As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Acts 9 : 3 - 4Readings this week Psalm 27; Acts 9 : 1 – 22; Luke 24Thoughts for this weekIt’s getting quite noticeably lighter for longer each day. The birds are singing loudly and the snowdrops at the front of church look amazing. It has been a roller coaster of a week with questions and fears on the global scene and maybe in our own personal lives too. Matthew, in his gospel, quotes the prophet Isaiah, by saying, ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. ‘ it’s a reading that we usually hear around Christmas as we think of the Light of Christ coming into the world. As our days get that bit longer, we can often feel a little more hopeful- that perhaps things may not be as bleak as we perceive them to be in the dark. One of the psalms set for today is number 27. It begins with the words, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom then shall I fear?’ Wonderful words that reground us in the truth that we are never alone and God’s love is the truth of our reality. The psalm ends with the words, ‘I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ When the world seems dark and hard let us look for the light that shines- the presence of Jesus here and now and keep ourselves grounded in this reality - God is the Light and Salvation of our lives. Amen. RachelPrayers for this weekAlmighty God, who caused the light of the gospel to shine throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul: grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion may follow him in bearing witness to your truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenGod of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For the snowdrops at the front of church, and the signs of springFor our fellowship with other Christians and churches in our communities
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 25th January 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 25th January 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 25th January 11:15 am Service of the Word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 25th January 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Sunday 25th January 3:00 pm The Gathering@Ringland (Informal Garden Church) (at St Peter’s)Monday 26th January 8.30 am Langley Prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 26th January 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 27th January 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 27th January 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 28th January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Thursday 29th January 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 29th January 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 30th January 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 February 2026, At St Ed’s, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion. 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: January 25th 3:00 pm the Gathering at St Peter’s February 8th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallFebruary 8th 12:30 pm PCC at Ringland Village HallWeek of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 has featured in our worship and prayer times this week. It is a powerful reminder of the witness of the worldwide church especially amongst the many places of conflict and hardship. Our prayers continue for unity and for Christians persecuted for their faith Confirmation Bishop Graham is coming to St Ed’s on Sunday 22nd March to conduct a Confirmation service at 11.15am. There will also be a Shared Lunch after the service. If you would like to be Confirmed, or if you know someone who may be interested, please speak to one of the clergy.Foodbank The Foodbank bin is back at St Ed’s, and donations will be taken to the Norwich foodbank each week. Further information about the Foodbank is available, including agencies that can help people out of needing Foodbanks.We also have a box at the back of church for emergency supplies. If you would like to place items in this these will then be available for anyone who comes into church seeking food.The Bishop’s Lent Appeal is raising money to help clergy children in Papua New Guinea to complete their education at the Martyrs Memorial School, just outside Popondetta. To raise enough money to send 1 clergy child to Martyrs Memorial School for 1 year. Tuition in schools in PNG is free, but as this school is a boarding school, there are fees to pay each year. Around £400 per pupil per year. Clergy families in PNG receive no stipend and are reliant on their congregations to support them with gifts of food and money. This money will help to provide and complete the education for 1 child. Children who are educated at the school go on into medicine, governance and teaching for example.Lent begins on 18th February (Ash Wednesday) with services at 10.30am and 7.00pm
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. John 1 : 41 - 42Readings this week Isaiah 49 : 1 - 7; 1 Corinthians 1 : 1 - 9; John 1 : 29 - 42Thoughts for this weekSo many new beginnings start with an invitation. Did you ever end up following an interest or pastime, or even changing career because someone invited you to experience, see, or try something new?Jesus’ encounter with two of John the Baptist’s disciples begins with a simple invitation to come and see where He is staying. They end up spending time with Jesus, and following Him. Even, in the case of Andrew, bringing others to Jesus.No church ever gets everything right, but I hope our churches are welcoming and inviting. I hope and pray we enable people to meet with Jesus, to hear His word, to experience His welcome.Who could you invite to church this week, this month or this year? Not only on Sundays, but in the week as well. Maybe even stepping foot in the building when it is quiet is a beginning.Please invite those you know to whatever you think is appropriate. I believe the Lord will show us who we should invite and to which gathering. A simple invitation can lead to a life – changing encounter with Jesus. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AmenEternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenWe praise the Lord and give thanks …For those who are wishing to be ConfirmedFor the work of our local foodbank, now closed, and of the Norwich FoodbankFor the unity of the church amongst Christians of different denominations or none.
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 18th January 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 18th January 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 19th January 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 20th January 10:00 am til 12 noon Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) Community Café (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 20th January 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 21st January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s )Wednesday 21st January 6:30 pm Chat Cafe (at St Ed’s)Thursday 22nd January 9.00am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 22nd January 7.00pm Compline (at St Ed’s) Friday 23rd January 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 25th January 2026, At St Ed’s, 8:00 am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Service of the word. At St Peter’s 3:00 pm the Gathering. On line Sunday service 11:15 am.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: January 25th 3:00 pm the Gathering at St Peter’s February 8th 10:30 am Holy Communion Service at Ringland Village HallFebruary 8th 12:30 pm PCC at Ringland Village HallChristmas collections We are still collecting towards the Children’s Society. Collecting candles were given out at the Christingle Services on Christmas Eve. These can be returned to St Ed's up until 25th January. Confirmation Bishop Graham is coming to St Ed’s on Sunday 22nd March to conduct a Confirmation service at 11.15am. There will also be a Shared Lunch after the service. If you would like to be Confirmed, or if you know someone who may be interested, please speak to one of the clergy.Foodbank The Foodbank bin is back at St Ed’s, and donations will be taken to the Norwich foodbank each week. Further information about the Foodbank is available, including agencies that can help people out of needing Foodbanks.We also have a box at the back of church for emergency supplies. If you would like to place items in this these will then be available for anyone who comes into church seeking food.The Bishop’s Lent Appeal is raising money to help clergy children in Papua New Guinea to complete their education at the Martyrs Memorial School, just outside Popondetta. To raise enough money to send 1 clergy child to Martyrs Memorial School for 1 year. Tuition in schools in PNG is free, but as this school is a boarding school, there are fees to pay each year. Around £400 per pupil per year. Clergy families in PNG receive no stipend and are reliant on their congregations to support them with gifts of food and money. This money will help to provide and complete the education for 1 child. Children who are educated at the school go on into medicine, governance and teaching for example.Lent begins on 18th February (Ash Wednesday) with services at St Ed's at 10.30am and 7.00pmWeek of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 18th to 26th January This year Ephesians 4 v 1-13 is the central text, with the words “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” Prayers and reflections have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches, drawing upon centuries-old traditions of prayer used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date as far back as the fourth century.
