"Doing Good"Dear All Saints and St MarysThe Acts of the Apostles was written about 100 AD, a generation after the first Gospels. It contains stories about the growth of the church, and reflects some of the concerns they were having, as local Christian communities were becoming more established. Yet, preserved within these chapters, there are some very early summaries of Jesus’s life. These verses show how the earliest Christians talked about Jesus, before later refinements were made (such as we say each week in the Creed). One important early description is found in Acts 10.38, with four different descriptions of Jesus. Each of these captures something true about Jesus, as they experienced him in his own lifetime, and also as we experience him now. ‘God anointed Jesus with power’: yes, God’s power was evident, as he taught and as he fed people in amazing ways. ‘Jesus healed those who were oppressed’: yes, Jesus released people trapped by illness, stigma, or lack of love. ‘For God was with him’: yes, when we meet Jesus, we meet God. But my favourite phrase is this: ‘Jesus went about doing good’. It is such a simple phrase, but it condenses into five words so much of what I believe about Jesus. Whatever troubles he met, whoever he came across, whatever difficult circumstances he encountered, Jesus simply did good. He made goodness happen, and not only left people in a better place – but also gave them the power to continue doing good themselves. In our culture, being a “do-gooder” is a critical description, usually delivered with a sneer. But I don’t think it should be. How about this wonderful quotation from a Quaker missionary, who was saying in different words what Acts 10.38 is pointing us towards: “I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”This Sunday's Worship on 22nd June8:00 - Holy Communion, All Saints10:00 - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30 - Café Church, All Saints The week aheadWeds 25th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThurs 26th June 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. MarysSaturday 28th June 12noon - 1.30pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 29th June 8:00am - BCP Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am - Holy Communion, All Saints Revd Bob.
Dear All Saints and St MarysHappy Holy Trinity Sunday! Did you know that Bristol Cathedral's "name" is "The Holy and Undivided Trinity"? I have always found it inspiring and comforting that the "mother" church of this city and the diocese bears this name. Trinty Sunday comes straight after the feasts of Pentecost and the Ascension. In many ways bringing full circle the whole theological journey that Christians live from the beginning of creation, through Jesus life and death and resurrection to the sending of the Spirit. It is when we celebrate all that is unique about the Christian faith. And it is a unique and radical claim that God can be both one and three all at the same time. That we can know God in all ways simultaneously, and experience God in this dynamic relationship of God who creates, redeems and sustains us in one community and one communion. A day when we sing three fold "Holy!Holy!Holy!"Sunday 15th June are worship is 10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All SaintsThe week aheadWednesday 18th 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThursday 19th 10.00am Holy Communion - St. MarysFriday 20th 11.00am Living after Loss - St. MarysSaturday 21st 12noon to 1.30pmSaturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 22nd June 8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am Holy Communion - St Mary’s10.30am Café Church - All SaintsBlessingsLizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Come Holy SpiritDear All Saints and St Mary's,This Sunday, we remember the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first disciples, equipping them with courage, unity, and a new language of love to proclaim the gospel to all nations. It was not the end of the story, but the beginning—the birth of the Church.As an Ordinand, walking this journey of discernment and formation, I am struck with how Pentecost reminds us that ministry is not something we take up alone. It is God’s Spirit who calls, who equips, and who sends. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters of creation now dwells in each of us, empowering us to live as Christ’s body in the world.What might it look like to truly open ourselves to the Spirit’s work in our lives and in our communities? Where is God inviting us to speak hope, act justly, and love boldly?With three different styles of Worship this Sunday, we hope that you can join us at one of them.This Sunday 8th June – Pentecost8:00am – Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am – Holy Communion, St Marys10:30am – Messy Muddy Church, All Saints7:15pm – Generations – All Saints LinkThe week aheadWeds 11th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThurs 12th June 10:00 Holy Communion - St. MarysSaturday 14th June 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sNext Sunday 15th June10:00am – Holy Communion St Mary’s10:30am – Holy Communion, All SaintsCome, Holy Spirit.Fill the hearts of your people and kindle in us the flame of your love. Renew your Church and send us out in the power of your Spirit, to the glory of your name.AmenWith every blessing,Charlie BlackettOrdinand -All Saints and St Mary’s - Bristol Diocese
Dear Friends in Christ,This Sunday falls between Ascension day where we contemplate Jesus’s ascension to the Father and the events of Pentecost. The disciples and his followers are left confused and emotionally drained, having lived through weeks of promise, despair, fear and rejoicing, and now their beloved leader is leaving them. But he promises the Comforter-an agent who will connect and witness to each all who believe..Those first followers wouldn’t have fully understood what was going to happen. The Spirit of God has previously been attached to specific events rather than interacting with all believers. This would be a new level of personal, intimate connection.In this week’s Gospel Jesus talks of the destruction of divisions, the erasing of barriers. He and the Father are one, and they in turn enfold us into their intimacy of relationships when we accept Jesus as Christ. The writer, theologian and Franciscan priest Richard Rohr wrote in his book The Divine Dance of his concept of the Trinity as a constantly fluid dance of equality and love with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This vibrant living and harmonious dance is not one of exclusion, but inclusion, and we are invited to join in. When we do we become connected to the dynamic spiritual reality of this inter-relationship.This Sunday, 1st June - 7th Sunday of Easter10.00am Creative Church - St. Marys10.30am Holy Communion - All Saints6.30pm Evensong - St. MarysThe week aheadWednesday 4th June 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayers - All Saints ChurchThursday 5th June 10.00am Holy Communion - St. Marys ChurchFriday 6th June. 11.00am Living after Loss - St. Marys Church.Saturday 7th June 10.00am Coffee Morning & Repair Cafe- All Saints ChurchSaturday 7th June 12.00noon Saturday Lunches - St. Marys ChurchNext Sunday 8th June - Pentecost8.00am Holy Communion-All Saints Church10.00am Holy Communion-St. Marys Church10.30am Messy Muddy Church-All Saints ChurchMay the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. AmenBlessingsFr Kester de Oliveira