A crowd was sitting around Jesus, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Mark 3 : 32; 34Readings this week : Genesis 3 : 8 - 15; 2 Corinthians 4 : 13 – 5 : 1; Mark 3 : 20 - 34Thought for this weekJesus laid aside many things in His ministry. His rightful place in heaven to come to earth and be amongst us who are so frail and needing in faith. He put aside the peace of heaven to be baptised and tested, questioned and even humiliated. He took off His outer robe to wash His disciples’ feet in humility, and even gave up His life on the Cross for our forgiveness and the invitation to salvation and New Life.In our reading early in Mark’s Gospel Jesus lays aside His earthly family, His mother and brothers, to take up the family of faith, or all those who willingly turn to Jesus and believe in Him. This also means His mother and very likely His brothers and His sisters!Each time Jesus lays something aside, we as human beings, gain so much. To be able to know the Lord for ourselves. To know we have a Friend, and Saviour, our true King, in Jesus. To know the truth of Jesus’ love for us. To know we belong to a new family of believers across the world when we believe.One of the amazing features of Alpha is the way it builds us as a community and as the family of faith in Jesus. Let us celebrate that we belong to one another, and that through faith Jesus has gathered us to Himself. Rev PaulPrayer for this week(based on Psalm 145:15-16, Isaiah 55:1-3, John 6:35)Lord, the eyes of all look to You in hope; and You give them what they need. You open Your hand and satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. We, too, turn to You again, longing to be filled—to eat of the Bread of Life,to drink from Your life-giving streams,to taste Your goodness and live.May the time we spend together in Your presence nourish our hearts and minds; may it strengthen our relationship with You, and renew our commitment to live in this world as Your faithful disciples. For You alone are God, the Source and Sustainer of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. People to pray forOur Alpha courseGary and Luke rethatching St Ed'sOur church finances at this time
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 9th June 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 9th June 9:30am Mustard Tree with Baptism – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 9th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Sunday 9th June 10:30 am Holy Communion (at Sr Peter’s)Sunday 9th June 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 9th June 11:15 am Online Sunday service (pre-recorded)Monday 10th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Monday 10th June 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 11th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 11th June 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 11th June 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 12th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 12th June 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 12th June 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 12th June 7:30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 13th June 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 13th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Thursday 13th June 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 14th June 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)Friday 14th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Saturday 15th June 10am to 5pm Plant Sale (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 16th June, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. Plus Plant sale continues (if we have any plants left!) 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: June 9th 10:30 am Holy Communion (in St Peter’s)July 8th 2:00 pm PCC meeting (in St Peter’s)July 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion (in St Peter’s)Alpha has started. Please pray for this exciting time, and please invite anyone you know for whom this would be helpful. Invitations are in church.Alpha meals if anyone would like to make a meal for Alpha (12 people) please let Rev Paul knowBring and Share lunch on Sunday 30th June from 12.45pm. If you would like to contribute some food there is a sign – up sheet at the back of churchChristian Aid our total donations has now reached £500. Thank you so much!Plant Sale – our plant sale at St. Edmund’s will continue whilst we have plants to sell. If you have plants to spare, please bring them along for sale and then buy some from our selection too! Pastoral Visitors we are reviving our Pastoral Visitors’ team. If you feel the Lord is calling you into this ministry, please let Rev Paul or Rev Phil know. There will be a six week course beginning on 18th June.
Our Alpha course is about to start! We would love to see you there.Alpha is for anyone who is curious to explore the big questions of life, faith and meaning. Over eleven weeks a series of interactive videos and conversations, each week beginning with a meal together, in an open, friendly and informal environment.We’re starting on Wednesday 5th June at 6.30pm at St Edmund’s Church, Taverham in Norwich, and after this date you can still join the course for the Wednesdays during June. Everyone is welcome. Further details : Rev Paul. vicar@stedmundstaverham.co.uk Tel : 01603 868217
Then Jesus said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.’ Mark 2 : 27 - 28Readings this week : Deuteronomy 5 : 12 - 15; 2 Corinthians 4 : 5 - 12; Mark 2 : 23 – 3 : 6Thought for this weekAfter all the celebrations and deeply important events of the Lord’s grace in Jesus’ incarnation, His arrest and crucifixion, and His amazing Resurrection, we are now in Ordinary time. It is a season, just as our lives tend to travel in seasons. Ordinary time is a time for embedding and rooting all we have heard and celebrated over the past months into the depths and realities of our daily lives. Having now heard of Jesus’ resurrection, we now become people of His Resurrection in all we are, and say and do each day.In our Gospel reading Jesus speaks of the Sabbath. Not as an imposed system of rules and regulations, but as a gift of the Lord’s grace to us in our lives. The importance of rest, and also the call to know who it is we truly belong to in this world. Who is our Lord, the one who holds us in His hands.Ordinary time is an opportunity to step aside from the busyness of the festivals to reflect more deeply on how our lives can be filled anew with the Lord’s grace and love. To allow the Lord to speak through the Holy Spirit, and reveal His love in our lives. A love so immense that our lives become far from ordinary! Rev PaulPrayer for this weekO God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenGod of truth, help us to keep your law of love and to walk in ways of wisdom, that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son. AmenPeople to pray forOur Alpha courseSchools returning after half termOur PCC meeting
