He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this. Mark 8 : 31 - 32Bible reading : Mark 8 : 31 - 38Thought of the weekIn our Gospel reading Mark the writer tells us ‘Jesus spoke plainly’. He told the disciples that He was to die on the Cross. Further than this Jesus sets out what it means to be a disciple. It is the way of sacrifice, dying to self. It is the hard way. Yet it is the way that leads to life, and even the gift of eternal life.I wonder if our view of sacrifice has changed in the Pandemic? There are sacrifices we have made where we may have questioned whether they were necessary. There have been others that clearly were vital for our safety and that of others. There have also been sacrifices that have brought hope and even life.It may well be sacrifices we have made – and this is awesome to think of – where we will not know the consequences this side of heaven.Jesus took the path to Jerusalem fully knowing the sacrifice He was called to make, and what the consequences would be. This is the Lord’s incredible love that for Jesus the way of sacrifice was something He embraced, and took willingly, for us, for His wonderful, life – giving love for us.As we journey in Lent, let us give thanks to Jesus for all His sacrifice means. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lentmay we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,and by following in his Waycome to share in his glory;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
St Edmund’s and St Peter's Church Prayer HubAs we pray this week and bring the concerns of our hearts to God let’s remind ourselves of the call to rejoice in the Lord. We can rejoice because we belong to God and to each other. We can rejoice because whatever we are going through God is present. As we enter prayer this week, whatever is on our hearts God is present and God loves us.You may like to use these suggestions for prayer this week:Sunday: We rejoice today in God’s unfailing love.Monday: For schools as they prepare to get ready to come back together nest week.Tuesday: For our government and the scientists as they guide us through the lifting of lockdown.Wednesday: For the nations needing support with supplies of vaccines.Thursday: For Paul and the ministry team as they seek God’s leading over these coming months.Friday: For ourselves, that we, both individually and as God’s people in Taverham and Ringland, may, Take up our cross and follow Jesus.’Saturday: Pray for our worship tomorrow.Please join us at 8am each day on Facebook for our Bitesized Prayer. Also, you may like to pause each day at 12pm with Christians all around the world who pray the Lord’s Prayer at their 12pm!! This is an ancient practice that unites us wherever we are in our unity in Christ.Attached is a sheet of the above in case you prefer to print a copy for reference
The livestreams are continuing with the following services being made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 28th February 9:30 am Communion, Rev Phil/Rev Paul Sunday 28th February 11:15am Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 28th February evening 6.30pm with Rachel (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 2nd March 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 3rd March 10.30am Rev Phil/Rev PaulWednesday 3rd March 5.00pm Evening Prayer Additionally at 8am daily (Monday to Saturday) 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.AdditionallyEaster services The bishop has indicated that he hopes churches will be able to hold services on Easter Day (April 4th) this year, depending on Government advice. We will plan for services as soon as we can, but this is not likely to be confirmed until the week before Easter (e two weeks after the schools reopen). Watch this space!St Peter’s Appeal A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the appeal. Please pray for the ministry of St Peter’s at this exciting time. The appeal will continue until the end of March, as we explore the installation of a composting lavatory and running water. Any donations may be made by cash or by cheque payable to St Peter’s PCC Ringland and passed to Rev Paul. Thank you so much for your support.Bitesize Prayers If anyone would like to record a bitesize prayer (60 seconds – choose a few Bible verses and write a prayer) please let Rev Paul know. Everyone is welcome!WORLD DAY of PRAYER 2021 5th MARCHAs this year’s local service due to be at Drayton St. Margaret’s cannot happen, you can join a recorded service by women from Vanuatu where it was planned with the title ‘Build a strong foundation’ on the World Day of Prayer website www.wwdp.org.uk. Donations can be given by the website or texting to 70085 using the phrase 2021 WDP and adding the amount – e.g. 2021 WDP5. Sue Beevor has a few copies of the Service Book so phone her for this or any queries on 869772
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1 : 12 – 13Bible reading : Mark 1 : 9 - 15Thought for the weekIn Mark’s version of Jesus’ temptations the whole episode is dealt with in a few verses. It was a hard, testing time for Jesus, yet the emphasis is on how He overcame. How He entered even the most fearful, untamed place (even amongst wild animals), and conquered. He overcame Satan, and showing that He was never alone, when the ordeal was over ‘angels attended Him’.Lent is unusual this year when so much has been given up for so long already. Yet maybe the emphasis this year is that although many of us have felt alone (myself included – I spent ten days in isolation alone in my study), we are never alone. The Lord is with us and has been with us through the experiences of the past year, and He continues to be with us to fill us with His grace and strengthen us through the Holy Spirit.This Lent is a time to recognise the continuing hardships in many people’s lives, but the Lord is with us. We hear His voice through Scripture and prayer. We know His grace and comfort in our hearts. We are called to put our trust in Jesus, ‘But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us’. Romans 8:37. May Lent be for you a deepening of faith and even a celebration of Jesus’ Presence and love even in the hardest days.Rev PaulPrayer for this weekHeavenly Father,Your Son battled with the powers of darkness,And grew closer to you in the desert:Help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayerThat we may witness to your saving loveIn Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
