Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Mark 6 : 20Bible reading : Mark 6 : 14 - 29Thought for the weekOur Gospel reading this week does not make for easy reading. We hear about the ministry of John the Baptist from the perspective of Herod and his puppet court. It is a clash between secular survival and misused power, and faith and the Kingdom of God. A conflict of allegiances, authority and of choices. John the Baptist loses his life, but gains eternity with the Lord. Herod has a tenuous grasp of temporary power, and loses all integrity, freedom and most costly of all peace of conscience. Herod’s position was complex. He owed his position to the Romans, yet he respected John’s faith and ministry, and ‘liked to listen to him’.All our choices have consequences. Even at the moment choosing to leave our homes, or choosing to pick up the phone. Faith in Jesus enables those choices to become positive, helpful, even life – bringing. We all regret some choices we have made in our lives. Jesus brings healing and hope. There is always forgiveness in Him (1 John 1 : 9). Jesus promises the past is put behind and we have freedom in Him. Jesus calls us to a new beginning, and to know He is the Lord of our future, the King of love and hope.Rev PaulPrayer for todayMerciful God,you have prepared for those who love yousuch good things as pass our understanding:pour into our hearts such love toward youthat we, loving you in all things and above all things,may obtain your promises,which exceed all that we can desire;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,Amen
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 11th July 9.30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children (at St Ed’s)Sunday 11th July 11.00am Morning Prayer – Jane Dryden (at St Peter’s)Sunday 11th July 11:15 am Traditional Sunday Service (at St Ed’s)Sunday 11th July 11:15 am on-location Sunday Worship (livestream)Sunday 11th July 1.00pm Wedding (at St Ed’s)Sunday 11th July 6.30pm Sunday Club (livestream)Monday 12th July 2.00pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 13th July 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (livestream)Tuesday 13th July 4:30pm Rspace (for details contact Rev Paul)Wednesday 14th July 9am Midweek Moments! (livestream)Wednesday 14th July 10.30am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Friday 16th July 9:30 to 12 noon St Eds Art Group (at Trinity Church)Also at St Eds, Sunday 18th July 1.00pm and 3;30pm BaptismsAdditionally at 8am daily (daily except Wednesday and Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook pageWatch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services at St Peter’s: Sunday 8th August 11.00am Morning Prayer – Jane Dryden 19th July we are currently awaiting updated guidelines from the Church of England. We hope we will have greater freedom from restrictions, but with the rising infections it is likely some optional restrictions will still be recommended. We await news!Dippy at the Cathedral The dinosaur has arrived – on show from 13th July. Details on the Cathedral website : www.cathedral.org.uk or micro site https://dippy.cathedral.org.uk/New pattern of worship from 4th JulyThe pattern will be reviewed by the PCC after six months.All the following involve Sunday mornings at the churches. It is important to note a large proportion of our life and ministry now also takes place during the week. This Sunday pattern has been carefully developed to fit in with our weekday ministry.Therefore from Sunday 4th July we will have :8.00am Holy Communion on fourth Sunday each month (starting 25th July)9.30am Mustard Tree - a new form of weekly informal worship particularly for families and children and those looking for more informality. (10.30am Coffee time – an opportunity for relationship and fellowship for people from both services – once coffee is allowed) 11.15am Traditional weekly service with Holy Communion twice a month, others Service of the Word.11.15am – Livestream on location – outside of the church building – in people’s homes, in the open, possibly at Ringland. 5th Sunday Gathering together - we will bring the livestream team into the 11.15am service, and 9.30am will mainly be a breakfast – to give everyone the opportunity to come together6.30pm Sunday Club will remain as a livestream each weekSt Peter’s will have one or two services on Sundays a monthWe hope and pray this pattern will enable our fellowship and ministry on Sundays to grow and develop over the foreseeable future as we become accustomed to the changes brought about by the Pandemic and the developing forms of worship and discipleship that are encouraging us all to grow in faith in Christ.
