Loving and Living

Dear All Saints and St Marys

As we continue in the seasonal joy of Easter we are invited to reflect on one of the "I AM" sayings of Jesus in John's gospel. There are 7 different ways in which Jesus describes himself by using the words "I AM". The last one of these is "I AM the vine" as Jesus speaks with his friends about what his life is about and will be about for them and others. It is a powerful image of connection. The fruit that we see on vines, be them beautiful to look at or good to eat are dependant on being attached to the vine. Jesus asks us to consider how we each flourish, and what it is that connects us and nourishes our lives.

A way of connecting, is our worship when we come together to give thanks for God and the life and love that we can know through God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Cafe Church is back this weekend at All Saints at 10.30am, with a chance to have some more informal time together, studying and discussing the biblical themes in the Book of Samuel. If you haven't been to Cafe Church before then it is a great way to get to know people better, to learn together and from each other as well as to have what my kids call "Second Breakfast!".

All Saints also have a quiet and short communion at 8am and St Marys has a sung Communion at 10am.

This Sunday 28th April 2024

8am - Said Communion - All Saints

10am - Sung Communion - St Marys
10.30am - Cafe Church - All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday 29th April 10.30am - Tiny Tots - All Saints
Tuesday 30th April 10:30am - M4T - St. Marys
Wednesday 1st May 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints
Thursday 2nd May 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. Mary’s
Friday 3rd May 10:00am - ‘Living After Loss’ Group - St. Mary’s
Saturday 4th May 10:00am - Coffee Morning & Repair Café - All Saints
12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Marys

Sunday 5th May
10:00am - Creative Church - St Marys
10:30am - Holy Communion & Junior Church - All Saints
6:30pm - Evensong- St. Mary’s

Malcolm Guites' poems bring me a huge amount of joy and Christian spiritual nourishment, so I commend the following to you all. Looking forward to worshipping with you this weekend.

I AM the Vine

How might it feel to be part of the vine?
Not just to see the vineyard from afar
Or even to pluck the clusters, press the wine,
but to be grafted in, to feel the stir
Of inward sap that rises from our root,
Himself deep planted in the ground of ove,
To feel a leaf unfold a tender shoot,
As tendrils curled unfurl, as branches give
A little to the swelling of the grape,
In gradual perfection, round and full,
To bear within oneself the joy and hope
Of God's good vintage, till its ripe and whole.
What might it mean to bide and to abide
In such rich love as makes the poor heart glad?

Blessings
Revd Lizzie
Vicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
Interim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery