“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10 : 41 - 42Readings this week Genesis 18 : 1 – 10a; Colossians 1 : 15 - 28; Luke 10 : 38 - 42Thought for this weekAs we come towards the school holidays this week our Gospel reading features activity and rest. Jesus comes to the home of Martha and Mary, where Martha is busy making the visit as comfortable, and presumably honouring, as possible, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to Him.Yet Jesus is once again turning everything upside down, and challenging us in what is most important in our lives. Mary is ‘sitting at Jesus’ feet’, a sign of being a disciple, and listener and learner from a great teacher. At the time only men would have done this, but Jesus is accepting Mary in this role and encouraging her. And the work in a house would have been the woman’s task, yet again Jesus is challenging Martha for her to stop and instead listen to His teaching. Undoubtedly our lives are too busy these days, and often we are preoccupied with worthy and helpful things. Yet to be a Martha we need first to be a Mary. As churches we need first to listen, learn and grow in Jesus in order to do His workIn listening to Jesus Mary is not resting, but listening, growing, following Him. We are called to grow in our faith in Jesus through his word, through prayer, and opening our lives to Jesus changing us Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenAlmighty God, send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit, and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray forFor children and staff in our school as they come to the holidays.For those looking for work for the first time, or changing jobs
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10 ; 36 - 37Readings this week Deuteronomy 30 : 9 - 14; Colossians 1 : 1 - 14; Luke 10 : 25 - 37Thought for this weekOur gospel reading features Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan. A parable that has become so well known and familiar that everyone knows it. Yet we can lose sight of just how immensely powerful this parable is in speaking to millions of people of the transforming effect of acts of compassion, How every person is precious to God. How help can come from surprising places. How Jesus shows how boundaries don’t matter, that with God’s love there are no limitations or conditions to God’s love and mercy, and the love He calls each of us to share, no matter who we are.The parable is a reminder of how powerful God’s word is in our hearts. For one thing the name Samaritan is now associated with unlimited help and support. Moreover it is known in the UK for the organisation that comes alongside those who are despairing when there is all other support has faded away. It is an example of how Jesus’ words continue to speak into the human world, challenging, redefining, transforming, and having a lasting, life – changing effect. No matter how often we hear Jesus’ words, they are still full of the truth and grace of the Lord. When we receive them, act on them, pray about them, we are changed! Rev PaulPrayer for this weekO God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, AmenGracious Father, by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world: draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him, our Saviour Jesus Christ. AmenPeople to pray forThe churches in Papua New Guinea, and our Diocesan linkFor the work of the Samaritans
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below).Sunday 13th July 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 13th July 9:30am Mustard Tree – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 13th July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Peter’s)Sunday 13th July 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 13th July 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Sunday 13th July 11:30 am Refreshments (at St Peter’s)Monday 14th July 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 15th July 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 15th July 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 16th July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Thursday 17th July 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 17th July 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 18th July 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 20th July 2025, At St Ed’s, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion Plus livestream 11:15 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: The Gathering will now happen on the fourth Sundays of each month, from 3.00m to 5.00pmJuly 13th 10:30 am Holy communion Service at St Peter’s followed by refreshmentsJuly 27th 3pm informal service (the gathering) at St Peter’sAugust 10th 10:30 am Holy communion Service at St Peter’s followed by refreshmentsKnitted Bible exhibition This has been touring the country and is now at Chapelfield Methodist Church in Norwich until July 19th, from 11.00am to 4.00pm. A spectacular exhibition with 38 exhibits, “biblical characters knitted by a group of ordinary people allows us to see, reflect and recognise our role in sharing God’s story of salvationChurch open the trumpet pipes for the organ are now safely stowed away, and so St Ed’s is now open each day as usual, 9.00am until 5.00pmRev Phil will be on sabbatical from the end of July, including a time in Papua New Guinea visiting churches and joining with the Christians there.Holy Communion at Mustard Tree Church will begin in the Autumn. We will be having preparation classes for children to be admitted to Holy Communion. If your child would be interested in joining the group, please speak to Rev Paul or Sue Beevor.St Benet’s Abbey Annual Service is on Sunday 27th July 3.30 at St Benets Abbey NR12 8NJ A moving ecumenical open air service in the presence of the Abbot of St Benet’s, the Bishop of Norwich at the historic site of St Benet’s Abbey, alongside the river Bure. The Bishop will arrive by wherry and process to the cross at the site of the Abbey.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Luke 10 : 1 - 3Readings this week Isaiah 66 : 10 - 14; Galatians 6 : 1 - 16; Luke 10 : 1 – 11, 16 - 20Thought for this weekThere has been an urgency in our Gospel readings. Last week Jesus was making haste in His mission, setting his face towards Jerusalem. Now He sends out the seventy – two, and tells them to travel light, and not stay in places where they are not made welcome, or where the Kingdom is not received.We are all used to busy times. I spent years commuting within London. Morning and evening people moved like clockwork around the Underground. Yet all that haste was to just save a couple of minutes each end of the day.Jesus is speaking about something else than haste for its own sake. He is speaking about the fullness of the Kingdom. It’s interesting the disciples are sent out ‘two by two’. A reminder of Noah’s Ark, when the flood has subsided, and the earth entered a fullness and a new growing time.We are now in the time where our conversations, our acts of kindness, most of all our prayers count towards growing the Kingdom and enabling others to know Jesus’ salvation and love. We are called to live day by day, led by the Holy Spirit, and awake to the call of Jesus in people’s hearts. An exciting time, where we can be part of all that Jesus is doing. Rev PaulPrayer for this week, Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenGod our saviour, look on this wounded world in pity and in power; hold us fast to your promises of peace won for us by your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. AmenPeople to pray forFor those with celebrations at this timeFor our parishes, for us to grow in hope and Jesus’ loveTo give thanks for our building projects