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Mark 6 : 2Bible reading : Mark 6 : 1 - 13Thought for the weekOne of the enduring memories I have of the lockdown is the queue for the tip once it was opened. We spent a very happy afternoon loading the car and eventually being allowed in.In our Gospel reading Jesus first experiences a lukewarm reception in His hometown, and then sends the disciples out warning them of the same, and telling them to move on to those who will hear and receive the Good News.I wonder if we have learnt to live more simply after the pandemic? I wonder if we have shed anything personally that was holding us back from knowing true freedom in Jesus? Or maybe we need to give to Him anything that holds us back now in our relationship with HIm.The disciples, “went out and preached that people should repent”. This is the Good News. To live simply in the message of Jesus, that He offers us forgiveness and new life. To turn to Him each day, and decide to live in His strength and His love.We are called to live simply in the pure truth of Jesus’ love for us. Everything else hinders and weighs us down. This is the message we have to proclaim. Jesus’ hope and new life for the whole world. Rev PaulPrayer for todayAlmighty God,send down upon your Churchthe riches of your Spirit,and kindle in all who minister the gospelyour countless gifts of grace;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 4th July 9.30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children (at St Ed’s)Sunday 4th July 11:15 am Traditional Sunday Service (at St Ed’s)Sunday 4th July 11:15 am on-location Sunday Worship (livestream)Sunday 4th July 6.30pm Sunday Club (livestream)Tuesday 6th July 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (livestream)Tuesday 6th July 4:30pm Rspace (for details contact Rev Paul)Tuesday 6th July 7:30pm Reflection with Compline (at St Peter’s)Wednesday 7th July 9am Midweek Moments! (livestream)Wednesday 7th July 10.30am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Friday 9th July 9:30 to 12 noon St Eds Art Group (at Trinity Church)At St Eds, there is a baptism on Saturday 10th July and a wedding at 1pm on Sunday 11th JulyAdditionally at 8am daily (daily except Wednesday and Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook pageWatch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyWelcome to Rev Val as she takes up her role as Curate for Taverham with Ringland. We are delighted and so pleased she has completed her training and is now beginning her new ministry. Please pray for her and her family at this exciting time.Rev Phil Phil has withdrawn his acceptance of the role Pastoral Minister at Christ Church, New Catton and will remain Assistant Priest (NSM) at the Taverham with Ringland Benefice. We are delighted Rev Phil is staying with us.Churchwardens Sue Beevor, Sue Charnock will be ‘sworn in’ today (4th July) at our 11.15am service as our Churchwardens for St Ed’s, and Dian Frost for St Peter’s Ringland. Please pray for them as we give thanks for their ministries.19th July we hope and pray along with the whole country restrictions will be lifted from this date. This affects our Tuesday morning ministry, numbers at weddings and funerals and our weekly services, singing in church, serving of refreshments, having the chalice at Communion and sharing the peace! We hope at least some of these restrictions will be lifted, and face masks and social distancing become optional. Please pray that as the church we may find a way forward.New pattern of worship from 4th JulyAs we begin to approach a time of more freedom in our worship and life as Christ’s people we are trying a new pattern of worship for St Ed’s and St Peter’s. This has come following a long period of prayer and discernment as to our needs and to enable our churches to grow, particularly as the community around us grows and changes.The pattern will be reviewed by the PCC after six months.All the following involve Sunday mornings at the churches. It is important to note a large proportion of our life and ministry now also takes place during the week. This Sunday pattern has been carefully developed to fit in with our weekday ministry.Therefore from Sunday 4th July we will have :8.00am Holy Communion on fourth Sunday each month (starting 25th July)9.30am Mustard Tree - a new form of weekly informal worship particularly for families and children and those looking for more informality. (10.30am Coffee time – an opportunity for relationship and fellowship for people from both services – once coffee is allowed) 11.15am Traditional weekly service with Holy Communion twice a month, others Service of the Word.11.15am – Livestream on location – outside of the church building – in people’s homes, in the open, possibly at Ringland. 5th Sunday Gathering together - we will bring the livestream team into the 11.15am service, and 9.30am will mainly be a breakfast – to give everyone the opportunity to come together6.30pm Sunday Club will remain as a livestream each weekSt Peter’s will have one or two services on Sundays a monthWe hope and pray this pattern will enable our fellowship and ministry on Sundays to grow and develop over the foreseeable future as we become accustomed to the changes brought about by the Pandemic and the developing forms of worship and discipleship that are encouraging us all to grow in faith in Christ.Ringland: future services at St Peter’s: Tuesday 6th July 7:30pm Reflection with Compline Sunday 11th July 11.00am Morning Prayer – Jane Dryden
