“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6 : 33 – 34Readings this week Genesis 1 : 1 – 2 : 3; Romans 8 : 18 - 25; Matthew 6 : 25 - 34Thoughts for this weekJesus words in our Gospel reading speak very powerfully into our modern lives. The call to ‘Not worry’. So much of our lives is preoccupied with things that could worry us, yet would disappear if we lived more simply. Also Jesus calls us to ‘Look’. To see the flowers and the birds, their variety and majesty in the world around us. Also Jesus calls us to think of each day, and not tomorrow. Each day is a gift, and we can learn to appreciate each moment more fully.This Sunday is Racial Justice Sunday, a reminder that the Lord’s love spans the diversity of the human race. We each have so much to learn from one another. Without question each life is so precious to Jesus. We live in the aftermath of the hurts of the past. We also live in a world broken by sin, including prejudice, and how we treat other people. Jesus came to call us to focus on the Father’s heart of love for the world. To step away from all that hurts and damages us in our sin. In becoming human, Jesus embodies the full diversity of human life, and heals and restores our humanity, and our own personal lives when we turn to Him and receive from Him. In Jesus, every life is treasured, full of gift, deeply loved, and full of hope. Rev PaulCollect for Racial Justice SundayMerciful God, you are righteous and love justice: stir the hearts of your people that, rejoicing in our diversity, we may repent of the wrongs of the past, and, by your grace, seek the peaceable kingdom of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.We praise the Lord and give thanks …For those discovering their faith in JesusFor our Bible studies and home groupsFor our caretaking teams who work so hard on Thursday morningsPrayers for Ordinary Moments have been produced by Our Daily bread Ministries for Lent. Short, inspiring prayers including for when brewing coffee, watching a football game, for travelling, for reading the Bible. Copies are available at the back of St Eds.
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 8th February 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th February 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th February 10:30 am Holy Communion (at Ringland Village Hall)Sunday 8th February 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Sunday 8th February 12:30 am Ringland PCC (at Ringland Village Hall)Monday 9th February 8.30 am Langley Prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 9th February 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 10th February 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 10th February 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 11th February 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Thursday 12th February 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 12th February 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 13th 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 15th February 2026, At St Ed’s, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. 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 8th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallFebruary 8th 12:30 pm PCC at Ringland Village HallFebruary 22nd 3pm The gatheringToday is Racial Justice Sunday. We are called to remember the importance of racial justice and to respond by working to end injustice, racism and ignorance through prayer and action.Lent begins on 18th February (Ash Wednesday) with services of Holy Communion with Ashes at 10.30am and 7.00pm at St Ed’s.Lent lunches we will be sharing bread and soup on Sundays in Lent from 12.30pm at St Eds. 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-reflectionsPancakes! By popular demand we will be making delicious pancakes at St. Edmund's on Shrove Tuesday 17th February from 2.30 to 4pm. Come along and bring your friends! Offers of help will be gratefully received - please speak to Sue Beevor or Linda Johnson.Prayers for Ordinary Moments have been produced by Our Daily bread Ministries for Lent. Short, inspiring prayers including for when brewing coffee, watching a football game, for travelling, for reading the Bible. A hard copy is at the back of St Eds. Confirmation 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.
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 1st February 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 1st February 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 2nd February 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd February 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd February 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th February 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Thursday 5th February 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 5th February 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 6th 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 8th February 2026, At St Ed’s, 8:00 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word. At Ringland Village Hall 10:30 am Holy Communion followed by coffee, then Ringland PCC at 12:30.On 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: February 8th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallFebruary 8th 12:30 pm PCC at Ringland Village HallFebruary 22nd 3pm The gatheringLent is approaching! It begins on 18th February (Ash Wednesday) with services of Holy Communion with Ashes at 10.30am and 7.00pm at St Ed’s.Pancakes! By popular demand we will be making delicious pancakes at St. Edmund's on Shrove Tuesday 17th February from 2.30 to 4pm. Come along and bring your friends! Offers of help will be gratefully received - please speak to Sue Beevor or Linda Johnson.Prayers for Ordinary Moments have been produced by Our Daily bread Ministries for Lent. Short, inspiring prayers including for when brewing coffee, watching a football game, for travelling, for reading the Bible. A hard copy is at the back of church. Confirmation 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.Racial Justice Sunday is on 8th February. for all churches to reflect on the importance of racial justice, to give thanks for the gifts of human diversity, and to commit to end racism and acts of discrimination. This will be reflected in our thoughts and prayers for that day.Foodbank The Foodbank bin is back at St Ed’s, and donations will be taken to the Norwich foodbank each week. Further information about the Foodbank is available, including agencies that can help people out of needing Foodbanks.We also have a box at the back of church for emergency supplies. If you would like to place items in this these will then be available for anyone who comes into church seeking food.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.If you are new…. It is great to see you today. If you are able to, please speak to a member of the ministry team. We look forward to getting to know you!St Ed’s needs…a new Treasurer and a Safeguarding officer. Please pray that the Lord will call people for these roles. (could it be you?) Further details from the Churchwardens.St Edmund’s Taverham Registered Charity Number 1185420
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Acts 9 : 3 - 4Readings this week Psalm 27; Acts 9 : 1 – 22; Luke 24Thoughts for this weekIt’s getting quite noticeably lighter for longer each day. The birds are singing loudly and the snowdrops at the front of church look amazing. It has been a roller coaster of a week with questions and fears on the global scene and maybe in our own personal lives too. Matthew, in his gospel, quotes the prophet Isaiah, by saying, ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. ‘ it’s a reading that we usually hear around Christmas as we think of the Light of Christ coming into the world. As our days get that bit longer, we can often feel a little more hopeful- that perhaps things may not be as bleak as we perceive them to be in the dark. One of the psalms set for today is number 27. It begins with the words, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom then shall I fear?’ Wonderful words that reground us in the truth that we are never alone and God’s love is the truth of our reality. The psalm ends with the words, ‘I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ When the world seems dark and hard let us look for the light that shines- the presence of Jesus here and now and keep ourselves grounded in this reality - God is the Light and Salvation of our lives. Amen. RachelPrayers for this weekAlmighty God, who caused the light of the gospel to shine throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul: grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion may follow him in bearing witness to your truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenGod of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For the snowdrops at the front of church, and the signs of springFor our fellowship with other Christians and churches in our communities
