To give thanks and celebrate the successful gathering of the year's crops we are holding a variety of services on 4th October:9.30am outdoors St Ed’s – due to covid restrictions you need to sign up for this service – there is a sign-up sheet in St Eds or contact Rev Paul and if there is space you can be added to the list.As this is our Harvest service we will meet whatever the weather! This service will also be livestreamedOn-line on the St Ed’s Facebook page there will be services at 9:30am and 11am. also we will have Sunday Club at 6:30pm.Join live if you are able or you can watch later at your leisure. As part of our harvest celebrations we are collecting for Norwich Foodbank. This collection is part of our on-going commitment to support food banks which are needed more than ever at this time. We continue to encourage everyone to do what they can to help with this appeal.Items can be brought to the service if you have been allocated a space – or you can drop items off at one of three collection points – (1) black bin outside the front door at the rectory (at 173 Taverham Road) or (2) inside St Edmund’s Taverham or (3) inside St Peter’s Ringland [both churches are open daily].
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Matthew 21 : 23Bible reading: Matthew 21 : 23-32Thought for the weekI had an eye test this week. My glasses finally gave up on me and I presented them in pieces to the optician. It struck me how so many of the greatest discoveries, so much that is new and exciting in life, happens on the edge of our vision. The part of our sight we’re aware of but not always focussed on.In our Gospel reading for the religious leaders Jesus’ authority and His teaching are on the edge of their vision. They find it difficult to grasp, they certainly cannot control it, but they know He has authority that is not of earthly origin.So Jesus points them to the edge. To those who are receiving the Lord’s love and responding to the Kingdom who the religious authorities put beyond the edge. In our own lives, with the new restrictions as we look to the close of the year, I believe we are called to look to the edge of our vision. To the places where the Lord is at work most powerfully, and the issues He is raising. Beyond ourselves to those in our lives, in our community and our world who are on the edge, and pray we will be able to play our part for them. Jesus is alive, and the Holy Spirit is calling the whole world to Him. Rev Paul Prayer for this weekLord of creation,Whose glory is around and within us:Open our eyes to your wondersthat we may serve you with reverenceand know your peace at our lives’ end,through 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 27th September 9:30 am, with Rev Phil (using spiritual communion Trinity liturgy on separate webpage) Sunday 27th September 11am, with Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 27th September evening 6.30pm with Rachel and Sophie (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 29th September 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 30th September 10.30am Rev Paul/Rev PhilWednesday 30th September 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 :27th September (11.00am at St Peter’s Ringland)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 and 11.00am St Peter's The 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. for details on their appeal visit the Blythswood website (https://blythswood.org/shoeboxappeal/)Leaflets will be in St Eds church. The deadline will be Sunday 25th October with a service at St Peter's Ringland Church at 11.00am
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard Matthew 20 : 1 Bible reading: Matthew 20 : 1 – 16Thought for the weekLife’s never fair! I wonder if we heard this when we were growing up? When we were beginning to understand the world, the realisation that others always seemed to have better opportunities, more possessions. And all that anyone could ever say is that ‘life’s never fair’.Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. How the owner pays the same whether the workers have been labouring all day, or only the last hour.There is unfairness on the one hand. Yet life is never fair for anyone. We might pause to think of the youngsters now whose future is so uncertain following the pandemic. Their potential sense of unfairness compared to the generations before them. They need our prayers now, for hope and healing.Yet there is sheer generosity, blessing, grace on the other hand. The Lord’s love for us is so freely given, and yet completely undeserved. Knowing Jesus’ love in our lives dispels all sense of unfairness, bitterness even. Because Jesus loves each of us beyond measure. Even sacrificing Himself on the Cross. The Lord is so generous in His love to us. Let us in our own way praise Him. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekLord, teach me to be generous.Teach me to serve you as you deserve;to give and not to count the cost,to fight and not to heed the wounds,to toil and not to seek for rest,to labour and not to ask for reward,save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.(By Ignatius of Loyola)
