Dear All Saints and St Mary's

Pentecost is often described as the birthday of the church. We remember the day when a small group of frightened people were transformed into a movement that swept the Roman Empire and, eventually, much of the world. However, to simply describe it in these terms is to completely miss the point of what happened on that day and what the church really is.

At the heart of the feast of Pentecost is the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit that brought about the transformation of that small group of disciples into the growing community of believers that we hear about in the Acts of the Apostles. It is the Spirit that guides and strengthens the church today. It is the Spirit that reveals to each one of us the path that God has set before us.

This Pentecost is an opportunity to open our hearts and minds afresh to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, to seek the truths that he reveals to us, develop the gifts that he gives and bear the fruits that he nurtures.

We have a few opportunities to take this further on Sunday. There is Holy Communion at All Saints at 8.00 and 10.30 and at St Mary's at 10.00:

08.00 All Saints Holy Communion (said)
10.00 St Mary's Holy Communion
10:30 All Saints Holy Communion

We have the usual services this week. Next Sunday there is a Benefice service at St Mary's. As such, there will be no 10.30 service at All Saints.

Wednesday 27th 09:00 All Saints Celtic Morning prayer
Thursday 28th 10:00 St Mary's Holy Communion

Sunday 31st May

08:00 All Saints Holy Communion (said BCP)
10:00 St Mary's Benefice Communion

Let us pray for that the Holy Spirit may dwell in our hearts and minds using the words of the collect for Pentecost:

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your Church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yours in Christ

Mark

Mark Simms
Licensed Lay Minister
Benefice of all Saints and St Mary Fishponds