Dear All Saints and St Mary’s,This Sunday’s readings remind us that God’s call often comes in unexpected ways and invites us to step out of what is familiar.We hear Jesus calling ordinary fishermen—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—to leave their nets and follow Him. They didn’t have a map, and they didn’t yet know where the journey would lead, but they trusted God and stepped out in faith.The Church also remembers the Conversion of Paul, whose encounter with Christ completely transformed his life.Both stories encourage us to notice that God meets each of us in unexpected ways, inviting us to take steps of faith even when the path ahead is unclear. Inviting us to pause, listen, and be aware of the moments—ordinary or surprising—when God may be calling. Even the smallest steps of faith matter. God is present, guiding us, strengthening us, and opening up new possibilities along the way.Services this Sunday 25th January8:00 am Holy Communion, All Saints10:00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30 am Cafe Church, All SaintsThe week aheadMon 26th Jan 10:30 am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 27th Jan 10:30am – Music 4 Tots, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 28th Jan 9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 29th Jan 10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 31st Jan 12:00 pm-1:30 pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sNext Sunday 1st Feb 10:00 am – Creative Church, St Mary’s10:30 am – Holy Communion and Junior Church, All Saints6:30 pm – Choral Evensong, St Mary’sA prayer for the week aheadAlmighty God,Shine Your light on our paths and fill our hearts with hope.Help us trust in Your presence, step forward with courage,and know that even in uncertainty, Your love leads and strengthens us.Amen.Please find attached this week's readings and weekly sheets.Blessings,CharlieOrdinand- All Saints and St Mary's - Bristol Diocese
Dear All Saints and St MarysThe Church’s winter season is now over, although the weather outside may still be very wintry. The season begins with Advent, is centred on Christmas and concludes with Epiphany. Yes, some say that it should be thought to extend to Candlemas (February 2nd), but with Easter eggs already on sale in the supermarkets, I think Epiphany provides an appropriate seasonal ‘full stop’. But which of these three days is most significant? Of course, each one is important.Advent Sunday kicks it all off and is best symbolized by a candle in the darkness. I always listen to Handel’s Messiah on this and the following days. This famously begins with the aria: “Comfort my people”, the opening words from Isaiah 40. We need comfort, and we are also called to offer comfort. Christmas day is the centre, around which so much happens: from Carol services, to mince pies and presents, to visits with family and neighbours. Just as a wide variety of people were drawn to Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus, so we also recognize the need to be with others, “bearing one another’s burdens, sharing one another’s joys”.Yet, I could not do without Epiphany. There is so much in that story: the Magi have to travel far, and arrive late (just like many of us, I imagine, who only become aware of some deeper truths in our later years). The birth of Jesus is not merely a personal family affair – the Epiphany sets this birth in the context of world affairs, untrustworthy rulers and horrific killings (the massacre of the innocents, Matthew 2.16 – 18). The Epiphany reminds us that, though Jesus was born a Jew, he is given to all humankind – our faith can never be solely a matter of personal preferences, it requires us to look beyond.But the saying I love most occurs in the second half of Matthew 2.12: “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road”. The Magi had to go back home – but they were different and their route had to be different. Faith takes us onwards, even when our surroundings may be familiar. 2026 cannot merely be a replay of 2025. I may already have failed with my New Year Resolutions – but this verse encourages me to try afresh, to experiment, to seek out new paths and companions. All the Gospel readings for the Sundays of the Epiphany season (from now until the start of Lent) nudge us to look at what is familiar in fresh ways: how may God be revealing something now that we have not seen and tried before.Revd Bob CottonThis Sunday, 18th January, Services are10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All Saints6.30pm - Epiphany Carols - St MarysThe week aheadMon 19th Jan 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 20th Jan 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 21st Jan 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsWed 21st Jan 2:00pm – Bible Book Club, St Mary’sThu 22nd Jan 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 24th Jan 12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sNext Sunday, 25th January 8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints
