On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7 : 37 - 39Readings this week Acts 2 : 1 - 21; 1 Corinthians 12 : 3b - 13; John 7 : 37 - 39Thought for the weekToday is the celebration of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first disciples, and on all those who believe in Jesus today. While there are several images used to represent, or to suggest, who the Holy Spirit is, including wind, flames, and a dove, the celebration of Pentecost is perhaps the one Christian festival of the year that is the least well known or understood, especially by people who are not yet believers or members of the church community.Yet in our Gospel reading Jesus uses an image for the Holy Spirit that can be understood by everyone. The image of water, particularly in these unusually hot days of the Bank Holiday! Refreshing, thirst – quenching, life – bringing, free – flowing. Jesus declared publicly “ Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7 : 38).The life of the Holy Spirit may well remain a mystery to many people. After all, Jesus said, “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14 : 17). Yet I believe every human being will understand their own need. The thirst we each have in life for love, for hope, for meaning. For forgiveness and assurance. For acceptance. Jesus has won all these for everyone who believes. We can each receive these through the power and love of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, ‘Believe. And ask’ Rev PaulPrayer for this weekGod, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenHoly Spirit, sent by the Father, ignite in us your holy fire; strengthen your children with the gift of faith, revive your Church with the breath of love, and renew the face of the earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenWe give thanks for….. Our Annual meetingsThe work of Christian AidFor those who visit our churches and the welcome we are able to give them
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 24th May 8:00 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 24th May 9:30 am Mustard Tree – Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 24th May 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 24th May 13:00 pm Plant sale and crafts display continues (at St Ed’s)Sunday 24th May 3:00 pm The Gathering@Ringland (Informal Garden Church) (at St Peter’s)Monday 25th May 10.00 am to 4 pm Plant sale and crafts display (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 26th May 10:00 am til 12 noon Community Café (at St Ed’s)Note: work on the church driveaway begins on May 26th – please use the Glebe while the work is undertakenWednesday 27th May 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 27th May 6:00 pm Ringland PCC (at St Peter’s)Thursday 28th May 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 28th May 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 29th May 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)Saturday 30th May 2026 11:00 am Cursillo meeting (at St Peter’s)Also Sunday 31st May 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: May 24th 3pm The Gathering @ Ringland (at St Peter’s)May 27th 6pm PCC meeting (at St Peter’s)May 30th 11am Cursillo Meeting (at St Peter’s)June 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion followed by refreshments (at St Peter’s)Baptism of Sam Frisby congratulations to Sam who was baptised last Sunday in the river at Ringland. Photos are available on our church Facebook pagesChristian Aid Week Envelopes are still available in church and we will continue to gather these to support the 2026 appeal.St Ed's Plant Sale and Display of Crafts 23rd – 25th May for Christian Aid - 10.30am to 4.00pm each day. Refreshments are available. Please bring your friends!Taverham Fair as in recent years we will be joining in with the Churches Together stall at Taverham Fair on 27th June. If you are able to come and help set up the tent, or to be present at the fair for an hour during the day, please let Rev Paul know? It promises to be another opportunity for us as the Churches Together to offer a presence and a witness at the Fair.Cursillo Are you interested in Cursillo? A Christian discipleship weekend held in September? Cursillo are having a meeting and service at St Peter’s Church Ringland on Saturday 30th May at 11.00am, with a shared lunch. Come along and find out more! Details : Rev Stella 07815 089704
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17 : 1 – 3Readings this week Acts 1 : 6 - 14; 1 Peter 4 : 12 – 14, 5 : 6 - 11; John 17 : 1 - 11Thought for the weekWe have reached the last Sunday in Easter. In our Gospel reading Jesus has been speaking with His disciples at the Last Supper. But now He turns His attention heavenwards, and addresses His Father. This is a very rare moment, and we are led into the privilege of witnessing the heart of the love between the Father and the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is holy ground. We do not deserve to witness this moment, yet we are invited anyway.Some might see this as the heart of the Gospel. As frail and faltering human beings we are invited into God’s heart of love. We are offered forgiveness and new life, and to live in eternal life which is this present, wonderful awareness of God’s love surrounding us and filling us.Jesus prays in the Father’s presence for us as Jesus’ disciples in our world today. The Lord’s face has always been turned towards our world, and we are called to share Jesus’ love, and draw others to Him. Today marks the end of Christian Aid week. We celebrate all that is achieved through the love and compassion of Jesus in the hardest places. And that the Father is present, listens to us, goes with us, is always attentive to us, welcomes us, through the grace of the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. How truly blessed we are, and all believers in Jesus! Rev PaulPrayer for this weekO God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenRisen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God the Father. AmenWe give thanks for….. The work of Christian AidSean and Charlotte’s weddingSt Ed's Annual meeting on 18th May
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 17th May 9:30 am Mustard Tree – Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 17th May 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 18th May 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 18th May 7.00 pm Annual meetings (Parishioners’ and APCM) (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 19th May 10:00 am til 12 noon Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 19th May 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 20th May 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 20th May 1:00 pm Burial of Ashes (at St Ed’s )Thursday 21st May 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 21st May 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 22nd May 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)Saturday 23rd May 10:30 am Plant sale and crafts display (at St Ed’s )Also Sunday 24th May 2026. At St Ed’s 8:00 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word 1 pm Plant sale and craft display continues.On-line 11:15 livestream serviceAt St Peter’s 3.00 pm The GatheringPlus Monday 25th May 10:30 am Plant sale and crafts display (at St Ed’s )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: May 17th Baptism in the River at RinglandMay 24th 3pm The Gathering @ RinglandJune 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion followed by refreshments (at St Peter’s)Baptism of Sam Frisby will be today (17th) at the river in Ringland. Please pray for Sam as she makes this exciting step of faith In JesusChristian Aid Week ends today (17th). Please pray for the work of Christian Aid. This year’s focus is on helping people to establish mini – farms in areas of urban poverty. Envelopes are available in church and we will continue to gather these this week.Organ recital at St Ed's many thanks to all those involved in the recital. Particular thanks to Richard Bower and Gwendolyn. St Ed's APCM will be held on Monday 18th May at St Ed’s at 7pm. From 8.00pm we will have a speaker on Eco Church. Nominations for PCC (our Church Council) would be gratefully received! All Welcome!St Ed's Plant Sale and Display of Crafts 23rd – 25th May for Christian Aid - Please bring any plants for sale to church on Thursday morning 21st May, Friday afternoon 22nd May or from 9am on Saturday 23rd. We will be setting up church for the craft displays on Friday afternoon so you can bring yours then or on the Saturday morning. All offers of your crafting, big or small, are welcome so we can celebrate local talent! Any queries, ask Sue E or Sue B
