“This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.” Mark 7 : 6 - 7Readings this week : Deuteronomy 4 : 1 – 2, 6 - 9; James 1 : 17 - end; Mark 7 : 1 – 8, 14 – 15, 21 - 23Thought for this weekAt the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics this week, Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, told the Paralympians they were revolutionaries. “When they told you 'no', you continued," Tonight, you are inviting us to change our perspectives, change our attitudes, change our society to finally give every person their full place. You have no limits, so let us stop imposing limits on you."In our Gospel reading Jesus speaks of those things that can defile a person, and can limit us as human beings. He gives a catalogue of vices and evil desires that have been true of humanity since the beginning. Theft, murder, lust, envy, and many more. Yet Jesus has come to offer us rescue. To live a new way, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Not to be defiled from the desires that come from within, but to be holy. It is often our tendency to live by what we see and our impulses that work from the senses that restricts us, tempts us, causes us to sin. Yet in Jesus our hearts can change and we are made free.I believe change in us can only come from faith in Jesus and the power of the HoIy Spirit. What do we need to ask Him for help with today? Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence:give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth;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. AmenMerciful God, your Son came to save us and bore our sins on the cross:may we trust in your mercy and know your love,rejoicing in the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.People to pray forOur schools as they return this weekFor those looking for work or further opportunitiesFor our brothers and sisters in Christ in the troubled places, especially Gaza and the Middle East, the Sudan and Ukraine
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 1st September 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 1st September 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 2nd September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd September 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonWednesday 4th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th September 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th September 6:30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 5th September 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 5th September 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 6th September 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)Saturday 7th September 11:00 am Baptism (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 8th September, At St Ed’s 8 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word. 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: September 8th 10.30am Harvest Service at St Peter’sSeptember 14th Norfolk churches Trust Bike/Walk/DriveOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNorfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Saturday 14th September 2024. Call at as many churches as you can and raise money for Norfolk Churches and for either St Ed’s or St Peter’s. Walking is fine, or even driving ! Rev Paul is going to attempt a circular walk from Honingham of about ten miles in support of St Peter’s. A sponsorship form is also at the back of St Ed’s.Details and sponsorship forms at the back of church or online at https://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk/bike-ride-walk/Ben Fiaz’ Licensing is at 10.30am on Saturday 21st September at the Cathedral. This will be a wonderful affirmation of Ben’s Ministry and calling. Everyone is welcome to attend.New school year begins on Wednesday 4th September. Please pray for our schools as they begin again.
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6 : 56 - 58Readings this week : Joshua 24 : 1 – 2a, 14 - 18; Ephesians 6 : 10 - 20; John 6 : 56 - 69Thought for this weekCS Lewis wrote : “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity” The Lord undoubtedly does offer us His comfort in our daily lives and in the traumas and anxieties we face. Psalm 120 : 1, “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me”. We can also know the real joy of belonging to the Lord in this world and of His presence with us through the power of the Holy Spirit.Yet in our Gospel reading Jesus meets those who are listening with a challenge. That He is the one who has come from the Father in heaven. That hope and eternal life are alone found in Him, in Jesus. That Jesus offers Himself as the bread of life, and we are called to put our trust in Him, to depend on Him and receive Him as far beyond any strength and sustaining of worldly bread. Jesus calls us to surrender all we are to Him, the one who has given His whole self to us. This is the way of the Cross. It is challenging, uncompromising, revealing and liberating. It certainly does not make for an easy life. Yet it brings fulness of life, even eternal life. However few we may seem at times, we are called to live in this radical, life – changing way in Jesus, our Saviour, Lord and Friend. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenAlmighty God, you search us and know us: may we rely on you in strength and rest on you in weakness, now and in all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray forThose who have received exam results recentlyFor youngsters seeking work or exploring opportunities
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 25th August 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 25th August 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 25th August 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 25th August 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Sunday 25th August 2:00 pm Baptism (at St Ed’s)Monday 26th August 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 27th August 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonWednesday 28th August 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 28th August 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 29th August 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 29th August 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 30th August 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 1st September, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. 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: September 8th 10.30am Harvest Service at St Peter’sSeptember 14th Norfolk churches Trust Bike/Walk/DriveOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNorfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Saturday 14th September 2024. Call at as many churches as you can and raise money for Norfolk Churches and for either St Ed’s or St Peter’s. Walking is fine, or even driving ! Rev Paul is going to attempt a circular walk from Honingham of about ten miles in support of St Peter’s. A sponsorship form is also at the back of St Ed’s.Details and sponsorship forms at the back of church or online at https://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk/bike-ride-walk/Ben Fiaz’ Licensing is at 10.30am on Saturday 21st September at the Cathedral. This will be a wonderful affirmation of Ben’s Ministry and calling. Everyone is welcome to attend.New school year begins on Wednesday 4th September. Please pray for our schools as they begin again.
