Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. Matthew 22 : 9 – 10Bible reading : Matthew 22 : 1 – 14Thought for the weekI wonder when you last received an invitation? With so much that has been postponed or cancelled over the past six months, invitations to a celebration or a party have become few and far between.The Parable Jesus tells in the Gospel reading is based around an invitation. The host is clearly a man of influence, and yet the invitation reveals perhaps that his influence has won him few actual friends. So the invitation is turned down. Yet also of those who do attend, one of the guests disrespects the host, does not dress appropriately. The man is angry, and Jesus highlights the honour and grace of being invited, and much depends on how we respond to Him.Maybe soon, hopefully the invitations to join others in celebration will come again. Yet Jesus makes it clear throughout the Gospels He is inviting us into fullness of life. He invites us to follow Him, receive from Him, know forgiveness and salvation in His name.It is an invitation that cost Jesus everything. And it is for each of us personally. We respond by receiving from Jesus and believing in Him. Let us never forget the greatness of all that Jesus invites us into. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekGod, our judge and Saviour,teach us to be open to your truthand to trust in your love,that we may live each daywith confidence in the salvation which is given through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The livestreams are all continuing - with some being livestreamed from the church building!The following services will be made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 11th October 9:30 am, with Rev Phil (service from St Eds)Sunday 11th October 11am, with Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 11th October evening 6.30pm with Rachel and Sophie (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 13th October 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 14th October 10.30am Rev PaulWednesday 14th October 9pm Rachel’s Rectory Ramblings (with slippers) Watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.Services in church We are continuing to hold small services. The dates are :11th October : 9.30am St Ed’s (livestreaming) 11.00am Ringland Harvest Festival18th October 9.30am St Ed’s (livestreaming)25th October 9.30am St Ed’s (livestreaming) 11.00am RinglandThe sign-up sheets for all these services are all at the back of St Eds church or contact Rev Paul to be added to the list. Tuesday evenings The next fortnightly meditation and Compline is 20th October at St Peter’s Ringland, at 7.30pm At present unfortunately these will need to be restricted to anyone who has not been to a Sunday service in either church on the previous Sunday
“Make certain that you do not forget the LORD your God; do not fail to obey any of his laws that I am giving you today…. be sure that you do not become proud and forget the LORD your God who rescued you” Deuteronomy 8 : 11 & 14 Bible readings this week (Harvest Festival) : Deuteronomy 8: 7- 18 Luke 17:11-19 Thought for the weekIt has long been our pattern to celebrate Harvest Festival on the first Sunday in October. In a changing world some things remain the same!!Although this year has been so incredibly difficult in so many ways, we are still celebrating today We are celebrating because God is good all the time and all the time, God is good! We celebrate because despite all that has happened and is happening God has been faithful and blessed us over and over again with all we need.Both Deuteronomy 8: 7- 18 (indeed the whole of Deuteronomy) and our gospel reading in Luke 17 cause us to look further than the gifts we have received. They are reminders to us to remember that the good gifts we have come from the One who has made all things and ensured that there is enough for all when we live as the Giver of all good gifts designed us to. In a time when life has been so chaotic, where there have been so many extra challenges along the way we can rejoice in God’s unchanging, ever present love. And as we come today to celebrate God’s continuing goodness to us, let us not only be thankful for the gifts, but filled with awe and praise to the Giver who has given all in Christ Jesus our Lord. RachelPrayer for this weekGracious God,you call us to fullness of life: deliver us from unbeliefand banish our anxietieswith the liberating of love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The livestreams are all continuing, and we are hoping these will include livestreams from the church building soon!The following services will be made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 4th October 9:30 am, with Rev Phil (using spiritual communion Trinity liturgy on separate webpage) Sunday 4th October 11am, with Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 4th October evening 6.30pm with Rachel and Sophie (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 6th October 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 7th October 10.30am Rev Paul/Rev PhilWednesday 7th October 9pm Rachel’s Rectory Ramblings (with slippers) Watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.Services in church We are continuing to hold small services. The dates are :4th October Harvest Service (9.30am outdoors St Ed’s) – As this is our Harvest service we will meet whatever the weather! This service will also be livestreamed11th October : 9.30am St Ed’s 11.00am St Peter's Harvest Festival18th October 9.30am St Ed’s25th October 11.00am St Peter'sThe sign-up sheets for all these services are all at the back of St Eds church or contact Rev Paul to be added to the list. Tuesday evenings The next fortnightly meditation and Compline is 6th October at St Peter’s Ringland, at 7.30pm At present unfortunately these will need to be restricted to anyone who has not been to a Sunday service in either church on the previous SundayShoeboxes We are collecting the shoeboxes for Blythswood this year. Leaflets are in St Ed's. The deadline is Sunday 25th October with a service at Ringland Church at 11.00am
