For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3 : 16 - 17Readings this week Genesis 12 : 1 – 4a; Romans 4 : 1 – 5, 13 - 17; John 3 : 1 - 17Thoughts for this weekNicodemus came to Jesus by night to ask his questions. He was a Pharisee, yet he was intrigued, disturbed, even challenged by Jesus. Did the answers lie outside the Pharisees own beliefs? Is there so much more to faith than keeping the law and following the rules? Did Jesus really come from God, and more than that, is God?Nicodemus came by night so he would not be seen. Yet meeting with Jesus and allowing his heart and mind to be opened was life – changing. Later in John’s Gospel, when Jesus’ body was to be taken from the Cross, and His disciples are nowhere to be seen, Nicodemus comes and helps to lay His body in the tomb. Nicodemus has changed from hiding in darkness to publicly standing at the Cross, when others have fled.Moreover the words Jesus spoke in His private encounter with Nicodemus are now proclaimed around the world, the heart of the Gospel. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’. We are each called to meet with Jesus and allow ourselves to be changed. As we do so, the whole world will know Jesus’ salvation and hope. Rev Paul Prayer for this weekGod, you loved this world so much that you sent your own son, Jesus Christ to live and die among us, in order that we might have life. Forgive us for keeping that abundant life to ourselves, for jealously hoarding your generous gifts, for choosing self-interest over compassion and justice. Teach us what it means to live as children of the light, generously sharing your abundance with our brothers and sisters in need. Amen.— Christine Longhurst, posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website.We praise the Lord and give thanks …For all our musicians, for their dedication and all they add to our worship and life togetherFor those being baptised, and those being Confirmed at this time
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 1st March 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 1st March 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s) followed by lent lunchSunday 1st March 2:00 pm Confirmation preparation (at St Ed’s)Sunday 1st March 3:30 pm Confirmation preparation (at St Ed’s)Monday 2nd March 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd March 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd March 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Thursday 5th March 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 5th March 5:30 pm Confirmation preparation (at St Ed’s)Thursday 5th March 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 6th March 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 8th March 2026, At St Ed’s, 8:00 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word, followed by lent lunch. 2pm and 3:30pm Confirmation preparation.At Ringland Village Hall 11:00 am Holy Communion followed by bring and share lunchOn line Sunday service 11:15 am.on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: March 8th 11:00 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland village hall followed by Bring and share lunchMarch 29th 3:00 pm The Gathering@Ringland (at St Peter’s)April 3rd, Good Friday 2.00pm Reflection with hymns (at St Peter’s)April 5th Easter Day 10.30am Informal Family Holy Communion (at St Peter’s)Lent lunches at St Ed's we will be sharing bread and soup on Sundays in Lent from 12.30pm. There will be the opportunity to make donations towards the Bishop’s Lent Appeal for Papua New Guinea.Bible reflections during Lent are available online from Embrace https://embraceme.org/lent-reflectionsWorld Day of Prayer there will be a service on Friday 6th March at 2.00pm at Trinity Church, Thorpe Marriott. The service has been compiled by Christians in Nigeria and is open to everyoneMothering Sunday 15th March - Children (with an adult) are invited to come to St Ed's on Friday 13th March between 3 and 4.30pm or Saturday 14th March between 10am and 12pm to make posies and cards for their special person - probably Mum! - and also to give out at the services on Sunday to which everyone is welcome.Confirmation Bishop Graham is coming to St Ed’s on Sunday 22nd March to conduct a Confirmation service at 11.15am. Confirmation Bring & Share the service on 22nd March will be followed by a Bring and Share Lunch. Any contributions of food will be gratefully received!Holy Week and Easter services are on the noticeboards in church for St Ed’s, St Peter’s and the livestreams. For Good Friday the Churches Together service will be at 10.30am at St Margaret’s Drayton and there will be a service of Reflection at St Peter’s at 2.00pm. On Holy Saturday St Ed’s will be open for a time of prayer from 3.00pm to 5.00pm. Other services are as advertised.