While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2 : 6 – 7Reading for this week : Luke 2 : 41 - endThought for the weekWe hope and pray you have a peaceful, holy and joyful Christmas time as we celebrate Jesus’ birth and His coming into our world. We now begin a whole season of exploring as well as celebrating who Jesus truly is and as we carry our life and witness for Him into a new year.Boxing Day is traditionally the Feast of St Stephen, and already we begin to discover how faith in Jesus and proclaiming Him in our world puts us in confrontation with all those powers that would deny Him or suppress His name. Yet the Lord is both infinitely loving and supremely powerful, and as we carry His love and truth in our lives we can have confidence and boldness in Him.We have such an exciting, life – changing message of God’s love and salvation in Jesus. In our Gospel reading today Jesus was in the temple asking questions and growing in understanding.As we come to 2022 with its undoubted challenges I pray we may each grow in our faith in God and wisdom through Jesus that He is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life. Rev PaulA Nativity PrayerChrist is born, glorify him. Christ comes from heaven, go out to meet him. Christ descends to earth; be raised up!Sing to the Lord all the whole earth; and that I may join both in one word, Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, for him who is of heaven and then of earth.Christ is in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy; with trembling because of your sins, with joy because of your hope.The people that sat in the darkness of ignorance, let them see the great light of full knowledge. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come. The letter gives way, the Spirit comes to the front.He who is not carnal is Incarnate; the Son of God becomes the Son of Man, Jesus Christ the Same yesterday, and today, and forever. Source: Gregory of Nazianzus
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 26th December 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 26th December 9:30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 26th December 11:15 am Traditional Sunday Service, Service of the word (at St Ed’s)Monday 27th December 5.00pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 29th December 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 2nd January at St Ed’s, 9.30am Mustard Tree, 11.15am Holy CommunionAdditionally at 8am daily (daily except Wednesday and Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook pageFor on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services at St Peter’s: Sunday 9th January 11.00am Morning PraiseSunday 13th February 11.00am Morning PraiseRingland newsAfter a long delay there is progress at St Peter’s! A bat survey by a specialist ecologist has established there are bats so this aspect is now covered. Our architect is now going to carry out works at the beginning of March. Please pray as St Peter’s enters a new and positive era and there is new life.Thank you! To everyone who has contributed to our worship over Advent and Christmas It has been such a privilege to proclaim the Good News of Jesus’ birth in our community.Schools’ work Thank you to all those who helped with the visits of the schools before Christmas. We were a great team! Thank you for all you did in helping the children know God’s love in Jesus and the true joy of Christmas.Christingle Collection candles and envelopes to support the work of the Children’s Society can be returned to church up to Sunday 30th January 2022.Norwich homeless during the cold weather as in previous years we will receive donations of hats, gloves for those on the streets of Norwich. If you would like to donate these items please leave them at the back of St Ed’s marked ‘Homeless’Thank you to everyone who has given to the needs of our community, including toys for vulnerable children, and in other ways. Thank you for your kindness.Tuesdays at St Ed’s with Tiny Tunes will resume on Tuesday 4th JanuaryArt Group are on a break until 14th January
Our livestream Christingle service is on Christmas Eve at 3.30pm via the St Ed’s Facebook page.A wonderful team have put together bags with all you need to make a Christingle at home, instructions and the service sheet so you can join in online (unless you've already booked to come to church). If you are able, please collect your bag from the porch at St. Edmund's Church Taverham - it will be open from 9am to 4pm. There are bags for a single, 2 or 4 Christingles.If you are unable to pick up a bag this newsitem includes the Christingle service sheet to help you join in with the service. You may also like to have a candle ready so you can light it when the Christingles are lit during the service.During the final Carol collecting candles will be given out to support the work of The Children’s Society. These are also in the bags – these and envelopes can be returned to St Ed's up to Sunday 30th January 2022.If you are joining online you can also donate to the Children’s Society by visiting their website here (web address is https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/ incase link fails)Happy Christmas,
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1 : 39 - 41Reading for this week : Luke 1 : 39 - 45Thought for the weekWe are all experiencing many encounters during this week, preparing for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Some encounters were planned. Some were hoped for, others just happened. In our Gospel reading we hear of Mary coming to visit, and to stay, with Elizabeth. Both are carrying a child. Each of them has been called to participate in the unfolding story of salvation. Their very human meeting takes place within the world – changing encounter between humanity and the grace of God.In our Thursday livestream this week Rachel said, “There is deep love between these two women, and great respect for one another. But it goes even deeper than that, as something happens in the connection between the babies they are carrying. Jesus asks to be born in us, in each and every day. In each and every circumstance. To grow within us. To transform us by His love. To guide us into new ways of life, and to make His Kingdom known through us”. In all our encounters this week. In the haste and busyness, let’s set out to see the face of Jesus. To know the depth of His love at this time.Rev PaulPrayers for this weekIn this Advent of expectation draw us together in unity, that our praise and worship might echo in these walls and also through our lives.In this Advent of expectation draw us together in mission, that the hope within might be the song we sing, and the melody of our lives.In this Advent of expectation draw us together in service, that the path we follow might lead us from a stable to a glimpse of eternity.John Birch, 2016, Faith and WorshipEternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,so we wait for His coming in glory;bring us through the birth pangs of this present ageto see, with her, our great salvationin Jesus Christ our Lord,Amen
