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
Dear All Saints and St Mary'sJune marks the start of summer. The days are the longest in the year and, hopefully, the cold snaps of May are behind us. It is a time to slow down and take stock. A time to look forward to summer holidays and days in the sun.In the church’s year, June is the start of ordinary time. After the culmination of the Lent and Easter seasons with Pentecost and Trinity Sunday at the end of May, June offers only a couple of festivals, with the birth of John the Baptist and the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. This gives us the opportunity to put into practice what the great stories of Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost mean in our day to day lives.Just as the story of the incarnation is not simply something for the Christmas season, the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is not just something for one week of the year. Jesus calls us to take up our cross each day and follow him (Matthew 9.23). He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14.6). Jesus called the Holy Spirit the paraklētos, the one who is always with us on the journey (John 14.16). The Spirit will remind us of everything that Jesus has said (John 14.26). He is our guide and strength along the way.The story of Jesus death and resurrection and the story of Pentecost are a part of our story. This is what we mean at communion when we say that we do this in remembrance of him (1 Corinthians 11.24–25). It is so much more than a simple recollection. It is making Jesus’ story the guiding influence in our lives. It is opening us up to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.As we enter summer this year, my prayer for you is that you find the extraordinary in this ordinary time. May you follow the way of Christ, live the love of the Father and act in the power of the Holy Spirit in each moment of your life.This Sunday we have our usual services for the first Sunday of the month:10:00 am St Mary's Holy Communion10:30 am All Saints Holy Communion and Junior Church6:30 pmSt Mary's Evensong This coming week we have our usual services. Next Sunday is The second Sunday of the month, so we have Holy Communion at 8.00 at All Saints and 10:00 at St Mary's. The 10:30 service at All Saints will be Messy Muddy Church. In addition, the Generations youth group will meet at 7:15 in the evening:Wednesday 10th 9:00 am All Saints Celtic Morning PrayerThursday 11th10:00 am St Mary's Holy CommunionSunday 14th 8:00 am All Saints Holy Communion10:00 am St Mary's Holy Communion10:30 am All Saints Messy Muddy Church7:15 pm All Saints Hall GenerationsMay God show you the extraordinary in the ordinary, the Holy in the mundane and his glory in the everyday.MarkMark SimmsLicensed Lay MinisterBenefice of all Saints and St Mary Fishponds