Services at St Margaret’s St Lawrence, Parish Magazine during May 2013 May 2013 In the Church, every Thursday at 08:30, Morning Prayer (said) - CW

Sunday 5 May 11:15 All Age Family Service Sunday 12 May 11:15 Holy Communion BCP 18:00 Evensong Sunday 19 May 10:30 Sunday Club meets in the Village Hall 11:15 All Age Family Service Sunday 26 May 11:15 Parish Communion CW Sunday 2 Jun 11:15 All Age Family Service

ST LAWRENCE CHURCH AND VILLAGE CONTACTS Vicar - Revd Carol Kitchener - 01732 761766 Reader - St Lawrence Church - Mrs Gretel Wakeham - 01732 761534 Admin Assistant - Tim Pearce - 01732 832408 [email protected] Parish Website - www.sealstlawrence.org.uk Churchwardens Ron Drury 810214 S’oaks District Councillors Julia Thornton 07831 234449 Roderick Hogarth 760325 PCC Hon Secretary Richard Glencross 761202 Seal Parish Council PCC Hon Treasurer Tony Webb 763436 Chairman Robin Watson 833930 Electoral Roll Clive McLintock 452964 Vice-Chairman Edward Oatley 465905 Covenant & Envelopes John Morris 810227 Clerk Lorna Talbot 763488 Organist Lizzie Veglio 01634 244700 Ward Councillors Peter Granville 763832 Choir Director John Morris 810227 Tony Bulleid Bellringers Hon Secretary Peter Wharton 810388 St Lawrence Village Association Deanery Synod Ron Drury 810214 Chairman Graham Moynes 760640 Peter Wharton 810388 Secretary Carol Smith 763561 Sunday School Hilary Darque 453929 St Lawrence Village Hall Management Committee Lyn Holness 764210 Chairman Peter Wharton 810388 Vicar Reader Child Protection Rep Sam Drury 810214 Secretary Charlotte Sinclair 764285 deputy Gretel Wakeham 761534 Treasurer Andy Smaggasgale 760552 The Revd Carol Kitchener Mrs Gretel Wakeham Church Flowers Sheila Jackson 811422 Bookings Secretary Patricia Wilson 761282 St Lawrence Vicarage The White House Cricket Club Secretary Robin Webster 01892 862017 St Lawrence CE Primary School Badm’ton Club Contact Peter Wharton 810388 Stone Street Bitchet Green Headteacher Alison Saunders 761393 Bowls Club Peter Granville 763832 Chairman of Governors Sarah Hudson 810050 Tennis Club Contact Gretel Wakeham 761534 Sevenoaks, TN15 0LQ Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0NA Clerk to the Governors Sarah Brew 761393 Archery Club Secretary Mike Davies 762266 01732 761766 01732 761534 St Lawrence Pre-School Becky Stammers 763289 Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Stone Street Contact Janice Brooker 760843 1st St Lawrence Brownies Janet Boswell 01959 523953 Seal Chart Contact Nicola Mitchell 764202 Church Warden Ron Drury Copy for the next issue should be sent, preferably by e-mail, to the editor, Brian Sutton (01732 450873) at Garden Cottage, Raspit Hill [email protected] or [email protected] to arrive by 08:00 on Wednesday 15 May 2013 Ivy Hatch The next issue of the Parish Magazine will be in Church on Sunday 26 May 2013 Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0PE Edited and Typeset by Brian Sutton, 50 The Crescent, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3QY (01732 450873) 01732 810214 Printed by Highland Printers, Church Farm, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0AN (01732 762131)

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Our Vicar’s Page Church Flowers I have been watching my grand-daughter, who has just had her third birthday, learning how to do things, how to be independent. She can manage some things by Sunday 5 May Annette MacKellar herself and like any child she learns as she goes along and she is adaptable, but there Sunday 12 May Annette MacKellar are some things that she cannot do however hard she tries. Perhaps she is too small, or not sufficiently strong, or too inexperienced to work out how to do the specific Sunday 19 May Sheila Jackson thing she wants to do. She therefore needs help from someone with more experience Sunday 26 May Sheila Jackson and that is the role of parents, teachers and grand-parents. Sunday 2 Jun Jill Beynon This month we celebrate Pentecost on the 19 th May, the occasion on which God’s Holy Spirit came upon individuals enabling them to do the work of Jesus. Once Our first messy church. Jesus left his disciples, to return to his Father in heaven, his disciples were on their Our first messy church was a great success. There was a lot of planning to be own. They had seen Jesus at work, they had tasted ministry under his guidance, but done but it was all worth it to see the children and parents, even grandparents now they were on their own and events seemed to spiral out of control. There were enjoying the craft activities and worship. The activities were based on Abraham continuing problems with the religious authorities and although some of Jesus’ and Sarah, which lead us in the direction of making star pictures using potatoes followers were meeting together and remembering what Jesus had taught them there for printing, making our own family trees ( including the family pets). We also was a lot of anxiety about. Times were hard and people were struggling to keep had everyone draw a journey on a very long piece of lining paper. One family going without Jesus to guide and support them. drew how they were going to travel to Australia to see a new niece, one drew a At Pentecost, as the crowds gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate, God sent his Holy train as that is how they visit their grandparent to name a few. Chris taught the Spirit to Jesus’ followers to be their inspiration and guide. In a moment men and children a great action song which we are planning to use to end of every messy women who had been hiding together and afraid were transformed – the Spirit gave church and Carol led us in prayers. them boldness to go out into the streets and speak about Jesus. They told Jesus’ story I must thank everyone who was involved to make this a great success from the in many languages, languages that they did not personally speak until the Holy Spirit planning team to the mums from school who kindly donated cakes for our after- came, languages that their listeners recognised. God had sent his Spirit, just as Jesus noon tea. Thank you! had told them he would, though they had probably forgotten about this promise. Our next messy church is on Thursday 27th June at 3.15-4.15pm. Please come Through the Holy Spirit people like Paul, Timothy and Barnabas were bold enough travel far and wide and share that story and churches grew up all around the and join us. We look forward to seeing you. Sam Mediterranean. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Holy Spirit has continued to inspire the Church for the last two thousand years When did you last visit our Parish Website? and we are the inheritors of that faith, given the same task of guarding and sharing it www.sealstlawrence.org.uk with the next generation. The Holy Spirit first inspired individuals to go and share the story of Jesus and that Your Prayers are asked for . . same Spirit comes to us today making us bold enough to speak about our faith. We might do that in the playground, or at Pilates, as we tell people we are off to bible Janet, that she may be settled in her new home; study this morning? We might do that when we tell our friends that we were in church on Sunday morning? We might do that as we acknowledge from where the all who are unwell at home or in hospital; good things we enjoy have come from? the homeless and those who are struggling to make ends meet; We have a faith that can liberate and set people free, it is worth sharing and in the strength of the Holy Spirit we can do just that! our new church officers and members of our PCC; all servicemen and women at home and overseas; Yours in the love of Christ Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

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FOR THE CHILDREN . . . . ST LAWRENCE & ST MARGARET'S JOINT GARDEN PARTY

On Saturday 18th May 2013 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at Fishponds, Seal Chart (located on the A25 behind the Crown Point) by kind permission of Jim & Annette McKellar

Mark the date and come along to join in the fun of a traditional English country garden party in beautiful surroundings BRIC à BRAC PLANTS CAKE STALL PUNCH & JUDY CHAMPAGNE TENT QUALITY CLASSICS CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN RAFFLE & TOMBOLA MORRIS DANCERS SIDESHOWS CHILDREN'S GAMES & CRAFTS REFRESHMENTS ST LAWRENCE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA If you have any items that you would like to donate to a stall, or if you can help on the day, or beforehand with tents and setting up, please speak to Ron Drury (810214) or John Carlisle (761097)

If you have time to make a cake, bread, buns, biscuits or a savory or sweet tart, please speak to Bridget Stephens on 760150.

Donations of good quality clean ladies wear (hats, jackets, skirts, dresses, blouses, etc) would be much welcomed, please speak to Roz Morris on 810227.

Anthea Carlisle would be pleased to hear from you if you have any bric-à-brac suitable for her stall, please ring Anthea on 761097.

This is a major annual fundraising event for both Churches and your support is very gratefully appreciated.

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Thousands visit historic churches and cathedrals The following was sent to me by John Lambert, Thank you, John St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral are again among the top visitor attractions in the UK, according to the latest statistics from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (AVLA). York Minster attracts more than 490,000 visitors annually, while Durham Cathedral welcomes 600,000 visitors each year and Bath Abbey alone would make the top 50 attractions, welcoming 420,000 visitors a year.

Cathedrals are at the forefront of worshipping churches that generate at least £350 million a year towards the tourism economy. The Association of English Cathedrals and English Heritage have estimated that visitors to cathedrals alone generate £91 million in spend and directly support 2,800 jobs

Approximately 11.3 million people - more than a quarter (27%) of ’s adult population - say that they have been to a Church of England cathedral in the last 12 months, according to the Theos think-tank ( Spiritual Capital , September 2012). These figures exclude visitors and tourists from overseas who visit Church buildings. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Ascension Day - Thursday 9 May Although Ascension Day is not a public holiday, as it is in most continental European countries, we shall be celebrating the occasion with a joint service of Holy Communion at St Lawrence at 10:00 on Thursday 9 May. It will be great to see you there. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Annual Parochial Church Meetings By the time you read this, the annual meetings will have taken place, the reports from the vicar and the church council received and approved, the church finances reviewed and the church wardens and officers elected. It is hoped that a brief report of the proceedings will be included in the next issue. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Christian Aid Week, 12-18 May 2013 Today around 870 million people are desperate for food. One in eight people will go to bed hungry tonight. This is a scandal. But IF we bite back at hunger this Christian Aid Week we can help communities find ways to not only survive but to thrive, with enough food to eat not just today but tomorrow. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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Calling all Cricketers The Church in 2050? - what the future could look like St Lawrence Cricket Club ,whose picturesque ground is in Bitchet Green, would The recent publication of the results of the religion questions in the 2011 welcome new members for the coming season. The Club plays in the Kent Population Census allows the future to be assessed. The Church of England County Village league. Whatever your age or ability, please contact the Club actuaries have predicted that their attendance will have dropped 58% by 2030 Membership Secretary, Richard Smith 01732 764078 . and 90% by 2057. If those figures become true, then by 2050: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1) The number of people ticking the “Christian” box on the Census form would be just a quarter of the then population, instead of three-fifths today, and most still elderly. Some will still want to get married in church and/or have their baby Gigaclear baptised. Ultrafast Community Broadband 2) If the number of Muslims continue to increase at their present rate, then by 2050 they will be as numerous as Christians in Britain. Ultrafast broadband update for Godden Green, Underriver, Bitchet Green, 3) Church attendance will have dropped to 1½% of the 70 million people then in Stone Street, Ivy Hatch, Shipbourne and part of Seal. Britain. We are well underway taking orders for the service now. 4) The number of congregations (30,000) will be three-fifths as many as in 2010 As soon as we reach 190 orders we will announce a start date. (51,000), and their average size 35 people instead of the current 70 people. Check progress at www.gigaclear.com/underriver 5) News coverage of Christian activity will be minimal, and Christian satellite Gigaclear is pleased to invite you to the following information evenings, all are broadcasting largely Asian and African. Secular and multi-faith schools will welcome. We hope you will be able to join us most likely have replaced Christian schools, and the number of Christian Bucks Head Shipbourne Village Hall organisations will have declined perhaps to only a fifth of today’s 5,000. rd th Tuesday 23 April Thursday 25 April 6) The Archbishop of Canterbury will have lost his (her?) seat in the House of 7.30pm – 9pm 7.30pm – 9pm Lords, after the Church of England became disestablished. Denominations will have become far less important. Underriver Village Hall Friday 10 th May 7) On the other hand, immigrant churches will continue to flourish; much of the 7.30pm – 9pm social work of churches will be done by those of non-British backgrounds. come and hear what Gigaclear can deliver across your community 8) Perhaps half of today’s larger (500+) churches will have survived, attracting and have your broadband questions answered. up to 50% of all those going to church. 10% of churchgoers will go mid-week (as now). ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 9) Evangelism will continue as a low priority; Alpha courses will be obsolete. All in the Month of May The number of leaders will be fewer than now, but many more will be part- timers. 200 years ago: on 22 nd May 1813 that Richard Wagner, major German composer, best known for his dramatic operas (eg. The Ring Cycle), was born. 10) However, the Lord will still be building his church and the gates of hell will not have prevailed against it! Even if by then, many of its members have “gone th 125 years ago: on 11 May 1888 that Irving Berlin, prolific Russian-born to glory.” American composer and lyricist; one of the greatest American songwriters, was born. His songs include ‘White Christmas’, ‘There’s No Business Like Show ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Business’, ‘God Bless America’ and many more.

