Ordination SundayDear All Saints and St MarysThere is something about sand and sea air that is refreshing and renewing. I sometimes wonder how much Jesus would have looked out over water (Lake of Galilee in his case) and stared into the distance and prayed. It seems easier somehow to look on water, or watch it wash over feet, and know the power and presence of God. Like staring at the night sky and wondering about our place in the universe and what that might mean, a way in which we connect to the bigger spaces and places, knowing that all of humanity looks up to and shares in the same created spaces. Similarly, the water that washes up from the ocean has traveled to us from elsewhere, has blessed and brushed the feet of others in its path."Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest" says Jesus. As we approach this weekend we join in the great collective season of ordinations around the world. The Church prays with the power of the Holy Spirit, as Bishops ordain people who are called to serve in the Church, to be connected people who bring their gifts to the service of others. They may only be with us a while, but they are there washing our feet, blessing our lives and serving their communities. This week we welcome back Charlie - as Revd Charlie Blackett - ordained deacon in God's church to our community. Pray with us and join with us at the Cathedral in Bristol for this moment. If you want to watch live stream then you can do so here on this link.https://www.youtube.com/@bristolcathedrallivestreamIf you are going to the Cathedral and want to catch the bus then feel free to park at All Saints Church, Fishponds and bus down.Services this Sunday are as follows8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10.30am - Bristol Cathedral (no services at St Marys or All Saints at 10 or 10.30)6.30pm Evensong and Celebrations - St MarysThe week aheadMon 6th July 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 7th July 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 8th July 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsWed 8th July 7.00pm - Make the Future Celebration - All SaintsThu 9th July 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 11th July 12.00am -1.30pm - Saturday Lunches - St. MarysSun 12th July 8:00am – Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - All Age Communion with Junior Church celebration - All SaintsBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
Distinctive, Connected and HolyDear All Saints and St MarysI may be a slow learner, but at last I think I understand what is meant by “doom-scrolling”: to become so involved with any social media platform, that you spend inappropriate amounts of time and emotional energy, reading multiple messages, all with a similar theme of how awful things are. I hope I have caught myself before becoming a complete addict. The messages that I read each day come from the USA, telling me how dreadful President Trump is. Each time I read such a message, I get a little kick from hearing how awful he is …. and want to move on to another similar message. In my opinion, these messages may be accurate – but they sure can be addictive. Beware! So, I can find myself saying “He is awful; I don’t want to be like him”. But look carefully – that is just the same language that President Trump is using. He tells us how dreadful his enemies are, and how goodness and wisdom only lie on his side. How can we find another route, without demonising the President? That is some of what the Bible readings help us focus on this Sunday. We are called to be distinctive (“salt of the earth”) and also to be connected (feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty). We are called to be holy (which means being ‘set apart’) and also to be holy (life-enhancing for others, not just for ourselves). Perhaps one habit to strengthen is to identify a new thing/person each day who is life-enhancing. Focus on that thing/person for a moment, give thanks, take heart!Revd BobServices this weekend at All Saints and St Marys - June 28th8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Holy Communion - St Marys10.30 - Cafe Church - All Saints - Looking at St Johns GospelThe week ahead Mon 29th Jun 10:30am - Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 30th Jun 10:30am - M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 1st Jul 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints Thu 2nd Jul 10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 3rd Jul 11:00am-12noon - Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 4th Jul 10:00am-12noon - Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Cafe, All SaintsSat 4th Jul 10:00am -2:00pm - Summer Fair, St Mary’s Sunday 5th July8:00am - Holy Communion, All Saints 10:30am - Ordination of Deacons, Bristol Cathedral 6:30pm - Evensong St Mary’s
Preaching like WesleyDear All Saints and St MarysI was delighted to be able to accompany a small group of children from Fishponds Primary school to the John Wesley New Rooms on Thursday. We were taking part in a Citizens UK campaign action and met down at that Wesley Chapel and rooms. One of the added benefits was being able to extend the trip by a few hours and take in the chapel and museum, something that I had never done before. It was a great joint adventure together as we stood in the Wesley pulpit, roamed around the displays about music, social justice and looked at Wesley's call for abolishing slavery - so compelling that I might have considered for a moment conversion to Methodism! (Fear not - if you cut me in half like a stick of rock, it would say Church of England in the middle)What was interesting was the sheer delight of the children, as we discovered new facts and stories together, sharing in this lively and living history that is such a part of our brilliant city of Bristol. Being able to stand in that pulpit, with the children and think about what the bible is about, and how it might impact our lives now, as well as asking the children what they might preach if they were doing that this Sunday was fascinating - their questions being deep and rich. What a marvel young people are, and what a privilege it is as adults in the community and church, that we have to be trusted people that can accompany them on that questioning journey. May we all be a bit more like Wesley in his quest for the social gospel, and taking action to see that in our world, in our life time.Join us for our worship this weekend in the following waysSunday 21st June 202610.00am - Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion - All Saints7.15pm - Generations - All SaintsThe week aheadMon 22nd Jun 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 23rd Jun 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 24th Jun 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 25th Jun 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 27th Jun 12:00pm -1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSunday 28th June8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10:30am – Cafe Church, All SaintsBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
A Motley CrewDear All Saints and St MarysMy first training incumbent used to refer to the disciples as a "motley crew". I rather liked that phrase - it made it feel like you didn't have to have it all together to be a disciple of Christ. The gospel reading from Matthew this Sunday names the first 12 disciples and there has been much laboured theological conversation about who was chosen and why. And yet when we look at the those 12, they are by no means people of great statue - and none of them endured long arduous interview processes. Yet Jesus called them and they responded. And this is what the church was built on - not ready made immaculate, sorted and well positioned people, but a motley crew of all sorts and misfits. At Muddy/Messy Church this week we continue to look at that calling of God's people in different ways - come along and see which Saint's story we are learning about. As we worship together across both churches on Sunday we can be assured that the church still calls people of all shapes and sizes and from all places to be God's good news in the world and that is worthy of many an Alleluia to be sung. Please find attached weekly readings, St. Marys notice sheet and also our Holiday Bible Club Poster - send it to friend and family and encourage one another to sign up or speak to John Waldren or Lizzie about being involved with the wider team. Also come along Sunday afternoon at 2pm to St Ambrose this Sunday to be part of the "Musical Notes" event and support both our choirs in their musical medley with others.Our Worship is as followsThis Sunday - 14th June8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Muddy Messy Church - All SaintsThe week aheadMon 15th Jun 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 16th Jun 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 17th Jun 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsWed 17th 2:00pm – Bible Book Club, St Mary’sThu 18th Jun 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 19th Jun 11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 20th Jun 12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSunday 21st June10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints 7.15pm - Generations Youth Group - All SaintsBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds