The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me’. John 1 : 43Bible reading : John 1 : 43 - 51Thought for the weekDuring the pandemic previously unknown (to me at least!) entities have become life-savers. Facetime, Zoom, Instagram, Whattsapp. They have all helped keep contact and check in with people. Yet for all their merits there is still no substitute for that face to face contact, however fleeting.Our Gospel reading reminds us that Jesus’ incarnation, His coming to earth and sharing in the joys and limitations of human life enable us to have a personal experience of the Lord. Through the work of the Holy Spirit the Lord longs for us to know Him, to meet with Him, to know His presence and His power. He is the Lord who walks with us, and meets us in surprising ways and places.So Philip says to Nathaniel, ‘Come and see’. It is an invitation to every human being. To lay aside what we might have heard or misunderstood about Jesus. To come and meet with Him, come and see for ourselves, come and experience His love personally, to realise He does know our lives and who we truly are.It is an invitation to pray, to open our hearts and our hands to Him, to allow Him to touch our lives with His healing and His peace. Precious moments that can make a lifetime of difference. Rev PaulPrayer for this week - A Prayer for Carers, Nurses and Doctors Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In these desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen. (from N & N Hospital Chaplaincy)
Welcome to the St Ed’s and St Peter’s Prayer Hub for the week beginning Sunday 17 January 2021. ‘My song shall be always of the loving kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I proclaim your faithfulness throughout all generations. I will declare that your love is established forever; you have set your faithfulness as firm as the heavens.’ (Psalm 89: 1&2) As we pray this week let’s give thanks for God’s faithfulness to us. Always. Each day. Forever. The love that holds all things together even though everything around may seem to be chaotic and unravelling. Almighty God,in Christ you make all things new:transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,and in the renewal of our livesmake known your heavenly glory;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. AmenPlease use these suggestions for prayer if you find them helpful.Sunday: Today we give thanks for God’s call to us ~ the call of love and grace to come and be in relationship with the One who made us and breathes life into us.Monday: Pray for all those who have Covid-19 and for those who are caring for those needing hospital care.Tuesday: As you watch or listen to the news today is there one particular situation or perhaps one person that you could pray for? Wednesday: Spend some time today slowly praying the Lord’s Prayer. Linger over the phrases and let them lead you into further prayer.Thursday: Take some time today to give thanks to God for his blessings.Friday: Allow the quietness of your prayer time to allow God to bring to your mind the things to pray for yourself.Saturday: Pray for our worship tomorrow.Please join us each morning at 8am for our Prayer for Today. We also invite you to pause each day at 12pm to say the Lord’s Prayer.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 17th January 9:30 am Communion Rev Paul/ Rev PhilSunday 17th January 11:15am Rev Paul, (service sheet attached)Sunday 17th January evening 6.30pm with Rachel and Sophie (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 19th January 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 20th January 10.30am Rev Paul/Rev PhilWednesday 20th January 5.00pm Evening Prayer Rachel, Rev Paul, ValAdditionally at 8am each morning we will be posting a ‘Daily prayer of preparation’ on our Facebook pageWatch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyServices in church along with so many other churches we have reluctantly suspended our services in church. However the church is alive! Our pastoral work is continuing as we are more and more available to the needs of our community. The church is open each day for private prayer and our livestreams continue. At this time it is a privilege to serve Jesus in the different ways He is calling each of us to be His church in which we all play a part.31st January we celebrate Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple (Canndlemas). We hope to celebrate with candles and light. Details soon.NHS Call to Pray The Revd Helen Garrard, Lead Chaplain for Norfolk Community Health and Care is holding a 24-hour prayer vigil for all NHS acute and community services and other care providers for the whole of this Sunday 17 January. Please join in at some point if you are able to.St Peter’s Appeal Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to the Appeal for St Peter’s for the investigation works into the structure of the building. We have raised an amazing £5,600 of the £8,500 needed. The appeal will continue until March. 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.The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021 is 18th to 25th January. This will be reflected in our worship and our prayers during that week. Materials have been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The theme that was chosen, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, is based on John 15:1-17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family. and are available to download through the website : week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2021/ Bishop Jonathan’s retirement On Sunday 24th January at 3.30pm, as a diocese we will bid farewell to Bishop Jonathan. Bishop Jonathan will preach at a service which will be live streamed from Norwich Cathedral. This will be available through the Diocesan website.Lent begins on 17th February (Ash Wednesday). We will be livestreaming a service of spiritual Communion at 10.30am and we livestream Evening Prayers at 5.00pm, as we begin to make the journey of Lent together.
We have launched an appeal to raise the money needed for St Peter’s Ringland for investigation works into the structure of the building, and for the annual payment for the roof alarm. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to the Appeal for St Peter’s. We have raised an amazing £5,500 of the £8,500 needed. The easiest ways to contribute are by cash or cheque (payable to “St Peter's PCC Ringland” ) and sent to Rev Paul. Contributions can be put through his door or posted to him at the Rectory, 173 Taverham Road, Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6SG.The appeal will continue until March 2021. Any help is very appreciated after the difficult times we find ourselves living through.Thank you so much for your support.
