At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1 : 12 – 13Bible reading : Mark 1 : 9 - 15Thought for the weekIn Mark’s version of Jesus’ temptations the whole episode is dealt with in a few verses. It was a hard, testing time for Jesus, yet the emphasis is on how He overcame. How He entered even the most fearful, untamed place (even amongst wild animals), and conquered. He overcame Satan, and showing that He was never alone, when the ordeal was over ‘angels attended Him’.Lent is unusual this year when so much has been given up for so long already. Yet maybe the emphasis this year is that although many of us have felt alone (myself included – I spent ten days in isolation alone in my study), we are never alone. The Lord is with us and has been with us through the experiences of the past year, and He continues to be with us to fill us with His grace and strengthen us through the Holy Spirit.This Lent is a time to recognise the continuing hardships in many people’s lives, but the Lord is with us. We hear His voice through Scripture and prayer. We know His grace and comfort in our hearts. We are called to put our trust in Jesus, ‘But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us’. Romans 8:37. May Lent be for you a deepening of faith and even a celebration of Jesus’ Presence and love even in the hardest days.Rev PaulPrayer for this weekHeavenly Father,Your Son battled with the powers of darkness,And grew closer to you in the desert:Help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayerThat we may witness to your saving loveIn Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
St Ed's and St Peter's prayer hub for 21st FebruaryPsalm 34 I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him.I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us praise his name together! I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears.As we move further into the season of Lent we are reminded of our constant need for God’s strength and mercy in our lives. On Sunday we will hear the account of Jesus’ forty days and nights in the desert where he underwent the incredibly hard time of temptation. We too are often tempted. Like the psalmist, we can cry out to the Lord in prayer in our times of struggle, desperation and temptation, asking for his strength in times of need and thanking him for his goodness.Please use the following scripture verses this week as a way into prayer if you find them helpful.Sunday: The psalmist wrote, ‘This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice in it and be glad in it.’ Psalm 118:24 You may like to spend some time today giving thanks for who God is and for all that God has done.Monday: For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth. Romans 8:22 We acknowledge that the world is so far from all that God intended it to be. We hold before God the pain of the world into which Jesus came.Tuesday: Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Life is hard for all of us with struggles and temptations. Hold before God all who are in the grip of addictions and struggles for which they feel there is no way out. Wednesday: Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them... Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:13-14 We pray for the children and young people who are struggling with all the effects the pandemic is having on them now and will have for many, many years to come.Thursday: You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 Ask the Holy Spirit to continue the work of grace in our lives of making us fully the people God created us to be, made in God’s image, reflecting God’s love.Friday: Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 We give thanks that God in Christ has made, and is making all things new; there is hope in Christ!Saturday: How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1 We give thanks for our life together in Christ and pray for each other as we prepare to worship tomorrow.Please join us each day at 8am each day on Facebook for our Bitesized Prayer.Also, you may like to pause each day at 12pm with Christians all around the world who pray the Lord’s Prayer at their 12pm!! This is an ancient practice that unites us wherever we are in our unity in Christ.Attached is a sheet of the above in case you prefer to print a copy for reference
The livestreams are continuing with the following services being made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 21st February 9:30 am Communion, Rev Phil Sunday 21st February 11:15am Rev Paul (service sheet attached)Sunday 21st February evening 6.30pm with Rachel (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 23rd February 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 24th February 10.30am Rev Phil/Rev PaulWednesday 24th February 5.00pm Evening Prayer Additionally at 8am daily (Monday to Saturday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook pageWatch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyServices in church Although our services in church are suspended the church is alive! Please continue to pray for the needs of our community. The church is open each day for private prayer and our livestreams continue.St Peter’s Appeal A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the appeal. For those who have kindly made a donation, if you can let me (Rev Paul) know if you would like or are eligible for a Gift Aid form. Once we have achieved these works, including minor repairs, we will be able to apply for other grants for the major repairs to the roof, to the structure and to the stained glass. Please pray for the ministry of St Peter’s at this exciting time. The appeal will continue until March, as we explore the possibility of fundraising for the installation of a composting lavatory and running water. Any donations may be made by cash or by cheque payable to St Peter’s PCC Ringland and passed to Rev Paul. Thank you so much for your support.Rev Harold Smith’s funeral is available as a livestream on our Facebook page. There are also Orders of Service available in St Ed’s.Jams and Chutneys From Elaine : I still have some jams and chutneys for sale in aid of the food bank and Saint Martin’s hostels for the homeless. Competitive prices! My Email is elainelockett@aol.com and my phone number is 01603 860026.
As we approach Lent this year here are a few resources you might find helpful for your Lent prayer times and reflections. All the resources listed here will begin on Ash Wednesday 17 February 2021.The Church of England has produced a lent resource to encourage us to think about our calling, how to share our faith and to reflect on the difference Christ makes in our lives - live lent - if the link fails go to https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/livelent-2021-church-resources-gods-story-our-story )Live Lent is also available as an app for your telephone or tablet from your App Store.A great resource to help and encourage you in sharing your faith is available from Church Army - being salt and light . Sign up for the daily emails.if link fails go here https://churcharmy.org/Groups/299918/Church_Army/web/Get_Involved/Being_Salt_and/Being_Salt_and.aspx Lectio365 app which can be downloaded from your App Store. The theme for their Lent devotions is God on Mute and will look at the Bible’s teaching on suffering and unanswered prayer.
