I want to tell you about something I find achingly beautiful - something that blows my mind and heals my soul.Did you know that Jesus is signed by tapping the palm of one hand with the middle finger of the other, and vice-versa? This tactile sign indicates the wounds Jesus sustained when he was nailed to the cross. The creators of British, American and Australian sign language chose the wounds of Jesus as the defining hallmark of his identity. It's a fact that makes me sit up and take notice.We might wonder why God chose not to wipe out these scars from Jesus's resurrected body. In one sense Jesus needs those scars to prove to Thomas, the apostles and us, that he really is the same Jesus, the Crucified One whom God has brought back to life. But is there more we can learn from his wounds?Reflecting on Christ and the cross in his first letter, the apostle Peter tells his readers:He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2: 24)Peter is quoting words from a passage in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:4-5), to make a powerful link between Isaiah's Suffering Servant and Jesus the Crucified Messiah.Handel's Messiah picks out those same words (using the King James Version) in his famous Chorus. You may like to listen to it during this season.Surely, surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.Handel's emphatic repetition of the words: 'Surely, surely' encourages me to hope that suffering - my own and the world's - may not turn out to be as pointless as it first seems. I am reassured it can be transformed into something better.Peter's letter points out a dual purpose of Christ's cross and resurrection: the healing of suffering and the forgiveness of sins. Some suffering just happens to us, but there is also pain we cause. The risen Christ bearing his scars gives us courage to face both.When the risen Jesus appears to different people we see different aspects of healing taking place. With the gentle greeting, of ‘Mary!' in the garden Jesus brings solace in sorrow (John 20:16). With his command: 'Feed my sheep!'(John 21:17) Jesus brings restoration after remorse and repentance to Peter who denied him. And with 'Put your finger here and see my hands', Jesus offers Thomas concrete certainty to dispel his doubt.(John 20:27)Are you feeling downcast today? Are you feeling guilt, shame or humiliation? Have you ever felt rejected or betrayed? Are you tempted to doubt God's power and goodness? Take heart! Jesus's closest disciples and even Jesus himself experienced trials and overcame them. We too are beloved and forgivable. God is with us and for us. During my life I've experienced and observed how God still comes to meet people and refresh their hope. During this Passiontide and Easter, I invite you to tap the palm of one hand with the middle finger of the other, and vice-versa, and say Jesus. Ponder. What healing does God want to hold out to you? How will this Easter mystery: 'By his wounds you have been healed' ring true for you? Like Thomas, may you find yourself exclaiming in amazement, 'My Lord and my God!'Risen Christ,your wounds declare your love for the worldand the wonder of your risen life:give us compassion and courageto risk ourselves for those we serve,to the glory of God the Father.Collect for the 5th Sunday of EasterEaster Peace, Revd Diane, assistant curate.
Clothing ourselves in God's love.Dear All Saints and St MarysThis week we have a mini pause from Lent and celebrate "Mothering Sunday". A mix of traditions and emotions Mothering Sunday comes originally from people returning from their work places to their Mother Church and parishes. One of the readings for this week is from Colossians. It speaks of humility, kindness, compassion and patience, all things that all people are encouraged to practice in daily life, rhythms and rituals. As a church we gather as a "family", a hybrid of people of different ages and stages, life experiences, wisdom and folly and together collectively try to understand how these Christ centred practices might be lived out in life. Our worship this Sunday 30th March - (Remembering that the clocks go forward!)8am - BCP - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung All Age Communion - St Marys10.30 - All Age Communion (with band) - All SaintsTHE WEEK AHEAD Monday 30th 10.30am Tiny Tots - All SaintsMonday 30th 7.30pm. Lent Group 1Tuesday 1st 10:30am. Music 4 Tots - St. MarysWeds 2nd 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsWeds 2nd 2.00pm. Lent Group 2 - St. MarysThursday 3rd 10:00am Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 4th 11.00am Living after Loss - St MarysSaturday 5th 10:00am to 12noon Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café –All SaintsSaturday 5th 12.00noon to 2:00pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 6th 10:00am Creative Church – St Marys10:30am Holy Communion and Junior Church – All Saints6:30pm Passiontide readings and Music– St. Mary’sBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Dear All Saints and St Mary’sIn the church’s year, we have now left the season of Epiphany, and Lent is rapidly approaching. Lent has traditionally been used as a time for reflection and self-examination. It is a time when we can consider our relationship with God: where it is and where it might be going. It is a time to reflect again on what God is calling us to. It is a time to examine whether we have wandered from the path of Christ and how we can follow it more closely.This year, at All Saints and St Mary’s, we will be using the book Searched me out and known me by Charlie Bell to help us in our reflections. The book uses a psalm, along with the gospel reading set in the lectionary, to consider the themes of Lent and Holy Week. It starts on Ash Wednesday and continues with each of the Sundays in Lent and each of the days from Palm Sunday to Easter Day. For each of these days, there is a psalm, the gospel reading of the day, a reflection, and some questions for thought or discussion. The material can be used by individuals, but it is more helpful to use it in groups.We will be running two lent groups. One will be on a Monday evening at our house. The other will be on Wednesday afternoon in St Mary’s parish rooms. They will start with the Ash Wednesday material on Monday 3rd March and Wednesday 5th March, respectively. If you would like to find out more, please contact Kester or me. Lizzie has purchased some copies of the book. In addition, it is available from various online retailers, including Eden and Amazon.This Sunday, the lectionary is still with the general theme of who Jesus is, with the story of the calming of the storm. We will be looking at this in our Holy Communion services at 8.00 am at All Saints and at 10.00 am at St Mary’s. At10.30 at All Saints, we have Café Church, where we will be continuing our journey through Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome. This month the theme is Peace. We will be thinking about God’s love for us and how we can know peace with him. Then we will reflect on how this can make us more resilient during tough times.This gives the following services for Sunday 23rd February:8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)10.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Café ChurchWe have our normal midweek services with Celtic Morning Prayer on Wednesday at All Saints and Holy Communion on Thursday at St Mary’s. Then on Sunday 2nd March we have our normal first Sunday pattern with Creative Church at St Mary’s and Holy Communion at All Saints. In the evening, there is Evensong at St Mary’s.This gives the following services for the coming week:Wednesday 26th February 9.00 am All Saints Celtic morning prayerThursday 27th February 10.00 am St Mary’s Holy CommunionSunday 2nd March 10.00 am St Mary’s Creative Church 10.30 am All Saints Café Church 6.30 pm St Mary’s EvensongOne future date for your diaries is the World Day of Prayer on Friday 7th March at 2.00 pm in All Saints. This year’s theme is “I made you wonderful” and is based on material from the Cook Islands.As we look forward to getting a clearer vision of God and for his plans for us and the world, let us pray that lent may be a time of growth, discernment, and vision, so we may come to Easter in the joy of the resurrection and the triumph of Christ over sin and death.Yours in Christ. MarkMark SimmsLicensed Lay MinisterBenefice of all Saints and St Mary Fishponds