St Edmund’s Taverham and St Peter’s Ringland – Prayer Hub for Holy WeekWe come to Jerusalem and the final week of the earthly life of Jesus. We ponder again the scandal and shame of the cross, the place where we see the outpouring of God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness and love. As we take time this week to, ‘Survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died,’ we are invited again to revisit the events of this most sacred week and to wonder at God’s ultimate expression of love and allow them to breathe life into us.We shall base our prayer suggestions this week on the booklet The Easter Journey which gives a passage of scripture for each day to read and reflect on. You may then like to use the short prayer which Rachel has written to accompany it and use it as a pathway into prayer and meditation.Palm Sunday: Read and reflect on Luke 18:31, 19:29-40Let us pray.Lord Jesus as we remember your entry into Jerusalem and your passion to do your Father’s will, help us to be faithful followers of you. May our shouts of praise be filled with life and not hollow and empty. Hosanna! You are the God who saves, we cry. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Holy Monday: Read and reflect on John 2:13-21Let us pray.Lord of life, you show us the intensity of your love in ways that sometime shock us. Help us to hear your call to put you above all else in our lives and help us never to put obstacles in the way of others that prevent them from becoming aware of your presence in their lives.Holy Tuesday: Read and reflect on Mark 14:3-11Let us pray.Lord, we thank you for this woman who showed such immense devotion to you as she poured perfume on your feet. Help us to bring our devotion to you whatever the cost for you alone are worthy of our praise. Holy Wednesday: Read and reflect on John 13:1,34, and 14:1-6Let us pray.Lord, you show us what perfect love is and you command us to love like you. We don’t find this easy yet we want to do as you say. Please give us all we need to love like you and help us to be quick to say sorry when we mess it up.Maundy Thursday: Read and reflect on Luke 22:1-23Let us prayLord, during this last year we haven’t been able to receive communion. Thank you that you speak powerfully through everyday things like bread and wine. Help us to remember you in all the ordinary things of life, remembering that each moment is sacred gift from you. Good Friday: Read and reflect on John 19:16-30Let us prayLoving God, you did this for us. Thank you.Holy Saturday: Read and reflect on Luke 22:50-56Let us prayLord, as darkness descended and the world was hushed and waiting in agony not knowing what would happen, so we bring to you our often silent agonies and fears. As we wait in the darkness help to listen for hope. Please join us at 8am each day on Facebook for our Bitesized Prayer. Also, you may like to pause each day at 12pm with Christians all around the world who pray the Lord’s Prayer at their 12pm!! This is an ancient practice that unites us wherever we are in our unity in Christ.Attached is a sheet of the above in case you prefer to print a copy for reference
The livestreams are continuing with the following services being made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 28th March 9:30 am Spiritual Communion, Rev Phil/Rev Paul (livestream)Sunday 28th March 11:15am Rev Paul (service sheet attached) (livestream)Sunday 28th March evening 6.30pm with Rachel (for Sunday Club and the young at heart) (livestream)Tuesday 30th March 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (livestream)Wednesday 31st March 10.30am Rev Phil/Rev Paul(livestream)Wednesday 31st March 5.00pm Evening Prayer (livestream)Wednesday 31st March 9.00pm Rachel’s Rectory Ramblings (livestream)Maundy Thursday, 1st April 7.30pm Worship to commemorate Maundy Thursday (livestream) Maundy Thursday, 1st April 9.00pm All – night Vigil (in individual homes)Good Friday, 2nd April 10.30am Service of prayer and reflection (livestream)Good Friday, 2nd April 2.00pm Church open for private prayer for the Last Hour of the CrossEaster Day, 4th April 6.00am Sunrise service with Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Easter Day, 4th April 9.30am Holy Communion for Easter (at St Ed’s and livestream)Easter Day, 4th April 11.00am Holy Communion for Easter (at St Peter’s)Easter Day, 4th April 11.15am Outdoor Communion for Easter (at St Ed’s and livestream)Easter Day, 4th April 6.30pm Sunday Club (livestream) The sign up sheets are now in St Ed’s church for the Maundy Thursday vigil and the Easter Sunday services at 6.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am and 11.15am.Additionally at 8am daily (Monday to Saturday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook pageWatch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyHoly Week resources. There are baskets in the St Ed's church porch with Palm Crosses, a Lifewords booklet with readings called ‘The Easter Journey’, and our prayer themes sheet. Please come along and help yourself to these resources for the approach to Holy Week.St Peter’s Appeal A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the appeal. Please pray for the ministry of St Peter’s at this exciting time. The appeal will continue until the end of March, as we explore the installation of a composting lavatory and running water. Any donations may be made by cash or by cheque payable to St Peter’s PCC Ringland and passed to Rev Paul. Thank you so much for your support.
St Edmund's Taverham with St Peter's RinglandServices, livestreams and prayers for Holy week and Easter 2021Palm Sunday 28th March 9.30am Spiritual Communion (livestream) 11.15am Informal worship (livestream) 6.30pm Sunday Club (livestream)Wednesday in Holy Week 31st March 10.30am Informal worship (livestream) 5.00pm Evening Prayer (livestream) 9.00pm Rachel’s Rectory Ramblings (livestream)Maundy Thursday 1st April 7.30pm Worship for Maundy Thursday (livestream) 9.00pm All – night Vigil (in individual homes)Good Friday 2nd April 10.30am Service of prayer and reflection (livestream)2.00pm Church open for private prayer for the Last Hour of the CrossEaster Day 4th April6.00am Sunrise service with Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)9.30am Holy Communion for Easter (at St Ed’s and livestream)11.00am Holy Communion for Easter (at St Peter's)11.15am Outdoor Communion for Easter (at St Ed’s and livestream)6.30pm Sunday Club (livestream)Maundy Thursday vigil Last year we prayed in our homes, and an amazing 21 people signed up for an hour slot to do this. The sign – up sheet is in church – we invite you to pray for an hour during the vigil at home. Please indicate which hour you are committing to.Easter services On Easter Sunday we will have livestreams and some ‘in person’ services. the sign up sheets are now in St Ed’s church for Easter Sunday services at 6.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am and 11.15am.
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.John 12 : 20 - 23Bible reading : John 12 : 20 - 33Thought for the weekIn our Gospel reading some Greeks come to the disciples and say, “We want to see Jesus”. How will people see Jesus today? How can people know His love for themselves?As we come to Passion Sunday we witness the incredible love of Jesus who gave His life for the forgiveness of our sins and New life in Him. In all we have been through this year and the state of the world now the question keeps being raised, ‘How have we come to this?’ We have clearly gone wrong, been at best distracted from what matters, at worst we have willfully gone our own way. We have turned our backs on the one who loves us. We thought we knew best!The Lord has met our personal sin with the Cross. In the turmoil and suffering of the world Jesus offers us rescue, and certain hope. He has conquered sin and overcome death. He went to the Cross in pure selfless love for us.How will people see Jesus? We are called to tell them the Good News, and show them Jesus in our lives. The Lord’s Saving and forgiving love. Let us believe boldly, and pray confidently and celebrate Jesus’ love is for everyone. Rev Paul Prayer for this weekGracious Father,you gave up your Sonout of love for the world:lead us to ponder the mysteries of his passion,that we may know eternal peacethrough the shedding of our Saviour’s blood,Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
