“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25 : 34 - 36Readings this week : Deuteronomy 26 : 1 – 11; Matthew 25 : 31 - 46Thought for the weekWe celebrate harvest today at St Ed's. We have so much to give thanks for in the abundance of all we have. For the astonishing creation that enables seeds to grow and harvest to happen. For the beauty of the seasons that brings constant change and life. For the gift of water, and community, and all the things that make Harvest possible, and are so much part of our daily lives.There is another harvest too, that Jesus speaks of in our Gospel reading. A harvest of kindness, of grace, forgiveness, of openness. Welcome to the outsider, visiting the wounded and suffering. Peace for the lonely. For the poor, the grieving and the sad. Jesus speaks of a harvest of faith. Of hearts turned to the Lord and His ways. A Harvest rooted and abundant in love, humility, sacrifice and hope.We are all part of the Harvest Jesus calls us to. We are called to respond to Jesus’ generous love. We praise Him for Ben’s call to ministry. We also give thanks for the miracle of faith and generosity that has enabled the church repairs. As we bring our gifts today, we give thanks that Jesus calls us to this Harvest that leads to transformed lives and hearts full of grace. The Harvest of faith Jesus calls each of us into. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekRisen Lord of the harvest, as the wild flower scatters its seeds far and wide, so may your people scatter the seed of hope in the soils of despair, bringing to growth those good things that are your gift and promise. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest on us and on all our work and worship done in his name. Amen.Christopher Burkett, Harvest for the World, 2002. Posted at http://www.mothersunion.org/God, the Holy Spirit, You are the restless wind of love that sweeps through the world. You blow where you will, breaking down barriers, Stirring hearts to change, making all things possible. Make us restless for change – even impossible change.Come, Spirit of God, Sweep through our world bringing great change. May the harvest of your goodness bring justice and hope. And, for us, transformation in our praying and living, So all may share in the harvest of your blessings. Amen.~ posted on the Third Space website. http://third-space.org.uk/blog
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 22nd September 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd September 9:30am Harvest Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd September 11:15 am Harvest Service (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd September 12:30 pm Bring and Share Lunch (at St Ed’s)Unfortunately there will be no livestream this weekMonday 23rd September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 24th September 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 24th September 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 25th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 25th September 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 26th September 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 26th September 4.00pm Burial of ashes (at St Ed’s)Thursday 26th September 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 27th September 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 29th September, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Morning Service, 4:00pm Baptism. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. For 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: October 5th Wedding at St Peter’sOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNovember 10th 10.30am Remembrance serviceCongratulations! To Ben Fiaz on his Licensing as an LLM at the Cathedral yesterday. Ben will now be able to lead services and preach, amongst many other areas of ministry. We praise the Lord for Ben’s ministry.Harvest Festival at St Ed's is today (22nd)). We will be passing non perishable items to our local Foodbank. Thank you for your donations. There will be a bring and share lunch after the service. Sunday 29th September (5th Sunday) at St Ed's we will be welcoming Tom Tyler from Teen Challenge at Drayton Hall, who will be giving his testimony how Jesus has set him free. You may have visited the Teen Challenge Café in Drayton, named 5 : 17, after 2 Corinthians 5 : 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”Norfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Thank you so much to everyone who supported Molly, Polly and Rev Paul. Amounts are still being gathered, but we’ll let you know of the totals as soon as we can.Shoeboxes we have leaflets in St Ed's. You may want to gather shoeboxes? The shoebox services will be on 3rd November.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8 : 34 - 36Readings this week : Isaiah 50 : 4 – 9a; James 3 : 1 - 12; Mark 8 : 27 - endThought for this weekJesus didn’t hold back from telling His disciples the hard things. Yet He always told them at the time He knew they were ready to hear.In our Gospel reading Jesus has taken them to a distant place, and asks ‘Who do you say that I am’. Peter replies for them all, ‘You are the Messiah’. Then Jesus tells them He must suffer and die on the Cross. More than that, anyone who would follow Him must also take up their Cross.Jesus speaks to us of His way of sacrifice. Laying aside our own desires and wants. Living for others and praying for the Kingdom. It is a hard way. A way that leads to challenges. That puts us in conflict with the world. Yet it is the way that brings life. True life, life in God Himself, even eternal life.A few weeks ago we remembered how, on hearing Jesus’ teaching of Himself as the bread of life, many people stopped following Jesus. On that occasion Peter spoke for the disciples and said, ‘Where else would we go. You have the words of eternal life’. Jesus calls us to choose Life in Him, even though that means giving Him our whole selves. Yet following and trusting Him now means gaining everything in His love, beyond all we can ever imagine. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekCall to Worship (inspired by Mark 8:29 and Matthew 16:15)In the name of the Lord Jesus, the bread breaker, the light gatherer, cross carrier, we gatherMay the peace of the Lord Jesus, the peace maker, and the temple disturber, friend of the sinner and companion on the road, be with us allLet us draw close to the Lord Jesus, the saviour, the healer, the teacher' and worship himand ask ourselveswho do we say he is?inspired by Mark 8:29 and posted on Spill the Beans. http://www.spillbeans.org.uk /People to pray forFor Ben Fiaz and his family
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 15th September 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 15th September 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 15th September 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Monday 16th September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 17th September 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 17th September 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 18th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 18th September 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 19th September 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 19th September 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 20th September 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)Saturday 21st September Ben’s licensing at the CathedralAlso Sunday 22nd September, At St Ed’s 8 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Harvest Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Harvest Service. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. For 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: October13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNovember 10th 10.30am Remembrance serviceNorfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Molly for St Ed’s and Rev Paul for St Peter’s have completed their bike ride/walk. Sponsorship money can be left in the relevant envelope in the vestry. Thank you!Ben Fiaz’ Licensing is at 10.30am on Saturday 21st September at the Cathedral. This will be a wonderful affirmation of Ben’s Ministry and calling. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please pray for Ben and his family as he makes this exciting step.Harvest Festival at St Ed's will be on Sunday 22nd September. We will be gathering non perishable items to pass on to our local Foodbank. Thank you for your donations. We will also be celebrating Ben’s Licensing as LLM. There will be a bring and share lunch after the service to continue the celebration. There is a sign – up sheet at the back of church for contributions. We will also be giving thanks for the Lord’s provision and blessing in providing for the new thatch in the chancel, and for His provision for the building projects.Sunday 29th September (5th Sunday at St Ed's) we will be welcoming Tom Tyler from Teen Challenge at Drayton Hall, who will be giving his testimony how Jesus has set him free. You may have visited the Teen Challenge Café in Drayton, named 5 : 17, after 2 Corinthians 5 : 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