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Services and Events at The Cover Picture—The Agora, Smyrna The Church of St Lawrence Seal Chart The next of the Seven Churches of the Revelation is the ancient city of Smyrna, during May 2013 which dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. The old city and its fortress survived until the middle of the fifth century BC when it was conquered and sacked. Every Tuesday at 08:30, in the Church, Morning Prayer (said), (CW) Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) had ideas of restoring it but work was not finalised until around 280 BC. As one of the principal cities of the Roman empire

in Asia Minor, it might be considered as the ‘First City of Asia Minor’. Sunday 5 May Sixth Sunday of Easter There was a Christian church here from the earliest times, and it is thought that it 08:00 Holy Communion BCP Acts 16: 9-15 John 5: 1-9 may have come in to being from the considerable Jewish colony which existed in 09:45 Service to Celebrate our Volunteers the area at that time. Luke 10: 38-42 The Agora dates from c.170 AD and was built close to the old city centre on a site

Thursday 9 May Ascension Day some 165m wide and 200m long. It was bordered on all sides by porticos. 10:00 Holy Communion CW After a destructive earthquake in 178 AD, Smyrna was again rebuilt by the Acts 1: 1-11 Luke 24: 44-end Romans and much later became part of the Ottoman empire. In the late 19th and

early 20th centuries the city was an important Greek financial centre although still Friday 10 May Prayer Time - (lasts about an hour - all are welcome) 10:00 At The White House, Bitchet Green largely controlled by the Ottomans. Much of the city was destroyed by fire in 1922. Sunday 12 May Seventh Sunday of Easter Because a Byzantine and later an Ottoman cemetery were located over the ruins 09:45 Family Communion CW Acts 16: 16-34 John 17: 20-end of the agora, it was preserved from modern development. This agora is now the largest and the best preserved among Ionian agorae. Today the old city of Smyrna Sunday 19 May Pentecost is surrounded by the modern city of Izmir. 09:45 Family Communion with Sunday School CW Acts 2: 1-21 John 14: 8-17 Modern excavations continue to reveal even more of Smyrna’s ancient history. Ed Friday 24 May Prayer Time - (lasts about an hour - all are welcome) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 10:00 At The White House, Bitchet Green

Sunday 26 May Trinity Sunday 09:45 Matins BCP St LAWRENCE SUNDAY SCHOOL Romans 5: 1-5 John 16: 12-15 Children meet promptly at 09:45 in St Lawrence School Hall on the dates shown in bo ld and will then rejoin Sunday 2 June First Sunday after Trinity their parents in the church towards the end of the service. 08:00 Holy Communion BCP Other dates are for information Galatians 1: 1-12 Luke 7: 1-10 All children aged 3 and upwards are welcome 09:45 All Age Family Service Luke 7: 1-10 For further information contact Hilary Darque [0173 2 453929]

Monday 3 June Prayer Time - (lasts about an hour - all are welcome) 5 May All Age Service 10:00 At Shepherd’s Cottage, Heaverham Road, 19 May Sunday School Pentecost Hilary & Wendy 2 Jun All Age Service 16 Jun Sunday School Fathers’ Day + Brunch Sam & Lesley BCP = Book of Common Prayer - a service using traditional (17c) language and form CW = Common Worship - a service using contemporary (21c) language and form 2 Jul All Age Service

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