of a fresh start. Certainly the Christian faith teaches this, tells us that when we believe in Him then we are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. It’s also, unlike our new year’s resolutions, not something we do in our own strength. We are given a gift, the Holy Spirit, God’s spirit which lives in us enabling us to be the people God created us to be, albeit a process, it means we are not doing all this in our own strength. There was a programme on TV a couple of years ago which followed a Church of England Vicar as he searched for spirituality, (a deeper relationship with God and therefore a renewed understanding of oneself) in all religions. However he was at times been quite negative about the depth of spirituality within the Christian Church. Maybe that’s the impression the Church gives sometimes but the reality is very different. In my experience in Parish life and as a Chaplain in schools it’s different too. People of all ages across the country and world are experiencing God is such a new and exciting way and many people are really deepening their relationships with God as they see that what the secular world has to offer isn’t scratching that itch or meet- ing them at that deepest place. I also see and hear that in the conversations I’ve been having with you all as I get to know you across both villages I serve. As we go into Lent a wonderful time of reflection and contemplation before can I encourage you to take time to see what more God has for you, it is never-ending. His relationship is for all of us and as has shown us, he is a God of surprises, an exciting and challenging God. At St Margaret’s and St Lawrence’s there are opportunities to seek out this

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In Praise of the Remnant - A Reflection great God who seeks you and as we lead up to Easter we just how much He does that. Please come and explore. I hadn’t seen her for 30 years, when she had been a member of the Church Youth Club. Now, as an adult, she was one of a faithful few who were keeping All my love , the same church going. Thinking I would pay her an encouraging compliment, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I said she was part of the Remnant. When her face fell, I realised that, for Toys at Christmas most people, ‘remnant’ is how you describe leftover pieces of material which Do you remember Toy fabric departments have no use for and sell at bargain prices. Sunday when, just before But in the Bible, the ‘Remnant’ is a term of great honour. It describes a Christmas so many so dedicated minority who remained loyal to God, when others were falling generously brought a huge away. God relied on them to represent Him, and He honoured their commit- selection of toys to ment. It underlies the story of Noah, when only a few were saved from the church in aid of the Flood. It recurred when Lot escaped from the destruction of Sodom, and Church Army. again when Elijah grumpily complained that he alone remained faithful, alt- On 6 December Serena hough he was one of a minority of 7,000 loyal servants of God. and Maxine (from SMU) The prophets taught that, despite the apostasy of the majority, God would loaded the back of a car keep hold of a minority; special messengers would confirm that His purposes with all these toys and could not be thwarted. In the New Testament, took up set of to Gravesend that role, and preached the uncompromising message that repentance is where they met Sister required if people mean business with God – the right pedigree or great Gill Martin at the Church Army in Gravesend. Maxine wealth is meaningless to the Almighty. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ God doesn’t need large numbers to fulfil His purposes. Jesus said the King- dom of Heaven is like a tiny bit of yeast which transforms a large quantity of flour to produce bread. What does that say to the 21st Century, when the success of a movement is measured by the number of its adherents? Save the Date! “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit”, says the Lord Almighty. St. Lawrence Church and School celebrates ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 150 years Choose between chocolate and cheese Here is a desperate choice: if you had to give up one forever, which would it Please join us for a weekend of celebration be? After a great deal of heart-searching, it seems we are split nearly down the middle, with 50 per cent of us letting chocolate go, and 47 per Friday evening – Sunday midday cent letting cheese go. So – cheese wins! But although the survey, by Mintel the consumer analysts, found that we 15 – 17th June 2018 love cheese best, that does not mean we don’t love chocolate: in fact, we are buying more of it each year. This coming year we are forecast to get Details to follow — Watch this space through nearly half a million tons of chocolate, and 785 million tons of cheese (most of it cheddar).

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Countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian DRIVER (Gil or George on different days). Another , Nigel, had already started distribution with Vali the week before, including to If you’ve ever felt that being a Christian in the UK is not easy, spare a elderly people, and our team took all our boxes to children. prayer for Christians in North Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Our visit on the first day was to Scoala Nicolae Balcescu in the village of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Eritrea. These ten countries (in that order) Nicolae Balcescu east of . This is a village with many poor families have topped the 2017 Open Doors World Watch List for the ten most diffi- and Father Christmas has visited in previous years. His visit was eagerly cult places on earth to be a Christian. awaited and great preparations had been made. We were very warmly wel- In these countries Christians must keep their beliefs hidden, for to be comed by the staff, who had prepared local delicacies for us to sample, by known as a Christian means beatings, imprisonment, discrimination and con- the village priest, who had arranged for the older children to sing ancient stant abuse. local carols (quite different from ours), and by the children and parents. The children had made cards and welcome sticks for Father Christmas, and At the end of 2017, Open Doors found that, for the fourth year in a row, at the Nursery school we were given a traditional welcome at the door with the level of overall persecution has risen worldwide, with Asia in particular bread and salt, with many of the children wearing National costume for this showing a rapid rise. While North Korea is still number one, India went up to special occasion. Father Christmas gave each child their box individually and a ranking of 15, as Hindu nationalists batter the churches. Elsewhere, each child sang to him or recited a poem as is traditional in . Islamic extremism continues to strangle the expression of the Christian faith, fuelling persecution in 14 out of the top 20 countries, and 35 of the Particular memories include how the teenagers were just as excited as the top 50. Millions of Christians around the world now live their lives against small children, the teenager with learning difficulties who came to the varying levels of discrimination, discovery, violence and arrest. nursery class with his sister because he was so keen to see Father Christ- mas and the mothers who told us how important this day was for them. Also, Christians living in these countries urgently need the support of their fami- the English teacher in her thirties, with two children at the school, whose ly, the body of Christ, to help them stand firm in their faith. You can help. husband has just become paralysed after a tiled stove fell on his back-she More details at: www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/25-years-world-watch/ will have to be the sole breadwinner for the family now. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The priest told us of a family of nine children living with their grandmother while their father is in prison and mother works abroad. The children do not Prayer Time go to school and when the priest gave them donated clothes the parents sold the clothes. The priest runs the village children's football team and a Please remember in your prayers highlight of the visit was when Roy gave him a football team strip that was All whom we know who are unwell kindly donated by Middlesborough Football Club-see photo. Our next chal- at home or in hospital; lenge – the team needs transport to get to matches! The aged and infirm and their carers; Over the next three days we visited three of the Children in Distress Cen- tres. Sue and Harry Ward

To be concluded next month; Send down thy healing hand on each and everyone ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ of these, our families and our friends Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want

to test a man's character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our Prayer. Amen.

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HELPING FATHER CHRISTMAS IN ROMANIA Have you ever wondered where Jesus’ name comes from?

