Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7 : 35 - 37Readings this week : Isaiah 35 : 4 – 7a; James 2 : 1 – 10, 14 - 17; Mark 7 : 24 - endThought for this weekThroughout the Gospels Jesus meets people from His heart of kindness and compassion. Revealing His love in surprising and wonderful ways.Yet meeting with Jesus is never going to be easy. He meets us with His truth, the One who is Truth. He can be unsettling, discomforting, abrasive even. Always in love. Always bringing new things.In our reading today a woman comes to Jesus in faith that He can heal her daughter. Yet she is an outsider in terms of Israel and the Jewish expectations. Jesus speaks to her of giving children’s bread to dogs. It is disarming, uncomfortable language. But meeting with Jesus is never going to be straightforward, comfortable or easy.Jesus heals the woman’s daughter, and praises her for her faith, then goes on to Gentile towns healing and responding to those who come believing in Him.None of this was easy for Jesus’ Jewish followers, or the religious authorities, or for that matter, in His humanity, for Jesus Himself. Jesus disturbs us from our comfortable places. Faith in Him leads us to lay aside all that hinders, and take up all that brings true life. What about us? How does Jesus need to challenge you and me today? Rev PaulPrayer for this weekGod, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; 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. AmenLord God, defend your Church from all false teaching and give to your people knowledge of your truth, that we may enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray forFor Ben as he prepares to be LicensedFor youngsters preparing for further education or work opportunitiesFor our schools and the new term
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 8th September 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th September 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at Sr Peter’s)Sunday 8th September 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Monday 9th September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 9th September 7.30 pm PCC (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 10th September 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 10th September 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 11th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 11th September 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 12th September 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 12th September 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 13th 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 14th September 10:00 am churches open for the Norfolk churches Trust Bike/Walk/Drive (at St Ed’s and St Peter’s)Also Sunday 15th September, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. 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: September 8th 10.30am Harvest Service at St Peter’sSeptember 14th Norfolk churches Trust Bike/Walk/DriveOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNorfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Saturday 14th September 2024. Call at as many churches as you can and raise money for Norfolk Churches and for either St Ed’s or St Peter’s. Walking is fine, or even driving ! Rev Paul is going to attempt a circular walk from Honingham of about ten miles in support of St Peter’s. A sponsorship form is also at the back of St Ed’s.Details and sponsorship forms at the back of church or online at https://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk/bike-ride-walk/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 Peter's is on Sunday 8th September. We will be gathering non perishable items to pass on to our local Foodbank. Thank you for your donations. Sunday 29th September at St Eds, we welcome Tom Tyler from Teen challenge speaking about how his faith in Christ has set him free. Not to be missed!
“This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.” Mark 7 : 6 - 7Readings this week : Deuteronomy 4 : 1 – 2, 6 - 9; James 1 : 17 - end; Mark 7 : 1 – 8, 14 – 15, 21 - 23Thought for this weekAt the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics this week, Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, told the Paralympians they were revolutionaries. “When they told you 'no', you continued," Tonight, you are inviting us to change our perspectives, change our attitudes, change our society to finally give every person their full place. You have no limits, so let us stop imposing limits on you."In our Gospel reading Jesus speaks of those things that can defile a person, and can limit us as human beings. He gives a catalogue of vices and evil desires that have been true of humanity since the beginning. Theft, murder, lust, envy, and many more. Yet Jesus has come to offer us rescue. To live a new way, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Not to be defiled from the desires that come from within, but to be holy. It is often our tendency to live by what we see and our impulses that work from the senses that restricts us, tempts us, causes us to sin. Yet in Jesus our hearts can change and we are made free.I believe change in us can only come from faith in Jesus and the power of the HoIy Spirit. What do we need to ask Him for help with today? Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence:give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth;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. AmenMerciful God, your Son came to save us and bore our sins on the cross:may we trust in your mercy and know your love,rejoicing in the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.People to pray forOur schools as they return this weekFor those looking for work or further opportunitiesFor our brothers and sisters in Christ in the troubled places, especially Gaza and the Middle East, the Sudan and Ukraine
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 1st September 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 1st September 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 2nd September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd September 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonWednesday 4th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th September 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th September 6:30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 5th September 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 5th September 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 6th 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 7th September 11:00 am Baptism (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 8th September, At St Ed’s 8 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word. 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: September 8th 10.30am Harvest Service at St Peter’sSeptember 14th Norfolk churches Trust Bike/Walk/DriveOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNorfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Saturday 14th September 2024. Call at as many churches as you can and raise money for Norfolk Churches and for either St Ed’s or St Peter’s. Walking is fine, or even driving ! Rev Paul is going to attempt a circular walk from Honingham of about ten miles in support of St Peter’s. A sponsorship form is also at the back of St Ed’s.Details and sponsorship forms at the back of church or online at https://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk/bike-ride-walk/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.New school year begins on Wednesday 4th September. Please pray for our schools as they begin again.
