Dear All Saints and St Mary'sThis Sunday’s New Testament reading, from Paul's letter to the Christians at Colossae (Colossians 1.15-end), opens with a poem that stands out from Paul's usual prose. It is thought by many scholars to be a hymn that was already in use in the church before Paul wrote the letter and might have been familiar to the its first readers. It places Christ above all of creation as the image and fullness of God, through whom all things were created and through whom God is reconciling all creation to himself.This is the fundamental claim of the Christian faith. It is through Christ that we can truly know God. It is through Christ that we can be fully reconciled to God. It is only when we see creation in the light of Christ, that we can see it as the work of an almighty and loving creator. It is when we see acts of loving kindness in the light of Christ, that we see them as reflecting the love of God that Christ reveals.In the remainder of the letter, Paul goes on to describe the practical implications of who Christ is. It makes all people equal, whatever their race, religious background, or social status, for all are loved by God (chapter 2). It encourages compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (3:12). It puts the love of God, which we see in Christ, at the centre of all we do (3.14-17). While some of the detailed instructions Paul gives are specific to the culture of the time (3.18-4.6), his Christ centred approach is still a guide for living today.This Sunday, we have Holy Communion at St Mary's at 10.00 am and at All Saint's at 10.30am.This week the Holiday Bible Club will be taking place at All Saints, so there will be no Celtic Morning Prayer this Wednesday. There will, however, still be Holy Communion at St Mary's on Thursday at 10.00 am. Next Sunday, we have our normal fourth Sunday pattern, with Holy Communion at 8.00 am at All Saints and 10.00 at St Mary's. The 10.30 am service at All Saints will be Café Church, where we will be continuing our look at Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome.This gives the following services for the coming week:Sunday 20th July 10.00 am St Mary's Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Holy CommunionThursday 24th July 10.00 am St Mary's Holy CommunionSunday 27th July 8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)10.00 am St Mary's Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Café ChurchPlease note that, because of the Holiday Bible Club, there will be no access to All Saints grounds from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm on Wednesday 23rd, Thursday 24th and Friday 25th July.As we look ahead to the coming week, and particularly thinking about the Holiday Bible Club, let us pray for the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all we do.Yours in Christ Mark
Dear Friends,This past week has been an important one in our Diocese. Last weekend saw Bishop Vivienne carry out her last tranche of ordinations before her retirement. This is a weekend always marked with joy as it is such a wondrous occasion, the passage of people, into their ministries. It is a time of transition-each person has had their period of discernment, training, and now they step forth into their next phase. Some to become deacons,to serve in their local churches. Others becoming priests. All stepping into the demanding but glorious calling of being servant leaders following in the footsteps of Christ.For all the candidates it is a time of joy but also fear and excitement, but also of feelings of being totally unworthy of the task ahead.I was blessed to be a part of this and greatly appreciate all the love and encouragement that I experienced from everyone during that weekend and look forward to serving you as priest.All this is about love of God and one another, and the gospel reading this week exemplifies this. It is the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, reminding us that when someone needs help we do not filter that need through prejudices and suppositions but provide lavish love to whoever needs it. The story challenges us to reflect upon who has helped us in those desperate times in our lives and who have we been able to help in theirs? Just as it is so vital to offer help, it is also vital to receive help. This is to follow the example of Jesus, the servant king and Son of God., This Sunday 13th July Fourth Sunday after Trinity8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am Holy Communion - St. Marys10.30am Family Service - All Saints7.15pm Generations Youth Group - VicarageThe Week AheadMonday 14th July 10.30am Tiny Tots - All SaintsWednesday 16th July 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayers - All SaintsWednesday 2.00am Benefice Bible Book Club - St. MarysThursday 17th July 10.00am Holy Communion - St. Marys ChurchFriday 18th July 11.00am Living After Loss - St. Marys ChurchSaturday 19th July 12.00am Saturday Lunches - St. Marys Church.Next Sunday 20th July Fifth Sunday after Trinity10.00am Holy Communion - St. Marys10.30am 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
Celebrations and thanksgivingDear All Saints and St MarysThis weekend Bishop Viv will ordain new Deacons and Priests in Bristol Cathedral. This is a wonderful occasion for the whole church, and also especially for us as we celebrate alongside Fr Kester as he is ordained priest to serve in the parishes of All Saints and St Marys.One of the readings this weekend in the Old Testament reading of Micah speaks of "doing justice, walking humbly and being kind". It has struck me that as we approach this weekend it will also be the final ordination in Bristol for Bishop Viv as she looks to her retirement. We send her our blessings and prayers and thanks for her episcopal ministry. She has lived out those three qualities of Christian discipleship - a call of justice, kindness and humility. As we pray and discern for a new Bishop of Bristol, may these words of scripture be our guide. Our Junior Church will be looking at this on Sunday, and I invite you all to contribute your thoughts, prayers and wisdom to this process. This weekend of celebration and thanksgiving areSaturday 5th July - - 3pm - Ordination of Fr Kester - Bristol Cathedral Sunday 6th July - 10.30 am - Benefice Service - All SaintsSunday 6th July - 6.30pm - Choral Evensong - St MarysEveryone is welcome to all the above and also to a celebration in St Mary's parish rooms at 6pm-8pm on Sat 5th July post the ordinations. Let's come together and celebrate in all these different ways this weekend. God is good!The week aheadWeds 9th July 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints Sunday 13th July8:00am - Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Holy Communion - St Marys10:30am - Junior Church Family Service - All Saints7:15pm - Generations - Vicarage With thanksgivingRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
"Doing Good"Dear All Saints and St MarysThe Acts of the Apostles was written about 100 AD, a generation after the first Gospels. It contains stories about the growth of the church, and reflects some of the concerns they were having, as local Christian communities were becoming more established. Yet, preserved within these chapters, there are some very early summaries of Jesus’s life. These verses show how the earliest Christians talked about Jesus, before later refinements were made (such as we say each week in the Creed). One important early description is found in Acts 10.38, with four different descriptions of Jesus. Each of these captures something true about Jesus, as they experienced him in his own lifetime, and also as we experience him now. ‘God anointed Jesus with power’: yes, God’s power was evident, as he taught and as he fed people in amazing ways. ‘Jesus healed those who were oppressed’: yes, Jesus released people trapped by illness, stigma, or lack of love. ‘For God was with him’: yes, when we meet Jesus, we meet God. But my favourite phrase is this: ‘Jesus went about doing good’. It is such a simple phrase, but it condenses into five words so much of what I believe about Jesus. Whatever troubles he met, whoever he came across, whatever difficult circumstances he encountered, Jesus simply did good. He made goodness happen, and not only left people in a better place – but also gave them the power to continue doing good themselves. In our culture, being a “do-gooder” is a critical description, usually delivered with a sneer. But I don’t think it should be. How about this wonderful quotation from a Quaker missionary, who was saying in different words what Acts 10.38 is pointing us towards: “I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”This Sunday's Worship on 22nd June8:00 - Holy Communion, All Saints10:00 - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30 - Café Church, All Saints The week aheadWeds 25th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThurs 26th June 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. MarysSaturday 28th June 12noon - 1.30pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 29th June 8:00am - BCP Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am - Holy Communion, All Saints Revd Bob.
