The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. John 1 : 1 – 5, from The MessageReadings this week : Proverbs 8 : 1, 22 - 31; Colossians 1 : 15 - 20; John 1 : 1 - 14Thought for this weekThere seems to be so much darkness at the moment. The days are still relatively short. There is so much that is hard on the news, both in this country and abroad. Yet with so much that is hard and difficult to witness, the snowdrops are out in the churchyard – more vivid and numerous than ever.They are a reminder that this week we celebrated Candlemas. The infant Jesus being brought into the temple, meeting with Simeon and Anna. An outpouring of faith, of joy, of dedication of who Jesus is, God’s Light come into the world. The promises fulfilled. An overpouring of the Lord’s grace and truth into our lives and hearts.The snowdrops seems to pour out of the ground with their pure, intense whiteness. They are a reminder of Jesus coming onto our world with His hope and love, however cold and dark the earth, however dark the days.In John 1 : 5 we read : “The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;the darkness couldn’t put it out”There is a powerless and futility in the darkness. The darkness is already defeated. The Light of Jesus always supreme and all powerful. Jesus is the Light blazing in the darkness. Our Lord, Saviour and Friend. Rev PaulPrayers for this weekAlmighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image:teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. AmenAlmighty God, give us reverence for all creation and respect for every person,that we may mirror your likeness in Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray for :For those waiting for medical treatment, including from Mental Health ServicesFor our Government at this time, especially in the international situationFor those searching or new to faith in Jesus
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 4th February 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 4th February 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 5th February 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 6th February 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 6th February 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 7th February 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Thursday 8th February 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 8th February 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 9th February 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided cost £3. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 11th February, At St Ed’s 8am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Livestream Service, Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. Also in Ringland Village Hall 10:30 am Morning PrayerFor 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: February 11th 10:30 am Morning Prayer (Service of the word) in Ringland Village HallMarch 10th 10:30 am Holy Communion venue TBCAlpha our next Alpha course will be starting soon. If you know of anyone who would be interested in joining, please let Rev Paul know.Wednesdays in Lent Rev Phil will be leading a Bible study linked to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal for Papua New Guinea, after the service of Holy Communion each Wednesday from 21st Feb (at 11:30am). On Wednesday evening from 21st at 5.00pm we will have a short service of Evening Prayer in church.Ash Wednesday (14th Feb) services will be at 10.30am and 7.00pm in St Ed’sRev Val starts a placement at St Luke’s, Aylsham Road, on Monday, and will be there for a month. We pray it will be a helpful and encouraging time for her.Pancake party Lent begins on 14th February! We will be holding a Pancake Party on Tuesday 13th February at St Ed’s from 3.00pm until 5.00pm, in support of Christian Aid. Any offers of help to make pancakes and help on the day gratefully received! Please invite anyone who may like to come along. Gratitude Scheme Ben Knights has suggested a great idea for the weeks between Lent and Pentecost. Each week we will choose a local organisation that serves our community (Doctors Surgery, Pharmacies, Schools, Care Homes, Supermarkets etc) and write personal notes or cards to be delivered to them during the week. We would also include them in the prayers for the next Sunday (we can ask them for items to pray for). It will be a great way to show we appreciate all they do for us and others.Bishop’s Lent Appeal 2024 will help to raise money to provide water tanks for Ordinand’s Homes at Newton Theological College in P New GuineaContacting 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 people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. Mark 1 : 27 - 28Readings this week : Deuteronomy 18 : 15 - 20; Revelation 12 : 1 – 5a; Mark 1 : 21 - 28Thought for this weekThese days so often the idea of authority has alongside it the need to challenge, question, and be held to account. We have seen authority so often misused or mishandled. At best, as humans, we can at least expect to have limitations on any authority we may have, and quite rightly so!But this is not so with Jesus’ authority. Jesus’ teaching style had a unique authority, not relying on the texts and thoughts of others to support His teaching. And from His teaching flowed His unique and supreme authority over the natural and supernatural world. The source of Jesus’ authority lay in the truth of who He is. The one who created all things, who is the source of goodness and Light, and above all the one whose authority alone brings hope and new life.We can pray for all earthly and human authorities that they will listen to the Lord, seek His will and be guided by Jesus’ supreme, life – giving authority.We can also pray for ourselves in our relations to others, the words we speak, the thoughts we have, that our relationships will bring healing, wholeness, forgiveness and life. Rev Paul Prayers for this weekGod our creator, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness: we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, shine into the hearts of all your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenGod of heaven, you send the gospel to the ends of the earth and your messengers to every nation: send your Holy Spirit to transform us by the good news of everlasting life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.People to pray for :For those in authority in our nation and our communitiesFor ourselves in our responsibility to one anotherFor those in authority in the NHS
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 28th January 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 28th January 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 28th January 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Sunday 28th January 4:00 pm PCC OneDrive session (at St Ed’s)Monday 29th January 11.00 am Funeral (at St Ed’s)Monday 29th January 1.00 pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Monday 29th January 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 30th January 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 30th January 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 31st January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 31st January 7.30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 1st February 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 1st February 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 2nd January 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided cost £3. (at Trinity church)Saturday 3rd January 11.00 am Burial of Ashes (St Ed’s )Also Sunday 4th February, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion, 1pm burial of Ashes, 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: February 11th 10:30 am Morning Prayer in Ringland Village HallMarch 10th 10:30 am Holy Communion venue TBCAlpha our next Alpha course will be starting soon. If you know of anyone who would be interested in joining, please let Rev Paul know.Michael Greengrass’ service is on Monday 29th January 11.00am at St Ed’sPancake party Lent begins on 14th February! We will be holding a Pancake Party on Tuesday 13th February at St Ed’s from 3.00pm until 5.00pm, in support of Christian Aid. Any offers of help to make pancakes and help on the day gratefully received! Please invite anyone who may like to come along. Gratitude Scheme Ben Knights has suggested a great idea for the weeks between Lent and Pentecost. Each week we will choose a local organisation that serves our community (Doctors Surgery, Pharmacies, Schools, Care Homes, Supermarkets etc) and write personal notes or cards to be delivered to them during the week. We would also include them in the prayers for the next Sunday (we can ask them for items to pray for). It will be a great way to show we appreciate all they do for us and others.Bishop’s Lent Appeal 2024 will help to raise money to provide water tanks for Ordinand’s Homes at Newton Theological College in P New GuineaContacting 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
