Embedded Files
Welcome to the Ouse Valley Benefice
Welcome to the Ouse Valley Benefice
Welcome to the Ouse Valley Benefice - a group of Churches in West Norfolk that are part of the Diocese of Ely. The Benefice comprises seven rural villages and their churches in or close to the Norfolk fens: Bexwell, Crimplesham, Denver, Hilgay, Ryston, Southery, and Ten Mile Bank. The Benefice came into existence in January 2022 succeeding several earlier groupings to make more coherent geographical sense.
Sermon Blog
Sermon Blog
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
In Matthew 22.1-14, Jesus presents one of His most striking parables: the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. Imagine a king preparing a magnificent, lavish feast for his son’s wedding. In first-century Palestine, a two-stage invitation was customary. Accepting the initial invitation and then refusing to turn up when the feast was ready might have been seen as a grave, public insult. Yet, that is precisely what the initial guests did.
Undeterred, the king opened his banquet doors wide, instructing his servants to invite everyone they could find. This lavish gesture points directly to God’s boundless grace. The gospel invitation is offered freely and unconditionally to all, welcoming every one of us to the table regardless of our past or background.
However, the parable takes a sobering turn when the king encounters a guest not wearing wedding clothes. In biblical imagery, being clothed for the banquet represents being renewed by the Holy Spirit and putting on Christ—allowing His grace to transform our character and daily lives. While God’s grace is unearned, it makes profound demands on how we live once we have accepted him as our Saviour. Entry into God’s presence is a free gift, but living within it calls for an active, sacrificial faith.
As we go about our week, this parable invites us to pause and self-reflect: How are we wearing the grace we have received? Accepting God’s love is not a passive, one-time gesture; it is a daily commitment to clothe ourselves in kindness, mercy, and sacrificial love. May our words, actions, and attitudes reflect the wedding garment of Christ to everyone around us.
Rolling Notices
Rolling Notices
Parish Giving
Parish Giving
We are in the process of setting up Parish Giving for each of our churches. This scheme enables people to set up regular giving or make a one-off donation. The advantage of using this scheme is that gift-aid is automatically claimed on our behalf and all of the money that you donate (including the gift-aid) is passed directly onto the church. There are no administration costs involved (except for one off donations).
Baptisms, Wedding and Funerals.
Baptisms, Wedding and Funerals.
If you would like to arrange a baptism, wedding or funeral in any of our churches, please see out Life Events pages. There you will find more information about how these can be arranged. For baptisms we would like to point you in the direction of our baptism coordinator who will guide you through the process. For weddings, your first point of call would be our Vicar, the Revd Nigel Moat. Funerals would normally be arranged via your chosen funeral director - but equally, you can contact Revd Nigel directly if you would like more information.
Deepening Your Relationship with Jesus
Deepening Your Relationship with Jesus
You will find some links below to various resources that you might use to deepen your relationship with Jesus. If you would like to suggest some other resources please let us know!
A free bible app that is available online and on your smart phone.
Pray consistently for the people and causes you care about.
The daily prayer app from the Church of England.
Connect with God with the new Everyday Faith app. Journey daily with reflections to inspire, equip and encourage you in your everyday faith.
A free daily devotional with Bible teachings.
If you would like a copy of the Our Daily Bread bible notes, please complete this form.
Weekly Church of England Online Service
Weekly Church of England Online Service
Do you know someone who is unable to get to church?
If so, why not point them in the direction of the weekly online service from the Church of England. They can sign up to a weekly mailing with details of the service and watch each of the services online. Click the button below for more details and to sign up.
Daily Prayer from the Church of England
Daily Prayer from the Church of England
You can catch up with the Church of England daily prayer here.
Page updated
Report abuse