As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3 : 16 – 17Readings this week Isaiah 42 : 1 - 9; Acts 10 : 34 - 43; Matthew 3 : 13 - 17Thoughts for this weekJesus’ baptism in Matthew’s Gospel is relayed to us in remarkably few words. We have the introduction to who John the Baptist is, and how he has come to point the way to Jesus. And John expresses his surprise that Jesus is asking to be baptised. John knows who Jesus is. Yet there is an immediacy to the Baptism itself. Something that needs to happen, in order for Jesus to begin His public ministry.So much of our ministry happens in the moment. Without planning. As a surprise. At this time of year many of us are making plans, for visits and trips, maybe courses, maybe stopping some things and starting new ones.Yet the Lord calls us to live in the moment. To be mindful and aware of the moment. Of God’s grace and love in the interactions of every day. For us to live as God’s people in this way we need to be rooted in prayer, in opening the Scriptures, in listening to the Holy Spirit. So we can use each moment, and the surprises that come our way.Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit at every moment. Yet he needed to be ‘in tune’ constantly with the father’s will, and live each moment of each day. We are called to follow Jesus’ example, and live in His power, His love and His grace. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekEternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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. AmenHeavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For our own Baptisms For those coming to faith in Jesus or are returning to church.For the Lord’s provision of the resources we need for our ministry
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 11th January 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 11th January 9:30am Mustard Tree Holy Communion – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 11th January 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Please note, on 11th January, the 10:30 service at Ringland village hall has been cancelled due to a power failureMonday 12th January 8.30 am Langley Prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 12th January 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 12th January 7.30 pm PCC (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 13th January 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 13th January 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 14th January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 14th January 2:00 pm Funeral (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 14th January 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 15th January 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 15th January 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s)Friday 16th January 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 18th January 2026, At St Ed’s, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: January 25th 3:00 pm the Gathering at St Peter’s February 8th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallFebruary 8th 12:30 pm PCC at Ringland Village HallChristmas collections We are still collecting towards the Children’s Society. Collecting candles were given out at the Christingle Services on Christmas Eve. These can be returned to St Ed's up until 25th January. The Bishop’s Lent Appeal is raising money to help clergy children in Papua New Guinea to complete their education at the Martyrs Memorial School, just outside Popondetta. To raise enough money to send 1 clergy child to Martyrs Memorial School for 1 year. Tuition in schools in PNG is free, but as this school is a boarding school, there are fees to pay each year. Around £400 per pupil per year. Clergy families in PNG receive no stipend and are reliant on their congregations to support them with gifts of food and money. This money will help to provide and complete the education for 1 child. Children who are educated at the school go on into medicine, governance and teaching for example.PCC meeting at St Ed’s is on 12th January from 7.30pm in church. The meeting will be devoted to a time of prayer and worshipLent begins on 18th February (Ash Wednesday) with services at 10.30am and 7.00pm at St Ed's.Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 18th to 26th January This year Ephesians 4 v 1-13 is the central text, with the words “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” Prayers and reflections have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches, drawing upon centuries-old traditions of prayer used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date as far back as the fourth century.
Sunday 11th January 202610.30am Holy Communion service in Ringland Village Hall has been CANCELLED due to an electrical failure.Services at St Edmund's Taverham 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Mustard Tree Church (informal for all ages) 11.15am Informal Worship with the Livestream Team.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2 : 1 - 2Readings this week Isaiah 60 : 1 – 6; Ephesians 3 : 1 - 12; Matthew 2 : 1 - 12Thoughts for this weekMatthew the Gospel writer’s account of the visit of the Wise Men is full of amazing and wonderful things. Of cosmic signs of Jesus’ birth, truly lavish and rare gifts, holy dreams of warning, of a despot being incited to wrath by this new – born King, and perhaps most wonderful of all, the whole world waking to the significance of Jesus’ Coming, and the beginning of hope and salvation for the whole world.In just twelve verses Old Testament prophecies (Psalm 72, Isaiah 60) of visitors bearing gifts are fulfilled. Yet the visit of the Magi also opens the way to the future. Of Jesus’ birth heralding the Kingdom, where true treasure is found, and where the new things (Isaiah 43: 19) are beginning.The Wise Men leave, but they are not gone from the story, because we are now part of their story, the rich unfolding of the Lord’s mercy and grace through faith in Jesus across the world today. Through the visit of the Wise Men the Lord opens the way to the future of the Kingdom of Jesus. Of worship to Him, and of us men, women and children of all backgrounds and races offering the Lord all that we have, so that His Kingdom can grow in us and through us. This is Jesus’ Kingdom growing today. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekO God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Amen.Creator of the heavens, who led the Magi by a star to worship the Christ-child: guide and sustain us, that we may find our journey’s end in Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For the many opportunities we have had to proclaim the message of Jesus as Saviour and Lord over the Advent and Christmas period.For our freedom in worshipFor the faith of Christians who suffered persecution over Christmas
