The Annual Meeting for St Peter’s will take place on Sunday 10th May, after the morning service. The meeting will include:- election of the churchwarden(s)- election of PCC members (as appropriate)- presentation of Annual Report and the Accounts for 2025Nomination forms will be available in St Peter's late March - Forms to be returned to Rev Paul before the meeting startsThe Annual report and accounts will be available to view in St Peter's before the meeting.All welcomeNote 1: this meeting follows the morning service so timings may be impactedNote 2: All those on the St Peter's Electoral Roll are eligible to vote. Note 3: All appointments are subjected to our safeguarding processes. This means that candidates who are successful in an election at the annual meeting will have their appointment confirmed once appropriate checks have been made. Checks will include, as appropriate, an interview, DBS check and completion of some (online) training.
Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more, until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.Readings this week Ezekiel 37 : 1 - 14; John 11 : 1 - 45Thought for this weekOur Gospel reading today is of Jesus arriving after the death of Lazarus. Jesus has been so close to this family, and He now enters fully into their grief. He allows Himself to be immersed in it. The Gospel writer tells us several times Jesus is disturbed to His spirit. He even weeps, There are many forms of grief. For things no longer possible. Maybe opportunities missed. The many people no longer with us. Life becoming uncertain, fragile. Peace of mind broken. Yet Jesus brings comfort and hope.Jesus comes to Mary and Martha, and transforms their situation. Yet it is not just about restoring Lazarus to life. Jesus is there to change our perspectives. To prepare His friends for something bigger. So huge it will change everything. To bring something new that is greater and more glorious than anyone could ever imagine. To offer a new relationship with him that is for ever. To reveal His victory over anything that we imagine can defeat us, even sin and death.Jesus is preparing His friends for the events of Good Friday and Easter. Today is Passion Sunday, when we look to the Cross, and remember Jesus bringing His hope, His forgiveness and healing, and the invitationto new life with Him for ever. Rev Paul Prayer for this weekMost merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenGracious Father, you gave up your Son out of love for the world: lead us to ponder the mysteries of his passion, that we may know eternal peace through the shedding of our Saviour’s blood, Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray for Those being Confirmed today : Jenny Ball; Beth Clements; Daisy Clements; Keith Denny; Lorraine Dyson; Samantha Fiaz; Danielle Freeman; Leon Hubbard; Maria-Ashley Jones – Hubbard; Joseph Mason; Justin Smith; Charlotte Sturgess; Emmy WaltonFor Jenny Hooker returning to Jordan
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 22nd March 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd March 9:30am Mustard Tree breakfast (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd March 11:15 am Confirmation Service (at St Ed’s) followed by bring and share lunchMonday 23rd March 8.30 am Langley Prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 23rd March 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 24th March 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 24th March 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 25th March 9:00 am Year 5’s in churchWednesday 25th March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Peter’s )Thursday 26th March 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 26th March 13:45 pm Nightingale Reception in church (at St Ed’s)Thursday 26th March 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s)Friday 27th 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)Friday 27th March 13.30 pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 29th March 2026, Palm Sunday. At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion followed by lent lunch. At St Peter’s 3:00 pm the Gatheringon-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 25th 10:30 Holy Communion (at St Peter’s – moved from St Ed’s)March 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)April 26th 3:00 pm The Gathering@Ringland (at St Peter’s)Confirmation Bring & Share there will be a Bring and Share Lunch after the service today. Everyone welcomeThe Inaugural Recital of the restored organ will be held on Saturday 16th May 2026 - at 3pm In St Edmund's Church. Given by Richard Bower - organist and organ builder Followed by a light afternoon tea. Tickets-£10 each from Gwendolyn or MaggieHoly Week and Easter services are on the noticeboards in church for St Ed’s, St Peter’s and the livestreams. On Maundy Thursday there will be the Commemoration of the Last Supper at St Ed’s at 7.30pm. On 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. There will also be Mustard Tree Church at 4.00pm at St Ed’s. On Holy Saturday St Ed’s will be open for a time of prayer from 3.00pm to 5.00pm. Other services, including Easter Day, are as advertised.St Peter's APCM (our Annual meeting) will be held on Sunday 10th May at St Peter’s at 12:15pm. Nominations for PCC (our Church Council) would be gratefully received!
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed … and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ Luke 2 : 33 – 35Readings this week Colossians 3 : 12 - 17; Luke 2 : 22 - 35Thoughts for this weekToday is Mothering Sunday. Parenthood brings so many joys. Yet our reading from Luke’s Gospel reminds us the experience of being a parent, of caring, nurturing, journeying with and ultimately allowing to let go of another human being also involves challenges, vulnerability, sometimes even pain.The Psalms especially tell us the Lord as our heavenly parent finds joy in us. (Ps 18 : 19). Yet the Bible also tells us that relationship with the Lord, His ultimate commitment and love, also involves sacrifice from the Lord, especially when we choose our own way.Today we can give thanks for motherhood across the world, and also pray for those mothers who are forced to worry for their children, suffer with them and even grieve for them.Simeon in the temple took Jesus in his arms, knowing this was the light of the Lord come into our world. Yet Simeon’s blessing was for the whole family, and he foretold to Mary the sword that would pierce her heart, looking to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the Cross. We give thanks for motherhood today. We also praise the Lord as our heavenly parent who bore both joy and pain in the Lord’s limitless love for us in Jesus. Rev Paul Prayer for this weekGod of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenGod of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful: watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For those who have taken on motherhood roles in our livesFor those being baptised, and those being Confirmed at this timeFor the gift of children in our lives
