The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’ Luke 3 : 6Reading for this week : Luke 3 : 1 - 6Thought for the weekDo you remember listening to the Home service on a crystal set?I do, and it started a lifelong interest in radio. Of course it is now Radio 4 and available in multiple ways.A favourite programme is “Today” and the “Thought for the day”. This week I heard a lady from Christian Aid who clearly was a Christian and she spoke about the need for hope in our lives and society. She was good and I waited for her to mention that Jesus was the Hope of us all.Unfortunately she only got as far saying that the Resurrection gave us hope. Well, resurrection of whom I cried (metaphorically).Lesson for me: always take an opportunity to name Jesus as our Hope.Jesus is the Christ in Christmas after all! Lord, please give us the right attitude and words to share the Christ in Christmas. GranvilleAn Advent prayerGod of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us. God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time.Amen
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below):Sunday 5th December 9:30am Mustard Tree Church – informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 5th December 11:15 am Traditional Sunday Service, Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 5th December 11:15 am on-line Sunday Service (livestream). Sunday 5th December 6:30 pm Sunday Club (livestream)Monday 6th December 5.00pm Monday prayers (at St Ed’s)Monday 6th December 6.15pm Beavers visit (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 7th December 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 7th December 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 8th December 9:00 am Melting Moments (livestream)Wednesday 8th December 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Thursday 9th December 7.00pm Reflection in church with Compline (at St Ed’s also part of this service will be livestreamed each week.)Friday 10th December 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. Cost £3. (at Trinity Church building)Saturday 11th December Funeral (at St Ed’s)Also Sunday 12th December our annual Bereavement service at 3pm plus our usual services : 8:00am Holy Communion, 9.30am Mustard Tree Church, 11.15am service of the word; and 11.15am livestream service with Sunday Clun at 6.30pm. At 8am daily (daily except Wednesday and Sunday) we will be posting a ‘Daily bitesize prayer’ on the St Ed's Facebook pageFor on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services at St Peter’s: Sunday 12th December Service of the wordSunday 19th December Nativity display begins (ends Thursday 23rd Dec.)Christmas Eve Carol service with Taverham Band 6.30pmChristmas Day service at 11amRev Stella Green – will be made a Canon at Evensong at the Cathedral on Sunday 12th December. We are also delighted she will be joining our ministry team at Taverham with Ringland.Bereavement service at 3.00pm on Sunday 12th December. Please include the name of your loved one on the sheet at the back of church if you would like their name to be read out.Christmas services are on the noticeboard at the back of church also as a separate page on the website.Nativity Displays at Ringland in the week leading up to Christmas will have a display of Nativity sets. If you have a set to loan please speak to Rev Paul or Sue Beverley. We will be decorating St Peter’s on Saturday 18th December ready for the display to open on Sunday 19th.Toys we will be providing toys for children in our community this year, to be organised by our two Duke of Edinburgh volunteers. If you would like to donate money towards this, please hand it to Rev Paul or a Churchwarden.Norwich homeless during the cold weather as in previous years we will receive donations of hats, gloves for those on the streets of Norwich. If you would like to donate these items please leave them at the back of St Ed’s marked ‘Homeless’.
Please see the list below of the services and events at St Peter's to celebrate Advent and Christmas 2021. a printable version of the list is also attached to this news item.Sun 12th Dec 11.00am Morning Praise, with coffeeSat 18th Dec 10.00am Decorating the church, with coffee and mince piesSun 19th Dec 10.00am – 3.00pm Nativity Display Sun 19th Dec 7.00pm Livestream Carols (St Ed's Facebook page)Mon 20th Dec 10.00am- 3.00pm Nativity DisplayTues 21st Dec 10.00am- 3.00pm Nativity DisplayWed 22nd Dec 10.00am-3.00pm Nativity DisplayChristmas Eve Ringland Carol Service : 6.30pm (with Taverham Band)Christmas Day Christmas Holy Communion : 11.00amFurther details : Rev Paul 01603 868217
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." Luke 21 : 29 - 31Reading for this week : Luke 21 : 25 - 36Thought for the weekBishop Graham was with us at St Ed's last week for the Confirmation. This is part of the opening of his Advent letter to the Diocese. The full letter is at the back of church:“Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Advent marks the beginning of the Church year. We begin again the annual cycle of hearing and praying the story of Salvation in the birth and ministry, passion and death, resurrection and ascension, of Jesus Christ.Our Christian pilgrimage is a journey into the life and company of Jesus. I invite you to seek to live out our diocesan vision to be “Transformed by Christ”. To be Transformed by Christ inspires us to be Prayerful, Pastoral and Prophetic. All three ‘P’s’ are powerful words, full of promise and potential, and they will help us navigate the route along our journey of holy transformation.Will you come with me on this journey? It is not another programme, not another project, not another ‘thing’ to do. In fact, much more than more ‘do-ing’, I see this as a gift to ‘be’ more, to inhabit more fully and completely our lives as baptised children of God.….I see this year’s journey into deeper prayerfulness as a great gift. It is a gift offered to each one of us, to each congregation and to the diocese at large. An invitation to journey with me and each other into the mystery of God. Every blessing as you travel through Advent and open this gift in the coming weeks”.Bishop Graham of NorwichPrayer for this weekAlmighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light,now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;that on the last day,when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
