Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. Matthew 13 : 24 - 26Readings this week Isaiah 44 : 6 - 8; Romans 8 : 12 - 25; Matthew 13 : 24 – 30, 36 – 43Thought for this weekIn Matthew Chapter 13 Jesus gives us a whole range of parables. In each of them He is speaking about something precious amidst the very ordinary things.There is a range of everyday activity here, from sowing, to gathering, to preparing food, to buying and selling. Pictures about human skills, and hopes, and choices that we all share. And into all this activity Jesus speaks words of the Kingdom. About the Lord’s sovereign rule. About what is most precious. About the Kingdom that is so often seemingly hidden, and yet is unstoppable. The parable this week is challenging. About the separation of the wicked from the righteous. It is uncompromising. Harsh even. Until we realise this is Jesus Himself speaking. The one who has brought the Kingdom into our lives. Who offers everyone His grace, His compassion. His love. The one who has brought all our choices together into one. To choose Him. To follow Jesus. To live in His life and in His hope.Jesus is the one who offers each of us the Kingdom and eternal life in Him. Something so precious that begins now in the everyday when we choose Jesus. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekIn you alone we put our hope, God the Father, Creator and Sustainer, who gives all good things, seen and unseen. In you alone we put our hope, God the Son, Saviour and Redeemer, who died for our sins and rose again. In you alone we put our hope, God the Spirit, Teacher and Comforter, who moves us to sing“Our God reigns!”In you alone we put our hope.~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com Generous God, you give us gifts and make them grow: though our faith is small as mustard seed, make it grow to your glory and the flourishing of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenWe give thanks for…..Summer holidaysFor God’s word, the BibleFor those being married at this time
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 19th July 9:30 am Mustard Tree Church– informal service for families and children (at St Ed’s) Sunday 19th July 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s) Sunday 19th July 2:00 pm Baptism (at St Ed’s) Monday 20th July 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s) Tuesday 21st July 10:00 am til 12 noon Community Café (at St Ed’s) Tuesday 21st July 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s) Wednesday 22nd July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s ) Thursday 23rd July 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s ) Thursday 16th July 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 24th July 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 26th July 2026. At St Ed’s 8:00 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word, 1:30 Baptism On-line 11:15 livestream service, At St Peter’s 3.00 pm The Gathering on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'. Everyone welcome. Additionally Ringland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: July 25th Wedding (at St Peter’s) July 26th 3pm The Gathering @ Ringland (at St Peter’s) August 9th 10:30 am Café Communion, followed by picnic (at St Peter’s) Pilgrim Paul has now journeyed onto Edinburgh after his three week stay with us. As before it has been a time of interesting and challenging conversations, and some fascinating links with the Orthodox Churches in our area. Please pray for his journey. Year 6’s Leavers Service happened at St Ed’s on Friday, a very special time of prayer and thanksgiving on a momentous day for them. We were also able to distribute Bibles to them, for those who chose to take them. 77 children accepted Bibles! We praise Jesus for this special time. Shoeboxes Appeal Brenda Clarke has very kindly taken on organising the shoeboxes this year, and the launch will be in September. Any spare Christmas wrapping paper or empty shoeboxes, please leave them at the back of St Ed’s. Thank you! Streams is an initiative from the Diocese encouraging us to share our stories of faith and the Lord’s love in our lives, and to help us to listen to one another in our life journey. A number of groups are forming for us to tell one another our stories. Further details Rev Paul Cursillo Are you interested in Cursillo? A Christian discipleship weekend held in September? Details : Rev Stella 07815 089704 Prayers at St Ed’s will continue through the summer months : Mondays 5.00pm, Wednesday mornings at 10:30 Holy Communion, Compline Thursdays 7.00pm. Please join us!
But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’ Matthew 13 : 23Readings this week Isaiah 55 : 10 - 13; Romans 8 : 1 - 11 ; Matthew 13 : 1 – 9, 18 - 23Thought for this weekEveryone likes a good story; a story that engages the imagination and makes you think. We may read a cracking good book or watch an amazing film, love it so much that we read or watch several times. As we become familiar with a text or film it’s easy to switch off or discard completely. The parable of the sower is one such example. God always invites us into scripture, to hear, see and experience the Living Word. Perhaps we could try reading these familiar passages in some different ways. Reading aloud; reading slowly several times, being open to a particular word or phrase and what God might be saying to us through it. We might try placing ourselves imaginatively into the passage - what might it have been like hearing for the first time? There are a wealth of good online resources available to study and reflect more deeply if you want to know more about the context and culture of Jesus’ time. Let’s be open to the power of the words of Jesus in our lives and the invitation He offers to follow him each day. RachelPrayer for this weekO Lord, save us from hardness of heart, where your word cannot take root. O Lord, save us from shallowness of mind, where your word withers away. O Lord, save us from the deceitfulness of riches, where your word is choked by everyday cares. But Lord, grant that our hearts may be fertile soil, where your word flourishes and yields a harvest, bringing salvation to ourselves and those about us. Amen. ~ written by the Staffordshire Seven, in Seasonal Worship from the Countryside. Posted on the http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/ We give thanks for…..For the end of another school year, for the children and all they have achieved, the ways in which they have grown. For the ways we have been able to speak to them of Jesus’ love and enable them to hear God’s Word.For those coming to be married in our churches over the summer
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 12th July 8:00 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s) Sunday 12th July 9:30 am Mustard Tree Church– informal service for families and children (at St Ed’s) Sunday 12th July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Peter’s) followed by refreshments Sunday 12th July 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s and livestream) Monday 13th July 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s) Tuesday 14th July 10:00 am til 12 noon Community Café (at St Ed’s) Tuesday 14th July 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s) Wednesday 15th July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s ) Thursday 16th July 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s ) Thursday 16th July 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 17th July 9:00 am Year 6’s leavers service (at St Ed’s) Friday 17th July 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 19th July 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. Additionally Ringland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: July 12th 10:30 am Holy Communion followed by refreshments (at St Peter’s) July 25th Wedding (at St Peter’s) July 26th 3pm The Gathering @ Ringland (at St Peter’s) Year 6’s from the Junior School will be coming into St Ed's on Friday (19th) for their Leavers’ Service. Please pray for them as they prepare for the next step in their lives and all that lies ahead. Christmas wrapping paper! Brenda Clarke has very kindly taken on organising the shoeboxes this year, and the launch will be in September. Any spare Christmas wrapping paper or empty shoeboxes, please leave them at the back of St Ed's. Thank you! Streams is an initiative from the Diocese encouraging us to share our stories of faith and the Lord’s love in our lives, and to help us to listen to one another in our life journey. A number of groups are forming for us to tell one another our stories. Further details Rev Paul Cursillo Are you interested in Cursillo? A Christian discipleship weekend held in September? Details : Rev Stella 07815 089704 Prayers will continue through the summer months : Mondays 5.00pm, Compline Thursdays 7.00pm
