John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3 : 4 - 6Readings this week Isaiah 11 : 1 - 10; Romans 15 : 4 - 13; Matthew 3 : 1 - 12Some thoughts for this weekThe message of John the Baptist is challenging in every generation. The call to return to the Lord’s ways of truth, justice and peace.A call to repentance. Yet repentance is such a positive, healing thing. A move of the Holy Spirit to return to who we are made to be. Who we truly are.The leaves have almost gone from the trees now as Winter sets in. Soon the branches will be bare. Yet we know the seeds, bulbs, roots safely in the ground will shoot again. Because of the Winter, Spring will be able to flourish and make new.Jesus has won for us forgiveness and new life in Him. What do we need to rediscover in this season of Advent about who we truly are? How can we renew our awareness of being made in God’s image. What do we need to lay aside in others’ views of us, and the lies of the world? How can we reclaim the truth of being made in Jesus’ own image?Repentance leads to faith and discovering the true treasure of Jesus’ Kingdom. Let us welcome the Holy Spirit in all He longs to do in our lives, and rediscover Jesus’ love and true freedom. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, you sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son; grant that those who proclaim your word may so guide our feet into the way of peace, that we may stand with confidence before him when he comes in his glorious kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer. Amen.Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For the children who come to Prayer Spaces, for their openness in faith and the enthusiasm they bringFor those who find peace and Jesus’ comfort in our churches at this time
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 7th December 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 7th December 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 8th December 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 9th December 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 9th December 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 10th December 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 10th December 1:00 pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 10th December 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 10th December 6:30 pm Chat Cafe (at St Ed’s)Thursday 11th December 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 11th December 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 12th December 9:00 am Taverham Junior School Year 5’s visit (at St Ed’s)Friday 12th December 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 14th December 2025, At St Ed’s, 8:00 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion, 3pm Bereavement Service Plus livestream 11:15 service At Ringland Village Hall 10:30 am Holy Communion followed by coffeeon-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: December 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallDecember 24th Christmas Eve, Carol Service 6.30pm at St Peter’sJanuary 11th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallSt Ed's Christmas Fair thank you to everyone who helped with the Fair, especially Sue Elmes, Dan, Sue B, Ann Coker, David and Linda and the planning team. We met with many people from our community, and raised an amazing £1,740.94. Thank you!Christingle making please come and join us at St Ed’s on Tuesday 23rd December from 12.30pm to make Christingles. Everyone welcome!Used stamps Robert and Anita would be grateful for your used stamps from Christmas mail for the MS Society being collected in St Ed's.Bereavement service will be at St Ed’s at 3.00pm on Sunday 14th December, where we will light candles and read out the names of our loved ones. If you would like to join there is a sheet at the back of church for the names of loved ones to be read out in church.Brian Smith’s service will be at St Ed’s on Wednesday 10th December at 1.00pmNativity stamps Please ask for Nativity stamps at the Post Office in order to keep this witness for future years.
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.Psalm 27 : 1 & 14Readings this week Isaiah 2 : 1 – 5; Romans 13 : 11 - end; Matthew 24 : 36 – 44Some thoughts for this weekWe’re off! The countdown has begun. Advent is here and today we begin a journey of hope, love, joy and peace and we wait and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and look forward to when Christ returns again. Inevitably our thoughts will steam ahead to the 25 December as we prepare for Christmas Day. But what if we did things a little differently this year? Perhaps we can use this Advent time to focus and reflect on the wonder of the coming of God’s Grace and love in the person of Jesus so that we are prepared to welcome Jesus on Christmas Day and celebrate with immense joy. With so much to do between now and Christmas Day we don’t need to load more upon ourselves but perhaps there are just one or two things we could do in this waiting time. Perhaps, beginning today, we could read a chapter of Luke’s gospel (24 chapters), or maybe spend 10-15 minutes in quiet, resting in the love of God. May this season of Advent be filled with blessings as we wait and prepare for the coming of Emmanuel - God with us. RachelPrayer for this weekLord of Advent, Lord of all hopefulness, this is the time of your coming, this is the season of your arrival. Give us a defiant hope that triumphs over pessimism and despairing attitudes, that believes you have come to save your people, your world, your creation. In this moment light a fire in our hearts that will not be quenched Until your work is done. Amen.Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.We praise the Lord and give thanks …For everyone who will come to our churches over the Advent and Christmas periods. May Jesus bless themFor all those who have gone before us in faith and the love of Jesus
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 30th November 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 30th November 9:30am Mustard Tree breakfast– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 30th November 11:15 am Celtic Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 30th November 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Monday 1st December 8.30 am Langley Prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 1st December 9.00 am Taverham Junior School Year 4 visit (at St Ed’s)Monday 1st December 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 2nd December 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 2nd December 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 3rd December 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 3rd December 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 4th December 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 4th December 11:30am Funeral (at St Ed’s)Thursday 4th December 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s)Friday 5th December 9:00 am Taverham Junior School Year 3’s visit (at St Ed’s)Friday 5th December 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 7th December 2025, Advent Sunday, At St Ed’s, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word 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: December 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallDecember 24th Christmas Eve, Carol Service 6.30pm at St Peter’sJanuary 11th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallSt Ed's Christmas Fair – Thank you! to everyone who worked so hard or contributed in any way. It was great to welcome our community to begin the Advent season.Ringland Christmas Fair Saturday 6th December at Ringland Village Hall, 1.00pm to 3.00pm. Crafts, cakes, Christmas gifts. All welcomeUsed stamps Robert and Anita would be grateful for your used stamps from Christmas mail for the MS SocietySad news We were very sorry to hear Liz Cook, who attended services regularly before Covid, and Dorothy Bruce, who was at St Ed’s this Wednesday, have died. Our prayers are with their familiesBereavement service will be at St Ed’s at 3.00pm on Sunday 14th December, where we will light candles and read out the names of our loved ones. If you would like to join there is a sheet at the back of church for the names of loved ones to be read out in church.Brenda Aldred’s service will be at St Ed’s on Thursday 4th December at 11.30pmBrian Smith’s service will be at St Ed’s on Wednesday 10th December at 1.00pmNativity stamps Please ask for Nativity stamps at the Post Office in order to keep this witness for future years.
