At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh. Mark 10 : 6 -- 8Readings this week : Genesis 2 : 18 -- 24; Hebrews 1 : 1 – 4, 2 : 5 - 12; Mark 10 : 2 - 16Thought for this weekWe have had weddings this weekend. Weddings in church have become more unusual in these days, and for that reason they are all the more special, joyful and faith – filled events.Marriage is so special to the Lord, so much so that at the end of the book of Revelation the Lord chooses the image of a bridegroom and a bride to express the relationship between Jesus and the church, His bride, who He gave His life to save. “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21 : 2).Yet marriage is also something that is worked out day by day, in the pressures and busyness of daily life. We all benefit from marriages, whether we’re married or not, because it is something that strengthens us as individuals in family life, and beyond into wider society. In the modern wedding service the family and friends of a couple promise to support the couple. Marriage involves and benefits all of us in different ways. Christian marriage often provides support to others, hospitality and friendship. Amidst the uncertainties of this world, I believe Christian marriage is a gift, and is something close to Jesus’ heart in this confusing world. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekMay we honour your name, not by paying it lip service, Lord Jesus, but by trusting the vision it speaks of and the way it calls forMay we honour it by following you, speaking into the word with our actions and showing who we’re chosen to follow May we love in your name, speak in your name, care in your name, that willingness to touch the outcast, feed the hungry, remember the sick, visit the imprisoned, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty in your name. Amenby Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Listening to the Stones http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/nk-blogging/mucky-paws/ People to pray forFor Matt and Jas, Lesley and Neil in their marriages
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 6th October 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 6th October 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 6th October 3:00 pm Wedding (at St Ed’s)Monday 7th October 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 8th October 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 8th October 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 9th October 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 9th October 1:00 pm Burial of Ashes (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 9th October 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 10th October 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 10th October 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 11th October 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 13th October, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. 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: October13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNovember 10th 10.30am Remembrance serviceShoeboxes we have leaflets in St Ed's. This year’s video is available to watch on the Blythswood Care website and is incredibly moving. Please watch the video to see what the shoeboxes are achieving. Please give a leaflet to your friends if you think they will be interested. The shoebox services will be on 3rd November. We will also have a time in church to put shoeboxes together. If you would like to bring items for this please place them at the back of church. St Ed's East Window is being removed on Monday 7th October. The space will be boarded up and scaffolding placed over the altar. If you have any ideas how we can be creative with the boarded up space please tell Rev Paul Norfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive We now have a good idea of how much we raised. Half of the amounts are contributed to the Norfolk Churches Trust (who have given us very generous donations for our building projects:Molly and Polly for St Ed’s : £525Rev Paul for St Peter’s £655Thank you to everyone
So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Mark 10 : 50 - 52Readings this week : 2 Corinthians 5 : 16 - 21; James 5 : 13 - 20; Mark 10 : 46 - 52Thought for this weekWe hear in our Gospel reading of Jesus’ healing of Bartimeus, the blind man at the side of the road from Jericho. He could have so easily been overlooked. There were many people about. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. He might not have stopped.Except Jesus always finds time for those who need Him. Jesus interrupted His journey and called Bartimaeus to Him. Seeing into the man’s life, Jesus asks, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ There could have been so many areas where the man needed healing. No doubt Jesus saw all that he needed. Yet Bartimeus asks to be able to see again.Two things stand out in this encounter. One is Bartimeus’ faith. He calls Jesus, ‘Son of David’, declaring Jesus to be of the royal, even Messianic line. The other is Bartimeus’ boldness. He cries out to Jesus , even more loudly when the crowd try to quieten him.Jesus sees into our lives. He knows our troubles, our anxieties and fears. He is the Lord who loves us. Our faith grows as we learn to trust in Him and know He meets with us in our needs. May we also have boldness to tell others, and to stand out from the crowd when needed. Rev PaulPrayer for this week (inspired by Psalm 124 and James 5)If it had not been God who was on our side, the troubles of our world would have swallowed us whole. If it had not been God who was on our side, the sorrows of our times would have swept us away. Are any among us suffering? Come and pray. Are any among us cheerful? Come sing songs of praise. Are any among us sick? Come and ask for healing. Our help is in our God, the One who made heaven and earth. Call upon God, creator and rescuer. God is on our side.posted on the Worship Elements page of the Ministry Matters website. https://www.ministrymatters.com/People to pray forFor the work of Teen ChallengeFor Joe as he is baptisedFor relief workers across the Middle East
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 29th September 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 29th September 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 29th September 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Sunday 29th September 4:00 pm Baptism (at St Ed’s)Monday 30th September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 1st October 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 1st October 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 2nd October 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 2nd October 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 3rd October 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 3rd October 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 4th October 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)Friday 4th October 11.00am Burial of ashes (at St Ed’s )Saturday 5th October Wedding (at St Peter’s)Also Sunday 6th October, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion, 3pm Wedding. 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: October 5th Wedding at St Peter’sOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNovember 10th 10.30am Remembrance serviceSunday 29th September (5th Sunday) we will be welcoming Tommy from Teen Challenge at Drayton Hall, who will be giving his testimony how Jesus has set him free. You may have visited the Teen Challenge Café in Drayton, named 5 : 17, after 2 Corinthians 5 : 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”Thank you! Our Harvest food donations have been delivered to the local Foodbank. The organisers have thanked everyone for their generosity. Shoeboxes we have leaflets in St Ed's. You may want to gather shoeboxes? The shoebox services will be on 3rd November.Norfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Any further contributions can be left in the vestry (St Ed's) for Molly and Polly or Rev Paul. We will soon be able to announce the totals donated. Thank you.
