Once each week during Advent, Rachel and Nick plan to post a song on the St Ed's Facebook page.This will be a short 2-4 minutes video as a way to encourage us all to take a bit of time to pause and reflect during this season of Advent.The songs will be posted either Thursday or Friday – why not follow the St Ed’s Facebook page to receive notifications so you don't miss them?The first song is due to be posted on Thursday 3rd December at 9am.Also the Church of England has weekly Advent reflections which you can sign up to receive by visiting their website here ( in case the link fails here is the full details for the link https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/advent-and-christmas/comfort-and-joy-our-advent-and-christmas-reflections )
After all the difficulties of this year the Christmas message of the coming of the Light, Joy and Hope of Jesus into our world is more powerful than ever.As the Churches Together in our community we would like to share with you the celebration of God’s love and peace this ChristmasDue to the requirements of social distancing some of our services are planned for the church buildings, some are online only. St. Edmund’s Church, Taverham 01603 868217achurchnearyou taverham:stedmunds Please join us through our Facebook page : St Edmund’s Church Taverham as we celebrate Jesus’ birth Online via our Facebook page: Sunday 20th December 6:30 pm Sunday Club Carols; 7.30pm Christmas Songs of Praise;Christmas Eve 3:30 pm Livestream Christingle service; Christmas Day 10:30am Family Christmas CommunionSt Peter’s Church, Ringland 01603 868217 achurchnearyou ringland : stpeter’s Building : A display of Nativity scenes and a quiet space to reflect on the Christmas Good News at St Peter’s Church : Monday 21st December, Tuesday 22nd December, Wednesday 23rd December, 10.00am to 3.00pmBuilding : Christmas Day 9.30am Christmas Morning Communion Taverham Evangelical Church (TEC) Taverham Village Hallwww.tec-church.com 01603 860192Building : Sunday 6th December, Advent Service in the Village Hall 11am.Online : Sunday 13th December there will be a Messy Church via Zoom.Online : Sunday 13th December, our service will be via the Sunday email.Online : Sunday 20th December, is our online Carol ServiceOnline : Sunday 27th December a live Zoom coffee morning at 10.30 followed by Communion.Trinity Church, Thorpe Marriott 01603 411295www.thorpemarriottchurch.org Building : Christmas Eve service 6.30pm at Trinity; Christmas Day service 10.00am , both led by Rev Mary Sachikonye St Margaret’s Drayton 01603 869629Please consult our website and Facebook page for information about services. https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/5517/https://www.draytonparish.org/https://en-gb.facebook.com/StMegs/Drayton Methodist Church 01603 260034www.eamethodist.org.uk Building : Carol service at 3pm on the 20th December; Christmas Day 10.00 am service. Please phone before coming to ensure social distancing is possible
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Mark 13 : 28 - 29Bible reading : Mark 13 : 24 - 37Thought for the weekWhat are you like at waiting for things? As a society I think we had grown out of the habit of waiting. I think it’s a habit we’ve all had to relearn recently!Waiting can have its uses. Helps us to appreciate things more. Helps us to slow down. Helps us to learn humility and grace. Helps us to prepare ourselves while waiting for things to happen or for people to arrive.Advent begins today. We remember the centuries of waiting for Jesus’ arrival into our world. His Light shining in our darkness.Yet in our Gospel reading Jesus reminds us of His Second Coming, and commands us to be ready, to ‘Keep awake’. It is about learning to wait, and learning to wait well, to use our waiting on the Lord to prepare, to grow in Him, to learn from Him, even to become more like Him. Humility leads to repentance, and grace enables us to grow and to trust.It is through waiting well, trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit, and preparing for the Lord’s return that we discover hope. That true hope is not just wishful thinking but through growing in faith and love. Waiting can be hard, but through waiting well true hope comes. Rev PaulAlmighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darknessand to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life,in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,we may rise to the life immortal;through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Amen
<div>Welcome to this week’s Prayer Hub. This week we begin our Advent journey as we look to the coming of Emmanuel ~ God with us. The theme of light is one which runs throughout scripture. The first words God speaks are ‘Let there be light.’ Isaiah records God’s promise that in the darkness there is a great light. The Psalmist reminds that there is no such thing as darkness (there is nowhere we can be where God’s love isn’t). Jesus’ wonderful hope filled words are recorded in John’s account of the gospel when Jesus says, ‘I am the Light of the world.’ Throughout scripture we are reminded that Light and Hope are present, and are present in Christ. This week we will focus on holding people and situations, ‘In the Light,’ as the Quakers so beautifully say. In those times when we don’t how to pray or what to say it is enough to bring those people and situations into the Light of Christ, in the assurance that God knows and is full of compassion. So, we come in faith and trust.Advent Sunday: We give thanks for the Light of Christ, for the presence of Christ in all creation.Monday: We hold in the Light the world Jesus came to show God’s love to, in all its stumbling and confusion in the darkness.Tuesday: Whilst we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ we mustn’t forget that he is already here, risen and present with us. Spend some time resting in God’s love for you.Wednesday: John’s account of the gospel reminds us that in Christ is the light of life. Hold in that light those things in your life that need the healing warmth of Christ’s love.Thursday: Hold in the Light those who feel lost in darkness and feel desperate for light.Friday: The Light of Christ - spend some time today reflecting on those words and what they mean for you. Saturday: Pray for our worship tomorrow, that together, wherever we are, the Light of Christ may shine in our hearts and glorify God.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. Amen.Please join us each day at 12pm in saying the prayer Jesus taught us. Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy Kingdom come.Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us.Lead us not into temptation.Deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.Attached is a sheet of the above in case you prefer to print a copy for reference