'LOVE IN A BOX' 2017 The name Jesus is a transliteration of a name that occurs in several lan- We started collection of shoeboxes for the Children in Distress 'Love in a guages. It is of Hebrew origin, ‘Yehosua’, or Joshua. Or there is the He- Box' shoebox appeal in our area in 2016. Whilst on the Supporters' Tour to brew-Aramaic form, ‘Yesua’. In Greek, it became ‘ Ἰησο ῦς’ ( Iēsoûs), and in Romania in June 2017 we asked if we could go as volunteers to help Father Latin it became ‘Iesus’. Christmas to deliver shoeboxes to children and elderly people in Romania in The meaning of the name is ‘Yahweh delivers’ or ‘Yahweh rescues’, or December and were delighted to be accepted. ‘Yahweh is salvation’. No wonder the angel in Luke 1:26-33 told During the Autumn we collected shoeboxes filled with gifts from friends, Mary to name her baby Jesus: “because He will save His people from their ourselves,'The Stitchers' at our church (St. Lawrence Church,Seal Chart, sins”. Kent), and two schools. This was the first year our local primary school, St ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Lawrence CEP School, helped us and they were thrilled to do so. Our Vicar blessed the boxes in Assembly and the children helped John Burns (who had Photographs Needed driven from Yorkshire to collect the boxes and take them back to be trans- In June this year the church will be celebrating 150 years since it was built ported by lorry to Romania) to pack them in the van. We then went on to in 1868. We are planning a weekend of activities for June 16/17, one of Riddlesdown Collegiate school in Purley, Surrey, where, led by the Librarian, which is to compile a display of photographs covering as much of the 150 Mrs Woodworth, and the Chair of the Sixth Form Charity Society, Emily years as possible which we hope to show on a screen on a rolling basis during Wright, the school presented us with 252 boxes (amazing!) and a message- the weekend. 'CRACIUN FERICIT' (Happy Christmas)- for friends in Romania. In all CID Reverend Michael Cooke, a former Vicar, is helping with compiling the record sent more than 6,000 boxes from UK donors. and he has an excellent collection of digitised photos for the period he was The most difficult challenge of our trip was getting to Romania! We left with us from 1996 to 2010. We have a few early photographs but we need Kent on the 10th December in snow and fog and, after a difficult car jour- more relating to earlier than 1996 and later than 2010. ney, arrived at Stansted Airport to find most flights cancelled. Luckily our We plan to include a number of themes in the display e.g. the church through flight was still scheduled and we left four hours late to arrive at 4a.m.! In the seasons; significant features in the church such as the windows; events Bucharest winter had not yet arrived (most of the time we were there it in the church calendar; the people; the serious fire and refurbishment etc. was sunny and 8-12deg C) and we had a magical taxi ride from the airport to the city centre with along the road. We were luckier than CAN YOU HELP? Father Christmas who travelled via Amsterdam airport and was left in a Do you have any older photographs relating to the church, perhaps in family locked room awaiting assistance on the way out and whose suitcase was not albums or of significant events at the church, maybe a wedding? put on the plane on the return journey! In the first instance will you please contact me if you think you have photos After a short nap we were collected in the CID van for our first assignment that may be suitable. If we use them they will need to be scanned and this by our TEAM for the week: VALI, Director Executive of Copii in Difficul- can be arranged as a second step. tate, Romania and St. Margaret's Hospice in Bucharest and Mastermind of the shoebox distribution in Romania, FATHER CHRISTMAS, Roy Wheeler Thank you., John Morris (84), who originally started the shoebox appeal almost 30 years ago and has Tel: 01732 810227. E-mail:[email protected] been going out at Christmas ever since as well as organizing transport of the ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ boxes from Yorkshire to Romania, a local PHOTOGRAPHER and the CID

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Services and Events at Church Flowers The Church of St Lawrence, Seal Chart

February 2018 Sunday 4 Feb Kate Clark Sunday 11 Feb Kate Clark Sunday 18 Feb Lent - No Flowers Sunday 25 Feb Lent - No Flowers Sunday 4 Feb Second Sunday before Lent Sunday 4 Mar Lent - No Flowers 08:00 Holy Communion BCP Malachi 3: 1 – 5 Luke 2: 22 - 40 Children meet promptly at 09:45 in the 09:45 All Age Family Service Luke 2: 22 - 40 School Hall on the dates below They will rejoin their parents in the church Friday 9 Feb Prayer Time, lasts about an hour, all are welcome towards the end of the service 14:00 At St Lawrence Vicarage

Sunday 11 Feb Sunday next before Lent All children aged 3 and upwards are welcome 09:45 Family Communion CW

2 Corinthians 4: 3-6 Mark 9: 2-9 Sunday 4 Feb All Age Service Wednesday 14 Feb Ash Wednesday Sunday 18 Feb Sunday School 10:00 Joint Holy Communion at St Margaret’s Sunday 4 Mar All Age Service

Sunday 18 Feb First Sunday of Lent Sunday 18 Mar Sunday School 09:45 Family Communion (with Sunday School) CW Sunday 1 April EASTER DAY Genesis 9: 8-17 Mark 1: 9-15 Sunday 8 April All Age Service Tuesday 20 Feb Prayer Time, lasts about an hour, all are welcome Sunday 15 April Sunday School 14:00 at The White House, Bitchet Green

Sunday 25 Feb Second Sunday of Lent For further information re Sunday School please contact Hilary on 01732 453929 09:45 Matins BCP Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 Mark 8: 31-end Messy Church is held twice per term

Sunday 4 Mar Third Sunday of Lent and the next occasion will be 08:30 Holy Communion BCP in the church on 1 Cor 1: 18-25 John 2: 13-22 WATCH THIS SPACE 09:45 All Age Family Service For further information re Messy Church John 2: 13-22 please contact Wendy on 07880 725885

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