Gracious and Generous God“It’s not fair”! So often, it is children who shout that, when they feel hard done by. But we adults do it too – when someone jumps in front of you in a queue, or a person is singled out for praise when they have not done as much work as others, or even, when we hear of people claiming benefits that seem to put us at a disadvantage. Yes, for many years, there was a distinction between the “deserving poor” (we like them – we want to help them) and the “undeserving poor” (scroungers, who make light of the rules, only looking out for themselves). Perhaps adults need to hear what is said to children as well: “yes, life is unfair. Get over it!” Harsh, but true. And yet, there are two ways of life being unfair (so the readings suggest this week). In Matthew’s Gospel, some workers seem to receive a full day’s reward for only a little work, on an equal basis to those who have borne the heat and burden of the day. But in Isaiah, we hear the surprising, generous, gracious words from a market stallholder (God): ‘come and get it! Come for bread and wine, even though you have no money!’ This is not fair (God says) – no, but it is my free gift. Perhaps we become people who are less angry with others if we increasingly recognize how much we receive freely – friendship, kindness, the beauty of creation, and life itself. All given freely, for us to enjoy … and then perhaps, for us to become people who will continue that tradition of gracious generosity, in some way or other.To give a live up-to-date example: most of us will know and love the RNLI. As well as being the acronym for Lifeboats, it can also stand for the people who serve in the lifeboats: Relentless Noble Life-saving Individuals. One of their mottos is: “They don’t ask who you voted for. They don’t ask where you live. They don’t ask whether you think you deserve their help. They come.” Note the use of that word “come” – exactly the word that appears repeatedly in Isaiah 55 (this morning’s Old Testament reading). God says to us “Come”! And then asks us to ‘go and do likewise’.Revd BobServices on Sunday 20th September 202610am -Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion and Hymns - All SaintsTHE WEEK AHEADTue 22rd Sep 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsWed 23rd Sep 9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 24th Sep 10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 26th Sep 12:00 am-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSun 27th Sep 8:00 am – Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00 am – Harvest Celebration with Communion, St Marys 10:30 am – Café Church, All Saints
Dear All Saints and St MarysAt the grand age of 45 I suddenly discovered that my eyesight was not as good as it used to be. So I swallowed my pride, accepted that ageing is okay and purchased some reading glasses. What these rather new things at the end of my nose (or pushed up onto my head) actually do is act as mini magnifying glasses. Suddenly small details and small print are suddenly readable again - it has been quite revolutionary. This week St Marys celebrates its Patronal Festival, and we hear again the song of Mary in her words in the Magnificat - a song that begins - "My soul magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God my Saviour". Marys response to Gabriel's message that she is to be the bearer of God's Son is to say - this makes my world larger, this expands my soul, this is something to be rejoiced in. As a young pregnant girl, where shame and danger of being ostracised would have been very real, she could have sung a very different song. The words of the Magnificat, whether spoken or sung, for me have always felt rousing and hopeful. Mary does not lament her situation but instead rejoices that God has seen her and chosen her to be a central role in the salvation of the world. To "raise the lowly... to bring down the mighty," to begin a new way of being. And in that she strode bravely into the world and by doing so changed ours. Services for this Sunday - 13th September 20268am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Muddy Messy Church - All Saints7.15pm - 9pm Generations - All SaintsMuddy Messy Church this Sunday are looking at a new Saint- it's been a been really creative year and a worship that suits all ages. Generations re starts Sunday evening and I'm looking forward to catching up with our young people and see what they have been up to in the summer.BlessingsLizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
Dear All Saints and St Marys A friend of mine, who was a priest working in London in the 1980s, received an unexpected phone call one day, asking him to visit a lonely man. He duly went to the address, to find Anthony Blunt (no longer ‘Sir Anthony’, as, by then, he had been stripped of his knighthood, having been disclosed as a Soviet spy). Blunt seldom ventured out of his flat, being both scared of public disapproval and suffering in his old age. But he wanted to talk to a priest before he died. My friend never told me what Blunt said – but he did mention that what had drawn Blunt back to wanting to be in touch with God was the sound of church bells. Blunt could hear them from his flat, and their confident, calm, resonating sound gave him courage to reach out, perhaps for the last time, to speak with God.In rather different circumstances, I experienced something a bit similar while on holiday in St David’s Pembrokeshire this summer. Sitting in the city square with my coffee, I was enjoying deeply the sights and bustle of people on holiday. For a moment, the cathedral bells started to ring. In that sound, I heard those beautiful words from Julian of Norwich – words that belong in the mouth of God: “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well”. I was fully aware of the tragedies happening around the world – but the deep notes of the bells seemed to be proclaiming: amidst all such difficulties, I (God) am here; I love you and I will never let you go.Revd BobServices this Sunday - 30th August 20268.00am - BCP Holy Communion Service - All Saints10.30 Holy Communion with Hymns - Benefice Service - All Saints(Please note this is a Benefice weekend and so services are at St Mary's this Sunday)THE WEEK AHEADWed 2nd Sep 9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 3rd Sep 10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 4th Sep 11:00 am – Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 5th Sep 10:00 am – Coffee Morning & Book Sale with Bristol Repair Cafe12:00noon - 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSun 6th Sep 10:00 am – Creative Church, St Mary’s10:30 am – Junior Church & Holy Communion, All Saints6:30 pm – Patronal Choral Evensong, St Mary’s
Life in all its fullnessDear All Saints and St Mary'sI am in the privileged position of being in a role that means that each day is never the same. Strangely there is a pattern to each week, but the nature of the church and how it intersects with the community, is that those spaces are open and public and so each day brings with it the possibility of a variety of different connections and conversations. Whether that is at All Saints when the church is open on a Wednesday, or at St Marys when we have run the Hangout Spaces. It means that there is often a rhythm, but it is one that is full of interesting and welcome interruptions. I thrive on that. These conversations and perchance or planned encounters add richness to each day - whether that is playing a board game with a young person or experimenting with a pop-up cinema screen! It means that there are many different people with their outlooks and gifts that I get to see and be part of (I hope in a helpful way). The readings this week for our communion service's touch on these different members and their giftings. Whether that is Paul giving thanks for and recognising the many different gifts of all members, or Jesus recognising Peter and giving him the "role/responsibility" of being the Rock on which God will build the Church. I am a firm believer and often find great encouragement from seeing those different gifts that we have all been given help to bless communities and churches. Paul says, "So make full use of the gifts that you have been given!" That is a challenge and a reminder to me to be thankful for all the different ways I see people blessing others with their thoughts, joy and creativity. At Cafe Church this week we focus in on a chapter in Jesus in John's gospel that asks that question - "What is our deepest desire" - What is it that you most need? What is it that you most want? It is interesting to dwell there for a moment and think on that - and then ask what gifts I might have been given, that can be put to full use and service to God and others.May we through our prayers, encounters and conversations remain on that journey of discovering our gifts and offering them fully to the world around us.Services this Sunday 23rd August8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Cafe Church - All SaintsPlease find attached weekly sheets, readings and notices for both parishes. The week aheadWed 26th Aug 9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 27th Aug 10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 29th Aug 12:00 am-1:30pm - Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSun 30th Aug 08.00 am - BCP Holy Communion, All Saints 10:30 am – Benefice Service, All SaintsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys.Vicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds