“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. Matthew 25 : 14 - 15Readings this week : Zephaniah 1 : 7, 12 - end; 1 Thessalonians 5 : 1 - 11; Matthew 25 : 14 - 30Thought for this weekJesus tells a parable of a master who gives his servants gifts to use. Literally ‘talents’ or sums of money. In the master’s absence he is expecting the servants to use their initiative, and for the money to grow.We might think of this as a master and servant relationship we are familiar with through the ages. Of the servants being subject to the master or mistress. Of them fulfilling their wishes. Yet there is something different here. The master entrusts the servants. He gives them permission to use their imaginations and creativity. In a word, the master empowers them to become more like partners. Even friends. We are celebrating St Edmund’s life and witness today. He refused to be subject to the invading Norsemen. He endured martyrdom rather than bow to them. Edmund said there is only one true sovereign, Jesus Christ. Jesus calls each of us to discover the fullness of life Jesus calls us into, with all that He has made us to be. As we bring our lives under His rule, we discover how His love sets us free to be the people He meant us to be. Jesus who is our loving Lord and King. Who calls us His flock, His children, his friends. Rev PaulPrayers this weekEternal God, Whose servant Edmund, kept faith to the end,Both with you and with his people, And glorified you by his death:Grant us such steadfastness of faith That, with the noble army of martyrs,We may come to enjoy the fullness of the resurrection life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. AmenHeavenly Lord, you long for the world’s salvation:stir us from apathy, restrain us from excess and revive in us new hopethat all creation will one day be healed in Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray for :For Christians being persecuted and suffering for their faith todayFor Daphne’s family following her funeral yesterday
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 19th November 9:30am Mustard Tree Church– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 19th November 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 20th November 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 20th November 5.30 pm School visit planning (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 21st November 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 21st November 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 22nd November 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 22nd November 7.30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 23rd November 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 23rd November 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 24th November 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided cost £3. (at Trinity church)Saturday 25th November 2:00 pm til 6:00 pm Christmas Fair (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 26th November, At St Ed’s 8am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree Church, 11:15 am Service of the word. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. Additionally at 8am daily (except Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook page.For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events at St Peter’s: 22nd November: PCC meeting 5.00pm10th December 10:30 am Holy CommunionChristmas Eve 6:30 pm Carol Service Christmas day 10:30 am Christmas Day Communion ServiceOur 11.15am service today features the witness of St Edmund. Our thanks to Rev Gill for leading and preaching. The Tudor Chalice will be on display! We will also have information available for our St Ed’s Building ProjectsSchool visit planning will be at 5.30pm in St Eds for everyone who is involved in the visits before Christmas.St Ed's Christmas Fair! Is on Saturday 25th November from 2.00pm till 6.00pm. Fliers and posters are in church. Please tell your friends! Gifts for the Christmas Bottle Bag stall (can include any festive goodies that will fit in a bottle bag along with any bottles) and any items for the Raffle and Tombola gratefully received!. They can be left in the box at the back of church and will be distributed as appropriate.Bereavement service will be on Sunday 10th December at 3.00pm at St Ed’s. Please let anyone know who may be interested. There is a list at the back of church for our loved ones names. Christmas Day: if you are going to be on your own for Christmas Day and would like to come to the home of Stella Noons for lunch, please let Stella know if you would like to join her.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2 : 4Readings this week : Isaiah 2 : 2 - 4; Matthew 25 : 1 - 13Thought for this weekWe come today to remember those who died in the wars defending our country, to give thanks for our freedom and to commit ourselves to the way of peace, in the strength of Jesus the Prince of Peace. Yet this Remembrance reflects all the turmoil of war. Many different voices crying out for justice and truth. Voices calling for compassion and mercy. All the horrors of war being unleashed today in Israel and Gaza, the Ukraine, and elsewhere.What can we say? Except to remember those who gave their lives for peace and freedom, and to pray for peace still to come in our world, and look to Jesus who alone can bring true and lasting peace to our world, to our lives, to our communities. We are called to pray.Jesus tells the Parable of a wedding, and of bridesmaids called to take part, and yet some are unprepared. It is a reminder to us how we are all called by Jesus to take part in His Kingdom. We are all called to keep our lamps filled so we can shine brightly for Him. So we are ready to meet Him in the people we see, to pray, and to live our lives in His enfolding Peace. Rev PaulPrayers this weekAlmighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all:govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations,divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule;who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AmenGod, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall ceaseand poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaventhrough Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenPeople to pray for :All those with memories of war that are hard, especially todayThose caught in conflicts todayOur leaders
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 12th November 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 12th November 9:30am Mustard Tree Church (shortened)– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 12th November 10:30 am Remembrance service with Taverham Band (at St Ed’s)Sunday 12th November 10:30 am Remembrance service (at St Peter’s)Monday 13th November 10.30 pm Shoeboxes being picked up (at St Ed’s)Monday 13th November 5.00 pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 14th November 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 14th November 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 15th November 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 15th November 7.30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 16th November 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 16th November 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Friday 17th November 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided cost £3. (at Trinity church)Friday 10th November 10:30 am Langley Prep School Remembrance (at St Ed’s)Friday 10th November 6:00 pm Remembrance Rehearsal (at St Ed’s)Saturday 18th November 1:30 pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 19th November, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree Church, 11:15 am Holy Communion. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. Additionally at 8am daily (except Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook page.For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events at St Peter’s: 12th November 10:30 am Remembrance Service10th December 10:30 am Holy CommunionChristmas Eve 6:30 pm Carol Service Christmas day 10:30 am Christmas Day Communion ServiceRemembrance Sunday services at St Eds will include 8.00am Holy Communion, 9.30am Mustard Tree (shortened), 10.30am Remembrance Service with Taverham Band. Also at St Peter’s 10:30 am serviceShoeboxes we have an amazing 123! They will be picked up from St Ed's at 10.30am on Monday 13th November. Any volunteers welcome.St Ed's Christmas Fair! Is on Saturday 25th November from 2.00pm till 6.00pm. Fliers and posters are in church. Please tell your friends! Gifts for the Christmas Bottle Bag stall (can include any festive goodies that will fit in a bottle bag along with any bottles) and any items for the Raffle and Tombola gratefully received!. They can be left in the box at the back of church and will be distributed as appropriate.Christmas Day there are now several options for anyone on their own. Please speak to Rev PaulChristian Aid Middle East Crisis Appeal If you would like to donate, please follow this link www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/middle-east-crisis-appealBibles for the Junior School many of the Year 3 children love receiving their Bibles each year. A good number have been coming to the Prayer Spaces. I am hoping to give Bibles to the Year 3’s before Christmas this year so they can read the Nativity for themselves. Any donations towards the Bibles would be very gratefully received. They are still £5.95 each. Thank you. Rev PaulSt Martin's Housing Trust. Donations for Christmas presents for residents would be gratefully received. Toiletries please, in particular shampoo, shower gel, roll on deodorants and new flannels. Mainly for men. And unwrapped. They'd like them by the end of November. There is a labelled box at the back of St Eds. Very many thanks. Ann Scarff
