Dear friends,

I hope you are well and enjoying the things this June is bringing you so far. It is a busy season for me, both in terms of our church calendar and more personally. Festivals and celebrations seem to be the theme of the season with Ascension Day, Pentecost and Trinity Sunday all coming one after another for our church community and Download music festival and my parents 40th wedding anniversary for me personally. Our spiritual tradition should be one that includes festivals – not just in the modern church sense but in the true sense. When I arrived to Bristol 11 years ago it seemed that every week there was another event, each with Fest stuck on the end. These days there are still lots of events but perhaps not quite so many (or maybe I just got used to Bristol). Either way, festivals are difficult to run year after year. They present so many challenges both financially and logistically. They require creativity and drive and passion to put on year after year. In church our annual events can sometimes feel similar and yet, if we are to continue to form and grow as a community, we need to find ways to celebrate together. Our festivals and feast days really are better with actual festivities and feasting rather than just the theory of those things as we pray from the front. As such, I was delighted when 5 or 6 people volunteered to organise our summer community day and the plans that have emerged for Saturday 19th July combine the usual Summer Fair with the community event we did last year with a BBQ and cream teas. There will be stands, stalls, games and activities for all ages and we are looking forward to celebrating life and being together as a church community between 11:30 and 2pm on 19th July. You are welcome and always invited.

As we look forward to the festival of Pentecost this Sunday, we are reminded that our church began with a bang. Rushing wind and flames of anointing broke into their gathering in a home turning it into a street event with miraculous translation allowing all people to gather and participate. It is an interesting image for us to consider at St Martin’s. How might our gatherings change unexpectedly when God moves amongst us? Who might be drawn in by God’s welcome? How might we speak to all types of people about the great things God does in our lives?

This week Rev’d Tim Godden will help our early service to celebrate Pentecost with our usual contemplative said Eucharist. At 10:30 Chris and I will facilitate conversations, discussion and prayer as we gather over breakfast at Café church. It would be lovely to see you there. In the afternoon there is a service for confirmations with one person joining from St Martin’s. Do pray for the candidates as they make this commitment and receive the Holy Spirit anew.

I hope to see you all soon,

Every blessing,

Phil