As he was praying, …his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Luke 9 : 29 – 30Reading for this week : Luke 9 : 28 - 43Thought for the weekI know that in hospital there is a suggested measure of pain of between 1 and 10. But how can the pain of a whole nation be measured? Pain that has involved sudden exile, broken metal, shattered homes and tower blocks, a call to civilians to arms, and the insidious creep of fear. The situation in Ukraine is terrible, and just beginning.Yet again our Gospel reading speaks powerfully and transformatively into this situation. The Bible speaks clearly of the abuse of human power, of the futility and bloodshed of trusting in human power and purely human answers. Of how dark days will come in the end times. How all believers are called to look to the Lord, His sovereign power.We are called to look to the Lord in faith and be saved. Just as the disciples on the mountain of Transfiguration looked upon Jesus, even though they could hardly bear the brilliance of His glory.Jesus understands pain and fear better than any of us, to a far greater degree than we can ever know. We are called to pray for the people of Ukraine, and to look to Jesus in these dark times, to receive His salvation, the hope and love that He alone gives. He is the true sovereign of this world. Rev PaulA Prayer for UkraineGod of peace and justice,We pray for the people of Ukraine todayWe pray for peace and the laying down of weaponsWe pray for all those who fear for tomorrowThat your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.We pray for those with power over war or peace,For wisdom, discernment and compassionTo guide their decisions.Above all we pray for all your precious children,At risk and in fear,That you would hold and protect them.We pray in the name of Jesus,The Prince of Peace. Amen Archibishops Justin and Stephen
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 27th February 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 27th February 9:30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 27th February 11:15 am Traditional Sunday Service, Service of the word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 27th February 11:15 am on-line Sunday Service (livestream)Monday 28th February 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 28th February 5.00pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s) Tuesday 1st March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 1st March 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 1st March 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 2nd March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Ash Wednesday 2nd March 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Ash Wednesday 2nd March 7:00 pm Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Thursday 3rd March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Thursday 3rd March 7.00pm Reflection in church with Compline (at St Ed’s to be livestreamed each week.)Friday 4th March 8:45 to 9:15 am Morning prayers (at St Ed’s)Friday 4th 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 4th March 12.30pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Friday 4th March World Day of Prayer 1.30pm at St. Margaret’s, Drayton.Saturday 5th March 10:00 am to12.30 noon Lent prayer morning (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 6th 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 at 8am daily (daily except Wednesday and Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook page. Plus In St Eds morning prayers 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: Due to very low numbers the Ringland monthly services have been suspended. However we are planning a weekly Lent Bible study at Ringland. Details to be announced.Sunday 17th April, Easter Sunday 11:00am Holy Communion (at St Peter’s ans livestream)Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 2nd March. We will have services at St Ed’s at 10.30am and 7.00pmThe Diocese are offering ‘40 Prayers for 40 days’. Following the success of 40 Words for 40 days last Lent, Rev Canon Susanna Gunner offers a daily e mail with daily prayers and reflections. You can sign up through the Diocesan website : https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/Lent Prayer morning at St Ed’s on Saturday 5th March 10:00am to 12:30pm, led by Rachel.World Day of Prayer 4th March 2022 This year’s service will be at 1.30pm at St. Margaret’s, Drayton. The service has been written by the women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the theme of ‘I Know the Plans I Have for You’. All are welcome to the service.Bedding someone locally is in urgent need of help. We need a double bed sized duvet, new pillow cases, new double sheets, and duvet covers. If you are able to help please pass Rev Paul any donations. Thank you!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 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’.
It is a difficult time particularly for the people of Ukraine.The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell have condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine as “an act of great evil”.They are urging Christians to make this Sunday (27th February 2022) a special day of prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace and supporting a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday.Please see the prayer below from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.A Prayer for UkraineGod of peace and justice,we pray for the people of Ukraine today.We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.We pray for those with power over war or peace.for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,that you would hold and protect them.We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of peace.AmenArchbishop Justin WelbyArchbishop Stephen Cottrell
They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. Luke 8 : 24Reading for this week : Luke 8 : 22 - 25Thought for the weekThe Gospel reading this week is the Storm on the Lake. Few of us can have missed the debris from trees, pictures of cars being crushed, roofs damaged, and the constant weather warnings of the past 48 hours.The storm the disciples experienced must have been a storm like no other. These fishermen were highly experienced. Yet this was something different. I find it intriguing that Jesus sleeps through it, just like Jonah.Like Jonah’s storm, caused by his running from the Lord, the storm in the Gospel is like no other. It points to something wrong deeply in creation. The storm within humanity. The chaos within ourselves that can only be remedied, set right, healed by the Lord Himself, by our Saviour and Redeemer. Storm Eunice struck at a time of tension in Ukraine. Of ongoing suffering in Afghanistan. Of food and energy crises, Climate Change, Covid. Poverty and injustice rage across the world. These are times of uncertainty, change, even fear. Post – Pandemic, there are storms raging within ourselves. Yet we are called to look to Jesus. To Trust in Him, obey. The One who alone is able to rule the wind and the waves, outside and in. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekGod our creator,by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise,and the bread of life at the heart of your Church:may we who have been nourished at your table on earthbe transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s crossand enjoy the delights of eternity;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
