And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ Matthew 3 : 16 - 17This week’s reading : Matthew 3 : 13 - 17Thought for the week The visit of the Wise Men to worship Jesus came as a surprise. They had travelled far across the known world. Taken time out, and gone to enormous lengths to bring their gifts and kneel at the feet of the holy child. I wonder if Mary shared with Jesus all that happened? How their journey revealed Jesus’ mission for the whole world. Was it a revelation for Jesus Himself? Later, at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus comes to John for Baptism, even though of all people He does not need to turn in repentance. Again heaven is revealed through the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father. Another unexpected revelation for all who follow and believe, and even for Jesus Himself. Are we ready for the unexpected revelation of the Lord’s love, power and hope this year? Are we prepared to be surprised? Rev PaulPrayer for this weekHeavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son:may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children;through Jesus Christ our Saviour,Amen
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 8th January 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th January 9:30am Mustard Tree Church Nativity – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Peter’s)Sunday 8th January 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s)Sunday 8th January 11:15 am Online Sunday service (livestream) Sunday 8th January 6:30 pm Sunday Club (livestream)Monday 9th January 10.00am PCC Standing Committee (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 10th January 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 10th January 1:30 pm Funeral (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 10th January 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 11th January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 11th January 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 12th January 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 12th January 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Also Sunday 15th January at St Ed’s: 9:30 am Mustard Tree Church,11:15am Holy Communion. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service, 6:30pm Sunday clubAdditionally 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: 8th January Holy Communion 10.30am12th February Holy Communion 10.30amAlpha Invitations for Alpha beginning at the end of January are now in St Eds. Please pray as we embark on another exciting Alpha journey.Children’s Society collection in addition to the donations at the Christingle service we also gave out collecting candles to have at home for notes and loose change. These can be returned by 29th January to add to the total. Thank you. Online discipleship: Intro to the Old Testament An online course offered by Diocese of Norwich. Mon 16th Jan 2023 at 12.30 - Sun 26th Feb 2023 at 11.30 Details through the Diocese website Events page. Cost £15, waived for AWA’s.The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 is 18th to 25th January. This will be reflected in our worship and our prayers during that week. For this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we are guided by the churches of Minneapolis as we seek to explore how the work of Christian unity can contribute to the promotion of racial justice across all levels of society. Through this resource, the CTBI writers’ group has also focussed our attention on the 30th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which we mark in 2023. The work of restoring hope through justice undertaken in Stephen’s memory continues to inspire and change lives for the better. Further details on this link : ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2023/Hats, Gloves, scarves for the homeless We are now collecting these to be taken to the Salvation Army in the city. These can be left at the back of St Eds.
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2 : 14 - 15This week’s reading : Matthew 2 : 13 - 23Thought for the weekWhat's in a name? We know how much care we take when choosing names for our children. Well in the Bible, it's everything! In the Bible, a person's name describes their character and personality. God has a name too, and at Christmas we learned that Mary's baby was to be called Jesus - 'God saves'. Over the years they spent with him, his disciples learned what God's personality was like, through Jesus, most clearly when he gave his life for our salvation. As Christians, we too bear the name of Christ. What does that mean for us? How will people be able to see the likeness of Christ in what we say and do in this New Year? Rev StellaPrayers for this weekGod in Trinity, eternal unity of perfect love:gather the nations to be one family,and draw us into your holy life through the birth of Emmanuel,our Lord Jesus Christ, AmenGod our FatherIn love you sent your Son that the world may have lifeLead us to seek Him among the outcast and find Him among those in needFor Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen‘The Work of Christmas’When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins:to find the lost,to heal the broken,to feed the hungry,to release the prisoner,to rebuild the nations,to bring peace among the people,to make music in the heart."The Work of Christmas” by Howard Thurman, an African-American theologian, educator, and civil rights leader.
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 1st January 9:30am Mustard Tree Church Nativity – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 1st January 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 3rd January 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 3rd January 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th January 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 4th January 5:00 pm Evening Prayers (at St Ed’s)Thursday 5th January 7.00pm Reflection with Compline (at St Ed’s and livestream)Also Sunday 8th January at St Ed’s: 8am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree Church,11:15am Service of the word. At St Peter’s 10:30 am Holy Communion. Plus online 11:15am Informal ServiceAdditionally 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: 8th January Holy Communion 10.30am12th February Holy Communion 10.30amThank you St Ed’s and St Peter’s ministry team would like to thank everyone for your very kind thoughts, wishes and gifts over the Christmas period. Thank you so much. They are greatly appreciated!Christmas visitors and worship over December 2022 St Ed’s and St Peter’s gathered over 1,500 visitors through schools and Christmas services, plus hundreds more through the livestreams. Thank you to everyone who took part. Alpha Invitations for Alpha beginning at the end of January are now in St Eds. Please pray as we embark on another exciting Alpha journey. Online discipleship: Intro to the Old Testament An online course offered by Diocese of Norwich. Mon 16 Jan 2023 at 12.30 - Sun 26 Feb 2023 at 11.30 Details through the Diocese website Events page. Cost £15, waived for AWA’s.Bibles for the Junior School We are now collecting for the Year 6’s Rainbow Good News Bibles. If you would like to contribute to the Junior School Bibles this year there is an envelope in the vestry in St Eds. Hats, Gloves, scarves for the homeless We are now collecting these to be taken to the Salvation Army in the city. These can be left at the back of St Eds.
