Sunday Club on 20th December 2020 at 6:30pm via the St Ed's Facebook page will be thinking about Christmas stars.Please see and print the file (1 page) attached to this item. The template will help you to join in with the activity.All welcome.
Christmas 2020Dear everyone,After this very strange and different year for our church family we want to send out best wishes to you at this special season of Christmas and also to take the opportunity to thank so many people who have helped to keep our church family together - especially our clergy, ministry team and ordinands led with such care by Paul, the music group and technical wizards. The ‘behind the scenes’ work of administration, finances, fund-raising, churchyard maintenance and cleaning have still continued without fuss and we know an amazing number of people have kept in contact with one another in a time when many have found it very difficult. As we look to 2021 we know that we will need to be very patient and still very careful for some time even when some of us have received the Covid 19 vaccine. It is expected that attendance at our services will continue to be for a limited number of people following the guidelines carefully for well into 2021. We have been watching the various trends of the virus through our community and are hoping that we may be able to have a reasonably normal set of services by Easter - regardless of vaccine uptake. We trust that we will continue to support each other through this time of transition with patience and understanding. As the body of Christ it is part of our role to shine as a beacon of light and hope in our wider community and to be seen as selflessly working for the good of all.We hope you will be able to join in the Christmas services either online or by attending church (sign-up sheets are available in church for all the services or you can contact us to book a place). The church will, of course, be open as usual for private prayer. We would like to ask that you do not leave Christmas cards in church as this will be a risk of infection. Please contact us if you need any help in getting them delivered locally. We are also happy to help with any other church queries.Happy Christmas!Sue Beevor and Sue Charnock, Churchwardens
The livestreams are continuing with the following services being made available via the St Ed's Facebook page:Sunday 13th December 9:30 am Communion Rev Paul/Rev PhilSunday 13th December 11:15am (service sheet attached - to take part in the prayers you will need to have a bowl of water and 4 stones ready!)Sunday 13th December 3pm Annual Bereavement Service Sunday 13th December evening 6.30pm with Rachel and Sophie (for Sunday Club and the young at heart)Tuesday 15th December 10am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people)Wednesday 16th December 10.30am Rev Paul/Rev PhilWednesday 16th December 9pm Rachel’s Rectory RamblingsThursday 17th December 9am Advent song by Rachel and NickFriday 18th December 6:30pm Christian Aid Carols Saturday 19th December 9pm Prayers together Also Rachel and Nick will be posting an Advent song on Thursday or FridayWatch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyBereavement service on Sunday 13th at 3.00pm, and livestreamed through the St Ed’s Facebook page. We will be lighting candles for those who are being remembered.Services in church We have resumed our small services. Sign up sheets are at the back of church. The church will be open each day for private prayer. We also have other prayer opportunities, including a weekly prayer hub with prayer pointers, and a gathering time online each Saturday at 9.00pm.Christian Aid envelopes There is a Christian Aid display at the back of church, together with envelopes that can be used for donations. These have details of where to return them. If you have friends, family or neighbours who would be interested in having an envelope, and have the chance to make a Christmas donation, please take an envelope for them. Care Homes We are currently filling bags for Two Acres and have one more week before completing them. Any further donations would be very gratefully received on the pew at the back of church. Thank you so much for your kindness!Christmas crafts to buy there is now a wonderful display at the back of church of Christmas crafts to support St Ed’s. Also decorations being sold to support our food distribution ministry. Please have a look.Nativity scenes display We are holding a Nativity scenes display at St Peter’s Ringland from Monday 21st December to Wednesday 23rd. The church will be open 10.00am to 3.00pm each day. If you have an unusual Nativity scene St Peter’s may borrow for the display, please let Rev Paul know.An Appeal We have launched an appeal for the money needed for St Peter’s for investigation works into the structure of the building, and for the annual payment for the roof alarm. Any help is very much appreciated after this difficult year. Further details of the appeal is available at St Ed’s. St Martin’s Housing Trust there will sadly not be a street collection for St Martin’s this year. However it is still possible to give through the following link : www.justgiving.com/campaign/StMartinsChristmas. Or www.stmartinshousing.org.uk/christmas/
Welcome to the St Ed’s and St Peter’s Prayer Hub for the week beginning Sunday 13th December.This week sees us travelling deeper into our Advent journey and we light the third candle on our wreath. The third candle represents JOY. In a year where there has perhaps been seemingly little joy it is good to pause and remember what joy is about and why, even on the darkest of days we can still know joy. This is the joy that comes despite our circumstances but rather comes from our identity in belonging to Christ. In a year when we have longed for good news we are reminded that Jesus is The Good News. Angels and shepherds are filled with joy because there is Good News. Jesus is born. He is here. This is what our faith rests on, the Good News that God is not absent, but rather present in all that fills our lives - the good, the bad, the ups and the downs.In our prayers this week we invite you to focus on the word joy, as we reflect on what it might mean in difficult times, and how the Good News of Jesus Christ brings light, hope and peace to our world.St. Paul writes to the Philippians Christians May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again; rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:4-7)Sunday: We give thanks today for the joy that comes from belonging to Christ and for the joy of belonging to one another.Monday: Hold in the Light of Christ any particular situations and circumstances where the joy of Christ’s love would make a difference.Tuesday: Ask God to give you a deep sense of joy that comes from belonging to him.Wednesday: Pray for those who are struggling with concerns about their businesses and livelihoods and whose futures are uncertain.Thursday: In all the uncertainty regarding Brexit pray for our leaders and ask for God’s wisdom for them in their decision making.Friday: Pray for our life and witness in our community as we seek to share God’s love over these next few weeks.Saturday: As we prepare to worship tomorrow pray that our worship may bring joy to God.Attached is a sheet of the above in case you prefer to print a copy for reference