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Matthew 4 : 1 - 3Readings this week Genesis 2 : 15 – 17, 3 : 1 - 7; Romans 5 : 12 - 19; Matthew 4 : 1 - 11Thoughts for this weekThere are many kinds of wilderness in our world today. Wilderness caused by climate change, or warfare. By injustice and oppression. In our own lives wilderness can come through loneliness, financial issues. Grief or regret. Jesus went into the wilderness. The place of greatest challenge and trial. A place where all human support is lacking. Where we are all called to find our inner hope, and to know who we can truly turn to for strength.Not only was Jesus tempted just as we are, and overcame. His victory came through the Word given to us by our heavenly Father. The gift of the Scriptures for our challenges each day. If Jesus relied on the Bible for strength, how much more do we need to!Jesus entered the wilderness and overcame. He turned despair into hope, and temptation into triumph. It was the beginning of His long journey to the Cross, the way of sacrifice, of finding strength in the love of the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit.Jesus is our Lord who has transformed despair into hope. I pray we may know that hope, whatever our wilderness may be. Rev Paul Prayer for this weekAlmighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenHeavenly Father, your Son battled with the powers of darkness, and grew closer to you in the desert: help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer that we may witness to your saving love. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For our growing ministry to the Care HomesFor those being baptised, and those being Confirmed at this time
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 22nd February 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd February 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd February 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s) followed by lent lunchSunday 25th January 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Sunday 22nd February 2:00 pm Confirmation preparation (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd February 3:30 pm Confirmation preparation (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd February 3:00 pm The Gathering@Ringland (Informal Garden Church) (at St Peter’s)Monday 23rd February 8.30 am Langley Prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 23rd February 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 24th February 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 24th February 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 25th February 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 25th February 3:30 pm school visits meeting (at St Ed’s )Thursday 26th February 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 26th February 5:30 pm Confirmation preparation (at St Ed’s)Thursday 26th February 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 27th February 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 1st March 2026, At St Ed’s, 9:30 am Mustard Tree Holy Communion, 11:15 am Holy Communion, followed by lent lunch. 2pm and 3:30pm Confirmation preparation.on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: February 22nd 3pm The Gathering at St Peter’sMarch 8th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at St Peter’sSt Ed's Pancake party Thank you to everyone who worked so hard. It was a great event. Together with the card donations, we raised £134.74 for Christian Aid, which will be allocated to the Sudan appeal. It was great to see so many people there.Lent lunches at St Ed's, we will be sharing bread and soup on Sundays in Lent from 12.30pm. There will be the opportunity to make donations towards the Bishop’s Lent Appeal for Papua New Guinea.Bible reflections during Lent are available online from Embrace https://embraceme.org/lent-reflectionsPrayers for Ordinary Moments produced by Our Daily bread Ministries for Lent. Short, inspiring prayers for everyday tasks. Copies are available at the back of St Eds. World Day of Prayer there will be a service on Friday 6th March at 2.00pm at Trinity Church, Thorpe Marriott. The service has been compiled by Christians in Nigeria and is open to everyoneConfirmation Bishop Graham is coming to St Ed’s on Sunday 22nd March to conduct a Confirmation service at 11.15am. There will also be a Shared Lunch after the service. So far we have ten candidates of all ages. If you would like to be Confirmed, or if you know someone who may be interested, please speak to one of the clergy.The Bishop’s Lent Appeal is raising money to help clergy children in Papua New Guinea to complete their education at the Martyrs Memorial School, just outside Popondetta. To raise enough money to send 1 clergy child to Martyrs Memorial School for 1 year. Tuition in schools in PNG is free, but as this school is a boarding school, there are fees to pay each year. Around £400 per pupil per year. Clergy families in PNG receive no stipend and are reliant on their congregations to support them with gifts of food and money. This money will help to provide and complete the education for 1 child. Children who are educated at the school go on into medicine, governance and teaching for example.
