Dear Friends in Christ,It’s that wonderful time of year when Spring feels really tangible. After the cold and dark of winter we start to see sunshine and colour everywhere. The days are longer and brighter, and you can smell the new fragrances of Spring in the air.We are celebrating Christ’s resurrection, the event that remade us as Easter people, a rebirth-the spring-of our own lives of faith. It is appropriate that we are doing so this coming Sunday in a Joint Benefice Service at St Marys to celebrate as a whole church community. Like Spring, this is a wonderful time, but also one of promise. Nature does not stay permanently in Spring. Spring is beautiful, but part of that beauty is its transitory nature. Christ's resurrection is our spiritual spring, but then it becomes the spiritual summer with his ascending to be once more with God and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. Our own spiritual spring leads onto our spiritual summer where we grow and develop.Thomas, aka Doubting Thomas, represents an important part of this faith journey. He is not reprimanded for his question. Instead, Jesus responds and provides the answer he seeks. And he continues to do so when we also ask questions. God does not force blind, unexplored faith. Our journeys with faith are unique and are all the richer for their questions, their times of doubt and reflection. God welcomes our most honest and heartfelt questions and will provide an answer-even if it is not immediately or not in the way we expect. Thomas is our example, so instead of Doubting Thomas he can be Bold Thomas, Thoughtful Thomas, even Faithful Thomas.AmenThis Sunday 27th April Second Sunday of Easter8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am Joint Benefice Service Holy Communion - St. Marys NB. NO 10.30am service at All SaintsThe Week AheadMonday 28th 10.30am Tiny Tots - All Saints Community HallWednesday 30th 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThursday 1st May 10.00am Holy Communion - St. MarysFriday 2nd 11.00am Living After Loss - St. MarysSaturday 3rd 10.00am to 12noon Coffee Morning - All SaintsSaturday 3rd 12noon - to 1.30pm Saturday Lunches - St. MarysNext Sunday 4th May Third Sunday of Easter10.00am Creative Church - St. Marys10.30am Holy Communion - All Saints6.30pm Evensong - St. MarysMay the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. AmenBlessings Fr Kester de Oliveira
Happy EasterDear All Saints and St MarysFor most of the last week, I have greeted people with a "Happy Easter" with the caveat...."when it comes". Not knowing if I will see that person again before the "Big Day" it seems the right greeting. And we are still in that paused moment, when Easter has not yet arrived, but it is very very near.Easter, when it comes, is the moment that Christians believe changed the world absolutely and forever. Having walked the road of Lent and Holy week, of foot washing, agape meals, silence and Good Friday we are now almost at that time. A time when around the world in all shapes and sizes people will gather and sing and say "Alleluia - Christ is Risen". A statement of faith and truth for Christians. So may I also wish you a Happy Easter here, in the hope of seeing you and being with you to celebrate this over the coming weekend. EASTER SERVICES - 19th and 20th APRIL7.30pm - SATURDAY NIGHT - 19th APRIL - Easter Vigil, Fire and First Holy Communion. - St Marys10am - SUNDAY AM - 20th APRIL - All Age Holy Communion - St Marys10.30 - SUNDAY AM - 20th APRIL - All Age Holy Communion - All Saints6.30pm - SUNDAY EVE - 20th APRIL - Easter Choral Evensong - St MarysBlessings and Happy EasterRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Palms - Hands, Branches and DonkeysDear All Saints and St MarysEvery story has a beginning, a middle and an end. (or so some say) This week Palm Sunday arguably marks all three. It is an ending of Lent. A beginning of Holy Week. And it marks an interjection in the midst between the two. A day of remembering, retelling, taking part in the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. A day which marks the beginning but also draws us to the ending . A week which sees processions, fickle crowds, rowdy temples, unjust trials, eating, sleeping, praying, dying and rising. It is the story which for Christians holds profound truth about who God is and how God acts. May we all be invited into this Holiest of weeks together.This Sunday our worship allows us to open the palms of our own hands to receive God with the palm branches as we re discover again this life giving story.Palm Sunday - Sunday 13th April8.00am - Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am - Sung Palm Sunday Holy Communion Service - St Marys10.30am - Palm Procession Service - All Saints7.15pm - Generations Youth Group - All SaintsThe week aheadTuesday 11.00am Pat Jones Funeral - All SaintsTuesday 6.30pm Holy Communion - All SaintsWednesday 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsWednesday 6.30pm Taizé - All SaintsThursday 10.30am Chrism Mass - Bristol CathedralThursday 6.30pm Agape - All SaintsThursday 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion - St MarysFriday. 10.30am Good Friday Children's Activities - All SaintsFriday 1.30pm Liturgy of Good Friday - St MarysFriday 2.00pm Last Hour - All SaintsSaturday 12noon to 1.30pm - Saturday LunchesSaturday 7.30pm Easter Eve Holy Fire, Vigil and First Communion of Easter - St MarysEaster Sunday 20th April 10.00am Easter Sunday Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am Easter Sunday Holy Communion - All Saints6.30pm Easter Choral Evensong - St Marys.Oh....and a interesting poem I discovered this week to ponder about a Donkey by GK Chesterton ( because...why not on Palm Sunday)When fishes flew and forests walkedAnd figs grew upon thorn,Some moment when the moon was bloodThen surely I was born.With monstrous head and sickening cryAnd ears like errant wings,The devil’s walking parodyOn all four-footed things.The tattered outlaw of the earth,Of ancient crooked will;Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,I keep my secret still.Fools! For I also had my hour;One far fierce hour and sweet:There was a shout about my ears,And palms before my feet.God BlessRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Dear All Saint’s and St Mary’s, This week brings us to the Fifth Sunday of Lent, and the beginning of Passiontide, leading us through the final weeks of Lent to Holy Week and Good Friday.In John’s Gospel this week some of those closest to Jesus are beginning to understand where the road to Jerusalem is leading in the interaction with Mary, Lazarus and Judas. A time for us to particularly turn our thoughts and reflection to the Passion of Christ in the light of his suffering, taunting and subsequent crucifixion. We all have the chance to delve into this together at St Mary’s this Sunday evening with Passiontide readings and music.Our worship this Sunday 6th April 10am – Creative Church – St Mary’s10:30am – Holy Communion with hymns and Junior Church - All Saints6:30pm – Passiontide Readings and Music- St Mary’sThe week AheadMonday 7th - 7:30pm Lent Group 1Weds 9th 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsWeds 9th 2.00pm Lent Group 2 – St Mary’sThurs 10th 10:00am Holy Communion – St Mary’sFri 11th 12:30pm Lunchtime Concert – St Mary’sSat 12th 12 noon – 2pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSat 12th 11.00am Stations of the Cross at Dither Wood (Bring a picnic, lifts available sign-up sheet at St Mary’s or speak to Charlie or Kester) Sun 13th April: Palm Sunday8:00am Holy Communion – All Saints 10:00am Palm Sunday – St Mary’s10:30am Palm Sunday– All Saints7:15pm Generations – All Saints Link Blessings,CharlieDiocese of Bristol Ordinand – All Saints and St Mary’s, Fishponds