Saturday 26th March 2022 we will be holding our Spring coffee morning as part of our Lent celebrations.There will be cake, refreshments and children's crafts.This is a chance to gather and chat in the wonderful surroundings of St Peter's. All welcomeFor more information contact Rev Paul at vicarattaverham@gmail.com or by phone 01603 868217
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing”. Luke 13 : 34Reading for this week : Luke 13 : 31 - 34Thought for the weekIn our Gospel reading Jesus laments over Jerusalem. The holy city, the place long associated with the Lord’s love for His people and His commitment to them. Yet for so long the people have turned their hearts away from Him. While He longed to protect them and cover them with His love, the people have followed their own way, even when the Lord Himself has come to them in Jesus.The cities of Ukraine are very much on our hearts and in our prayers this week. There is now constant bombardment and indiscriminate danger to civilians and soldiers alike.Yet while Jesus longs for protection for the city, He does not seek protection for Himself. Jesus journeys to Jerusalem knowing He will be arrested, and crucified. Jesus’ concern is only to fulfil the purposes of the Lord, and to bring salvation and hope to the whole of humanity.We pray and live in that hope today, that Jesus has won for us. Hope that cost Him everything. Hope that comes from His incredible love for us, and His promise never to abandon humanity, but to stay with us, no matter how far we stray. This is the hope we have through Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection. This is our hope today. Rev PaulA Prayer for this weekAlmighty God,by the prayer and discipline of Lentmay we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,and by following in his Waycome to share in his glory;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 13th March 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 13th March 9:30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 13th March 11:15 am , Service of the word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Sunday 13th March 6:30 pm Sunday Club (livestream)Monday 14th March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 14th March 5.00pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s) Tuesday 15th March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 15th March 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 15th March 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 16th March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 16th March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 16th March 11:30 – 12:30pm Lent Course (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 16th March 2:00pm Lent Course (in Ringland contact Rev Val for details of venue)Thursday 17th March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Thursday 17th March 7.00pm Reflection in church with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 18th March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Friday 18th March 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. Cost £3. (at Trinity Church building) Friday 18th March 11:00 am Funeral (at St Ed’s)Saturday 19th March 10:00 am Intercessions training (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 20th March: at St Ed’s 9.30am Mustard Tree and 11.15am Holy Communion with online 11:15am Informal Service and 6pm Sunday Club. Additionally during Lent at 8am daily (except Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook page, plus have morning prayers in St Eds on weekdays 8:45 to 9:15For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services at St Peter’s: Wednesdays in Lent – Bible study 2pm (for details of venue contact Rev Val -email on revvalhooker@gmail.com or phone 01603 746936)Sunday 17th April, Easter Sunday 11:00am Holy Communion (at St Peter’s and livestream)Lent courses : we now have two Lent courses running – both during the day on Wednesdays.· Rev Phil will be leading a course based on Papua New Guinea at St Ed’s on Wednesdays from 11.30am to 12.30am· Rev Val and Jane will be leading one in Ringland, based on Paula Gooder’s book ‘Women of Holy Week’. Every Wednesday at 2.00pm Please ask Val and Jane for venue.UkraineAs part of our response to the crisis we are meeting in church every weekday morning to pray, 8.45am to 9.15am. Everyone welcome.We are also supporting the Christian Aid Appeal for Ukraine. Please make donations either in St Ed’s using the bucket or envelopes, or making a donation online, using the details below:-https://giving.give-star.com/online/christian-aid/st-edmund-s-taverham-ukraine-appealWe also have details where clothes etc. can be taken at the back of St Ed’s.Intercessions training Rev Stella and Rev Phil will be leading a training morning on Saturday 19th March for all those who lead intercessions in church or who would like to know more. Please sign up at the back of St Ed’s if you would like to come along.Hexachordia returns! They will be playing at St Peter’s Ringland on Saturday 30th July. Tickets will be on sale soon. We are delighted they will be returning.Embrace the Middle East (formerly Bible Lands) have produced a document ‘We Choose Abundant Life’ setting out the key perspectives of the remaining Christian church in the Holy Land. One of the main themes is co-operation between the main denominations and a Spirit – led witness across the region. This document can be downloaded from the Embrace website. Also a summary is at the back of St Ed’s church. This is such an important issue for our time, particularly as we consider church unity.The Norwich passion Play is happening on Saturday 16th April in Norwich – a collaboration across the city from many churches. More details are at the back of church, including how to volunteer!Christian Aid Week is 15th to 21st May. We have adopted new envelopes that no longer involve collecting them, but delivering them across Taverham and Ringland and inviting people to return them (much less hard work and awkwardness!!). If you are interested in delivering these, please let Paul Scarff or Rev Paul know.The Bishop’s Lent AppealThis year as a Diocese we will be raising money to support the purchase of beds for Sag Sag Health Centre in Papua New Guinea. For now details visit https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news/lent-appeal/Norwich homeless during the cold weather as in previous years we will receive donations of hats, gloves for those on the streets of Norwich. If you would like to donate these items please leave them at the back of St Ed’s marked ‘Homeless’.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4 : 1 - 2Reading for this week : Luke 4 : 1 - 13Thought for the weekNot only have we witnessed heart-breaking devastation and the plight of refugees this week in Ukraine, there has also been a war of words. The semantics of whether the crisis is an invasion or a ‘special military operation’. There have been the appeals to the West intensifying to blunt accusations. And the voices of the refugees, where few words are possible, or even needed.Words are powerful, can be persuasive, can carry deceit or truth. The devil uses his words to try to cleverly persuade Jesus, even deceive Him. Yet Jesus rebuffs the devil from Scripture. From the living word of truth from God.Truth about this world. Truth about who Jesus is. Truth about us.So Jesus draws on the Word. “One does not live by bread alone”. “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him. “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”.Lent is a time to take up our Bibles. To read and listen. Let the Lord speak to us. Jesus says, ‘It is Written’. It has been written for us, so we can know the Truth of the Lord’s love for this world amidst the lies, deceit, persuasion. So we can trust in Jesus the Living Word, who is the Truth. Rev PaulA Prayer for this weekHeavenly Father,your Son battled with the powers of darkness,and grew closer to you in the desert:help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayerthat we may witness your saving lovein Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
