Please see the list below of the services and events at St Peter's to celebrate Advent and Christmas 2021. a printable version of the list is also attached to this news item.Sun 12th Dec 11.00am Morning Praise, with coffeeSat 18th Dec 10.00am Decorating the church, with coffee and mince piesSun 19th Dec 10.00am – 3.00pm Nativity Display Sun 19th Dec 7.00pm Livestream Carols (St Ed's Facebook page)Mon 20th Dec 10.00am- 3.00pm Nativity DisplayTues 21st Dec 10.00am- 3.00pm Nativity DisplayWed 22nd Dec 10.00am-3.00pm Nativity DisplayChristmas Eve Ringland Carol Service : 6.30pm (with Taverham Band)Christmas Day Christmas Holy Communion : 11.00amFurther details : Rev Paul 01603 868217
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." Luke 21 : 29 - 31Reading for this week : Luke 21 : 25 - 36Thought for the weekBishop Graham was with us at St Ed's last week for the Confirmation. This is part of the opening of his Advent letter to the Diocese. The full letter is at the back of church:“Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Advent marks the beginning of the Church year. We begin again the annual cycle of hearing and praying the story of Salvation in the birth and ministry, passion and death, resurrection and ascension, of Jesus Christ.Our Christian pilgrimage is a journey into the life and company of Jesus. I invite you to seek to live out our diocesan vision to be “Transformed by Christ”. To be Transformed by Christ inspires us to be Prayerful, Pastoral and Prophetic. All three ‘P’s’ are powerful words, full of promise and potential, and they will help us navigate the route along our journey of holy transformation.Will you come with me on this journey? It is not another programme, not another project, not another ‘thing’ to do. In fact, much more than more ‘do-ing’, I see this as a gift to ‘be’ more, to inhabit more fully and completely our lives as baptised children of God.….I see this year’s journey into deeper prayerfulness as a great gift. It is a gift offered to each one of us, to each congregation and to the diocese at large. An invitation to journey with me and each other into the mystery of God. Every blessing as you travel through Advent and open this gift in the coming weeks”.Bishop Graham of NorwichPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and 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
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 28th November 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 28th November 9:30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 28th November 11:15 am Traditional Sunday Service, Service of the word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 28th November 11:15 am on-line Sunday Service (livestream). Sunday 28th November 6:30 pm Sunday Club (livestream)Monday 29th November 5.00pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 30th November 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 30th November 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 1st December 9:00 am Melting Moments (livestream)Wednesday 1st December 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Thursday 2nd December 7.00pm Reflection in church with Compline (at St Ed’s also part of this service will be livestreamed each week.)Friday 3rd December 9:00am Year 4’s visit – all day (at St Ed's)Friday 3rd December 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. Cost £3. (at Trinity Church building)Saturday 4th December Wedding - tbc (at St Ed's)Also Sunday 5th December usual services : 9.30am Mustard Tree Church; 11.15am Holy Communion; and 11.15am livestream service with Sunday Club at 6.30pm. Additionally 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.AdditionallyAdvent begins this Sunday 28th NovemberRingland: future services at St Peter’s: Sunday 12th December Service of the wordSunday 19th December Nativity display begins (ends Thursday 23rd Dec.)Christmas Eve Carol service with Taverham Band 6.30pmChristmas Day service at 11amRev Stella Green – will be made a Canon at Evensong at the Cathedral on Sunday 12th December. We are also delighted she will be joining our ministry team at Taverham with Ringland.Bereavement service at 3.00pm on Sunday 12th December at St Ed's. Please include the name of your loved one on the sheet at the back of the church if you would like their name to be read out.Christmas services are on the noticeboard at the back of church also as a separate page on the website.Nativity Displays at Ringland in the week leading up to Christmas will have a display of Nativity sets. If you have a set to loan please speak to Rev Paul or Sue Beverley. We will be decorating St Peter’s on Saturday 18th December ready for the display to open on Sunday 19th.Toys we will be providing toys for children in our community this year, to be organised by our two Duke of Edinburgh volunteers. If you would like to donate money towards this, please hand it to Rev Paul or a Churchwarden.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’.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” John 18 : 36 - 37Reading for this week : John 18 : 33 - 37Thought for the weekAs Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate was familiar with political survival. With manipulation, balancing interests, and keeping quiet so as to not attract the attention of Rome.Yet in his encounter with Jesus Pilate meets with an authority and a certainty he has not known before. It is Pilate who is challenged, searching for answers, being subtly and deeply questioned by Jesus.The episode ends with Pilate asking Jesus, ‘What is truth?’. Yet he has Truth standing before him. Jesus’ Kingship is not of this world, and therefore all those who hold power in this world, all those who claim authority, all those who assert certainty other than that of the Lord’s power and love.Jesus goes on challenging our human constructions and intentions just as He has challenged every kingdom over the past 2,000 years.This is the King who serves, who sacrificed His life for us, who goes beyond and ahead of us in every situation, who is alive and active in our world. Jesus is the true King, The King – Shepherd, the King of grace and love. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekEternal Father,whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaventhat he might rule over all things as Lord and King:keep the Church in the unity of the Spiritand in the bond of peace,and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
