And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Readings this week : Numbers 21 : 4 - 9; Ephesians 2 : 1 - 10; John 3 : 14 - 21Thought for this weekMothering Sunday is about love. Those who have been our mothers who have shown us love. Those who have shown us love in a motherly way. And the ways in which we have been able to show love as mothers and parents.It is significant that it always falls during Lent. A more than helpful reminder that Lent, and indeed Holy Week and Easter, are all about love. Love that has no boundaries. No limits. No second thoughts. Love that is boundless. Love that stays. That listens, and comes with the right questions. Love that wipes up life’s messes. That is true, Life – giving, always accepting and welcoming. Love that involves sacrifice.This love is true for all of us, in Jesus. This love is hard to find in this world, yet we have it plentifully, graciously, boundlessly from the heart of Jesus. It is love that leads us to the Cross of Jesus. The hardest path and the roughest road. Yet love does not hold back, but takes that road, for us.Mothering Sunday marks the turning point in Lent towards the Cross and Jesus’ sacrifice. So we prepare to take the difficult road of love, that cost Jesus everything. Love poured out for us. Love that calls us to respond, to receive, to give thanks always. Rev PaulA Prayer for this week Based on John 3 : 15 - 16You have to look your evil in the face to be healed. The snakes that plagued the Hebrews in the desert were their betrayal come back to bite them, their being Eden's serpent. The cure was to gaze at their sin. So we gaze upon the Crucified One, our victim, and look our awfulness in the eye and only there grasp forgiveness, and only then become truly alive. On the cross is lifted up our racism, our violence, our materialism, our deep seated me-first-ism. Posted there is our last text to God, “I'll let you know when I need you.” We look at it, look at it hard, to get free of the lie that we're just fine, the lie that keeps us from knowing how deeply we are forgiven, how vastly we are blessed, how infinitely we are loved. by Steve Garnaas-Holmes on Unfolding Light https://www.unfoldinglight.net/
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 10th March 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 10th March 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 10th March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at Ringland village Hall)Sunday 10th March 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Monday 11th March 9.30 am School visit meeting (at St Ed’s)Monday 11th March 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 11th March 7.30 pm PCC (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 12th March 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 12th March 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 13th March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 13th March 11:30 am Lent Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 13th March 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 14th March 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 14th March 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 15th March 9 am Year 5s in church (at St Ed’s)Friday 15th March 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 17th March, 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: March 10th 10:30 am Holy Communion (in Ringland Village Hall)March 29th 2:00 pm Good Friday Reflection (in St Peter’s)March 31st 10:30 am Easter Day Holy Communion (in St Peter’s)Holy Week and Easter at St Ed'sHoly Week begins with Palm Sunday (24th), with services at 8.00am, 9.30am and 11.15amMaundy Thursday features the Commemoration of the last Supper at 7.30pm, followed by the all night vigil.Good Friday includes the Churches Together service at St Ed’s at 11.00am, a 2.00pm reflection at ST Peter’s, and Mustard Tree Church at 4.00pmEaster Day begins with the Sunrise service at 6.00pm, an 8.00am, 9.30am and 11.15am services. Easter at St Peter's Easter Day 10:30am serviceGratitude ministry in Lent If you would like to write a message this week, please use the cards at the back of church.Dates for your diaries! St Ed's May Fair – 6th May from 11am to 4pm. Please start collecting raffle prizes, bottles, good quality bric-a-brac and clothes. St Eds Plant Stall – beginning 25th May. If you are dividing any plants or growing seeds, please could you grow a few extra for our plant stall. APCM date The Annual meeting for St Peter’s will be on Sunday 12th May at 12.15 pm (after the service and coffee) in the church. Everyone is welcome as we share the highlights of the Lord’s work among us.Contacting Rev Paul please note Rev Paul has a new e mail address : vicar@stedmundstaverham.co.uk – part of a new e mail system for St Ed’s and St Peter’s. Please can you change the address you hold for Rev Paul
The Jewish authorities came back at him with a question, “What miracle can you perform to show us that you have the right to do this?” Jesus answered, “Tear down this Temple, and in three days I will build it again.” But the temple Jesus was speaking about was his body. John 2 : 18 – 19, 21Readings this week : Exodus 20 : 1 - 17; 1 Corinthians 1 : 18 - 25; John 2 : 13 – 22Thought for this weekPart of the journey and meaning of Lent is to allow ourselves to be challenged in our thoughts, words and actions. In the Lord’s loving kindness He also disciplines and corrects us when we open our lives to Him. This can often be radical, and always brings deeper blessing and ultimately peace.Our Gospel reading this week is of Jesus cleansing the Temple, driving out the money changers and sellers of animals offered for sacrifice. The issue was these people were making it hard for ordinary people to come in and worship. They were taking advantage of people coming for worship. Jesus’ anger is set against anyone who makes it difficult for others to know the Lord’s love.While there I so much arrogance, greed and deceit in our world that needs overturning, it begins with us. With our churches, and even with our own individual lives as Christians.What needs to be overturned in us? Our habits, thoughts, opinions? How can we use Lent to lay aside those behaviours and traits that we know have been hindering our discipleship and worship? I imagine after Jesus’ actions there was a stunned silence. The clamour and chatter replaced with peace. Jesus offers us peace that only He can bring.Rev PaulA Prayer for this weekJesus, cleanser of temples and souls, at this mid-point in the Lenten journey, look deep within our hearts and our lives, and clear away all that holds us back.May our minds, spirits and bodies be a Temple that is open to Your presence: and may our words and our actions be transparent to Your love and truth.We pray that our churches, will be purified in their life and mission, so that all that we do in and from here may reveal Your Gospel to others.We come before You, In Your grace and mercy As we name those things for which we seek Your cleansing and healing, May be more faithful disciples.~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre website https://stillpointsa.org.au/
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 3rd March 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 3rd March 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 4th March 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 5th March 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 5th March 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 6th March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 6th March 11:30 am Lent Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 6th March 2:30 pm Sunnycroft Service (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 6th March 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 7th March 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 7th March 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 8th March 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 10th March, At St Ed’s 8am 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: March 6th 5:00 pm PCC meeting (in St Peter’s)March 10th 10:30 am Holy Communion (in Ringland Village Hall)March 31st 10:30 am Easter Day Holy Communion (in St Peter’s)Gratitude ministry in Lent Today we are writing gratitude cards and notes for the wonderful and friendly staff at our local stores, including Tescos. If you would like to write a message, please use the cards at the back of St Eds.Wednesdays in Lent everyone is welcome to join Rev Phil’s Bible study after the service of Holy Communion each Wednesday from 21st Feb. Alpha If you know of anyone who would be interested in joining Alpha, please let Rev Paul know.APCM date The Annual meeting for St Peter’s will be on Sunday 12th May at 12.15 pm (after the service and coffee) in the church. Everyone is welcome as we share the highlights of the Lord’s work among us.Soul Church Our prayers are with the leadership and ministry team as their new building opens this weekend Contacting Rev Paul please note Rev Paul has a new e mail address : vicar@stedmundstaverham.co.uk – part of a new e mail system for St Ed’s and St Peter’s. Please can you change the address you hold for Rev Paul
