Dear Friends in Christ,

One of the things I’ve noticed about being embedded in a community is the role of the unexpected leader. These are people who may be the most unlikely to lead in an ‘official’ way but who do so, often in dramatic and dynamic style, but also in quiet and unobtrusive ways.

In reality many of us are people of influence and manifest ‘soft’ authority, perhaps within our families or our friendship groups.

The unexpected leader is often someone who doesn’t follow conventional, ‘polite’ paths. They often are the ones who challenge authorities or systems. They may be those establish groups to come together to achieve a common goal or address an injustice.

It’s easy to think that we as ordinary citizens have no power, no influence, but we do, and we can enable others to do so. It just needs the spark of one person to start a fire that changes everything.

This Sunday is Bible Sunday, and Jesus is starting his own journey through leadership. As a male in Judaic society, he would already possess inherited and unearned power. Now he speaks at the synagogue, itself a conveyer of his position.

His listeners are initially proud of what he’s doing-the local boy doing good-until he dumbfounds them by not playing the expected game, challenging them and breaking out a message that affronts them.

Jesus begins his ministry with the Isaiah reading, proclaiming a message bigger than his hearers want. He’s not limited by his context. He’s now emerging into a new era, the ultimate in unexpected leaders.

This Sunday 26 October the Last after Trinity

8:00am Holy Communion, All Saints
10:00am Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
10:30am Cafe Church, All Saints

The Week Ahead

Wednesday 29th Oct 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
Thursday 30th Oct 10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
Friday 31st Oct 11:00am – Living After Loss, St. Mary’s
Saturday 1st Nov 10:00am – Coffee Morning, Book Sale & Bristol Repair Café, All Saints
Saturday 1st Nov 12:00pm - 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St. Mary’s

Next Sunday 2nd November

10:00am –. Creative Church, St. Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion, & Junior Church, All Saints
6:30pm – Choral Evensong, St. Mary’s

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.

Blessings,

Fr Kester de Oliveira