“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.” Matthew 11 : 28 – 30Bible reading : Matthew 11 : 16 – 19; 25 – 30Thought for the weekI wonder how we would have felt at the beginning of this year if someone had told us we would have three and a half months off – from everything. From busyness and meetings and travelling and expectations, and even shopping!Yet I think most people have found the lockdown hard. For most of us we have had to reinvent our lives. Yet we have learnt a great deal along the way, and maybe learnt what we took as normal was by no means the best for us, our family and our world.Jesus tells us following Him brings lightness and freedom and a new beginning. But it is by no means the easy way. It involves sacrifice, and re – learning who we are, discovering the truth of who we really are in fact. It involves a responsibility for the world, and living daily in a way that reveals the Lord’s love and the truth of who Jesus is.Yet Jesus’ way is the best way. In fact He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He offers us the way of life in Him, true life through the Cross and a turning away from sin. It is the way of forgiveness and life and freedom to live the Lord’s life in us, through the Holy Spirit. Let us receive Jesus’ promise today, and rest in the knowledge of His love. Rev Paul
The following services will be made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 5th July 9:30 am, with Rev Phil (using spiritual communion Trinity liturgy on separate webpage) Sunday 5th July 11am, with Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 5th July evening with Rachel 6.30pm (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Wednesday 8th July: 10.30am Wednesday 8th July 9pm: Rachel’s Rectory Ramblings (with slippers) Watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'Everyone welcome.Also online : <div>Rspace Zoom for teenagers every Tuesday at 7.00pm. Details Rev Paul</div><div>Additionally - Write the GospelsRecently I came across an invitation to handcopy the gospel of Luke as a way to prayerfully enter more deeply into words that we are either very familiar with or may not know at all. Just 10 verses a day - it's a long journey! If you would like to join me that would be great. Please message me via the St Ed's Facebook page if you'd like any further information. Rachel.</div>
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matthew 10 : 40Bible reading : Matthew 10 : 40 – 42Thought for the weekIn this series of passages from Matthew’s Gospel Jesus has been telling us as His disciples what it means to be sent out in His name. This is a message that seems so pertinent for our time. After we have experienced what it means to be church ‘outside the walls’ over the past months we are called to continue to be the living, witnessing, breathing church of Jesus in our homes, our community and world.Someone has written, “What would happen if we stopped expecting people to come on their own initiative through our church doors, and instead took seriously our calling to bring the gospel to them? What would happen if we truly believed that we bear the presence of Christ to every person we encounter, in every home, workplace, or neighbourhood we enter? What would happen if we saw every conversation as an opportunity to speak words of grace, every interaction as an opportunity to embody Christ's love for the neighbour?”Jesus speaks to us to us today as His disciples not in terms of what we give, but what we and others receive. A ‘cup of cold water’ as the greatest gift on a hot day. The immense privilege of serving Jesus and revealing His love to the world. Rev Paul
Please note, we will continue to use the following weekly pattern, even after 4th July.The following services will be made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 28th June 9:30 am, with Rev Phil (using spiritual communion Trinity liturgy on separate webpage) Sunday 28th June 11am, with Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 28th June evening with Rachel 6.30pm (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Wednesday 1st July: 10.30am Wednesday 1st July 9pm: Rachel’s Rectory Ramblings (with slippers) Watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'Everyone welcome.Also online : Rspace Zoom for teenagers every Tuesday at 7.00pm. Details Rev Paul
