Dear Friends in Christ,August can be a strange month. For many it’s a time of holidays-especially those having to fit in their vacations with schools. Yet on the flip side it’s also when students get their exam results, with all the attendant worry and excitement that goes with it. It brings us this coming last Bank Holiday until Christmas. I always remember hating to see all the ‘back to school’ signs in the supermarkets reminding me that my lovely 6 week break was coming to an end!! Mind you-I’m sure a fair few parents also count those days down with anticipation! We also notice the nights starting to get dark again and the first hints of autumn.Change-good and bad-is a fundamental part of life. No matter how hard we may fight it, we can’t avoid it. The future is something that can excite or terrify us, the past often becomes distorted through nostalgia. I now seem to view the 1980s as the best period ever simply because I was young then with hair and lots of energy. We have to be so careful that this nostalgia doesn’t blur our vision of the present and dictate how we look at the future.In our Gospel reading this Sunday the disciples argue about which of them would be regarded as the greatest. They’re projecting to a future they don’t understand rather than being present in that moment with Jesus. He in turn challenges their views on authority but also promises them thrones to judge alongside him-a somewhat contradictory message but one that we can unpack.Ultimately, we can learn from them to not be defined only by our past and how that might shape our future, but to be in the present moments that’s where our life is happening now, and to not do so means we may miss the bad, but we also miss so much that’s good.AmenThis Sunday 24th August Bartholomew the Apostle8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am. Holy Communion - St. Marys10.30am Café Church - All SaintsThe Week AheadWednesday 27th August Morning Celtic Prayer 9.00am - All Saints ChurchAA Meetings 7.30pm - St. Marys ChurchThursday 28th August Holy Communion 10.00am - St. Marys ChurchFriday 29th AugustLiving after Loss 11.00am. St. Marys ChurchSaturday 30th AugustSaturday Lunches 12noon to 1.30pm. St. Marys Church.Next Sunday 31 August Eleventh Sunday after Trinity8.00am. BCP Holy Communion - All SaintsNo service at St. Marys10.30am. Benefice Holy Communion - All SaintsMay the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.Blessings,Fr Kester de Oliveira
Dear All Saints and St Mary’sThis Sunday’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews completes the story of the Old Testament heroes of faith. Last week we heard of Abraham’s faith and how he trusted in God’s promise. This week, having skipped over the epistle’s recounting of the stories of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, we have a whistle stop tour of the rest of the Old Testament. The fortunes of these people varied. Some were great kings, warriors, and judges. Some were saved from lions or enemy soldiers. Others, however, suffered mocking, poverty, imprisonment, or execution. However, all of them, through good and bad, kept their faith in God.The letter then goes on to encourage its readers to follow the example of all those heroes that they had heard about. Whether things are going well or badly, we should persevere in the way that Jesus has set before us. We look to him, who is our example and our leader. He endured the cross, never giving up his faith in his Father or his love for all people.We have a couple of opportunities to think more about this on Sunday:10.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion10:30 am All Saints Holy CommunionWe have our usual midweek services. Next Sunday follows our usual fourth Sunday format. This gives the following services for the coming week:Wednesday 20th August 9:00 am All Saints Celtic morning PrayerThursday 21st August 10:00 am St Mary’s Holy CommunionSunday 24th August8:00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)10:00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion10:30 am All Saints Café ChurchIn addition, the bible book club will be looking at Nehemiah in St Mary’s parish rooms on Wednesday 20th August at 2:00 pm.So let us pray that the faith described by the letter to the Hebrews may be seen in us:Lord God,your Son left the riches of heavenand became poor for our sake:when we prosper save us from pride,when we are needy save us from despair,that we may trust in you alone,through Jesus Christ our Lord.Yours in ChristMark
Living by FaithDear All Saints and St MarysThe word "faith" appears 7 times in the reading from the letter to the Hebrews. "Have a little faith!" is a common pronouncement when trying to encourage ourselves and others to take on something that might on paper look a little daunting but still holds hope and possibility. It is a word that is not just based on "no knowledge" but of some knowledge of the world matched with the humility that we perhaps don't have as yet the full picture. It is to live in a way that is both hopeful and humble. The world can often feel daunting, unpredictable and strange and yet faith holds firm to the good that is desired and still to come. It is the hope of the world that God made looking ever more closely like the kingdom. One of the loveliest images of the gospel this week is that God, as creator and maker, will welcome us all to sit at table, to join the party, and that God will be both host and server at that kingdom banquet. May we continue to be parishes that live in that same faith, hope and humility.This week our muddy, messy church at All Saints continues with the yearly theme of Animals and will be looking at Wild Animals of the bible - a great opportunity for all the church family to be together in prayer, worship and creativity. We also have an 8am and 10am communion across the parishes.Services this Sunday - 10th August.8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Muddy/Messy Church - "Wild Animal" themeThe week ahead Weds 13th Aug 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints Thurs 14th Aug 10:00am Holy Communion - St. Marys Friday 15th Aug 11.00am Living After Loss - St MarysSaturday 16th Aug 12.00noon to 1.30pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s Sunday 17th Aug 10:00am Sung Holy Communion Service - St Marys 10:30 Holy Communion - All SaintsBlessings and prayersLizzie
Dear All Saints and St Mary's,This week's Gospel encourages us to pause and reflect through the parable of the rich man - a reminder from Jesus about the true treasures in life. In a world that can often pull us towards material possessions, this story gently reminds us to focus on the things that truly matter: our relationships, our faith, and our community.There are many opportunities this week to come together in both Worship and Fellowship, and I encourage you to join us for whatever you can. Worship This Sunday10:00am Creative Church at St Mary's10.30 am - Holy Communion with Hymns at All Saints6.30 pm - Evensong at St Mary'sThe week AheadWed 6th Aug 9:00 - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThurs 7th Aug 10:00 Holy Communion - St. MarysSaturday 9th Aug 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sNext Sunday 10th Aug 8:00 - Holy Communion, All Saints10:00 - Holy Communion at St Marys10:30 - Messy Muddy Church at All SaintsAlmighty God,Thank you for the love that brings us together. Help us to see and to listen to the needs around us. Be with us as we reflect your love in all that we do and all that we are.AmenBlessings, Charlie BlackettOrdinand- All Saints and St Mary's - Bristol Diocese
