Patronal Praise and River FunDear All Saints and St MarysThe season of September is in full swing as schools return and the summer holidays fade from view. Autumn holds for us a feast of seasonal worship, with Patronal festivals and Harvest celebrations on the horizon. This weekend St Mary's continues its patronal festival and will celebrate together the Song of Mary, as she visits her cousin Elizabeth. What an incredible story we have as part of our shared Christian heritage, this remarkable encounter, between these two strong women of the bible. I wonder often about the strong women in my own life, who have made such an impact on my faith, those ponderings often lead me to a place of thanksgiving and prayer. All Saints will make a mini pilgrimage to the river in their Muddy Church worship, as we look with awe and wonder at the different way God's creation is put together. It might be wet, it may be muddy, but together we will have the chance of those remarkable conversations with others that are often life changing and faith giving.May we all be blessed this weekend be it at All Saints or St Mary's with the presence of God and each other in worship and praise and thanksgiving.Our services for the weekend - Sunday 8th September8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung Patronal Festival Eucharist - St Marys10.30am - Muddy Messy Church - All Saints7.15pm - Generations - 11+ - All SaintsHarvest will be celebrated at the churches over the following weekends - 15th at All Saints and the 22nd at St Marys - Please bring any gifts of food donations you have to either church for these celebratory festivals. And a reminder to come and join the Beatles Benefit Gig on Sat 14th September!
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. (James 1:22 NRSV)Dear All Saints and St Mary'sThis Sunday’s readings have a common theme: What we do matters, but why we do it matters more.The first reading is from Moses final great speech to the people before they cross the Jordan and enter the Promised land. In Deuteronomy 4.1–2,6–9, Moses exhorts the people to obey all the laws that God has given them. However, this passage follows on from Moses reminding the people of all that God had done for them, bringing them out of slavery in Egypt and to the borders of the land he had promised to Abraham. Knowing their history, should help them trust in God. Out of that trust should come an understanding of what God wants and obedience to his laws.The New Testament reading, James 1.17–end, contains James’ call to be doers of the word. However, this does not mean that we need not be hearers as well. In fact, James tells his readers not to be merely hearers, but doers as well. Hearing and doing should go hand in hand. One complements the other. Each is incomplete by itself. Again, it is knowing God and his will for us that leads towards the generosity and meekness that James commends.The gospel reading, Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23, takes up a similar theme. The Pharisees and scribes challenge Jesus because his disciples were eating without washing their hands. Although washing your hands before eating is sensible for hygiene reasons, even today it is not always possible. Rigid adherence to such rules discriminated against the poor, who might need to eat on the job or out in the fields. Jesus criticises the scribes and Pharisees, because they are not interested in the wellbeing of the people. Instead, they are more focussed on their own importance. Jesus reminds his audience that they need to think about what their lives show about their hearts more than what is going into their stomachs. The things people do are a sign of what is going on inside.We will have another chance to reflect on this during our 10:30 am Holy Communion service at All Saints on Sunday. At St Mary’s there is Creative church at 10.00 am. Choral Evensong at 6:30 pm will start our celebrations of the patronal festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Note that different readings will be used at Evensong.) This gives the following services for Sunday 1st September:10:00 am St Mary’s Creative Church10:30 am All Saints Holy Communion with Junior Church6:30 pm St Mary’s Choral Evensong for the Blessed Virgin MaryWe have our usual midweek services this week with Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints on Wednesday at 9:00 am and Holy Communion at St Mary’s on Thursday at 10:00 am. In addition, there is a memorial service for Joe Sevens on Thursday at 2:30 pm at St Mary’s. Next Sunday, we have our usual second Sunday pattern with said Holy Communion at All Saints at 8:00 am, Holy Communion at St Mary’s at 10:00 am and Messy/Muddy Church at All Saints at 10:30. This gives the following services for the coming week:Wednesday 4th September 9:00 am All Saints Celtic Morning PrayerThursday 5th September 10:00 am St Mary’s Holy CommunionThursday 5th September 2:30 pm St Mary’s Memorial for Joe SevensSunday 8th September8:00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)10:00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion10:30 am All Saints Messy/Muddy ChurchReflecting on Jesus’ message that it is what comes from our hearts that can defile or sanctify, let us pray for pure hearts and steadfast wills in the words of the collect for this Sunday:Almighty God,whose only Son has opened for usa new and living way into your presence:give us pure hearts and steadfast willsto worship you in spirit and in truth.through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,AmenYours in ChristMark SimmsLicensed Lay MinisterBenefice of All Saints and St Mary, Fishponds
Finish Lines!Dear All Saints and St MarysThe month of August has been a bible extravaganza as people in churches across the globe have listen to the whole of Chapter 6 of St John's gospel and the conversations and reflections that are inspired by the miracle of the feeding of the 5000. It has also been a month when the Letter that St Paul wrote to the very early, young and emerging church in Ephesus has been read. Both this letter and gospel chapter come to a finale this Bank Holiday Sunday. We are asked to think on the disciple St Peter and his acclamation of Jesus "You have the words of eternal life, we have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God". St Paul speaks uses metaphors of putting on the armour of a Christian life that seeks justice, peace and truth.And so Christians are asked again through these words what is it that we believe and know about Jesus? And what difference does that make to our lives and those around us? How do we protect and discern truth, peace and justice. May we be blessed with the company of each other and Christ this weekend in worship and fellowship whether that is in the breaking of bread or through shared food, reflection and discussion at cafe church.Sunday 25th August8am - Said Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Cafe Church - All SaintsThe week aheadWeds 28th Aug 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThursday 29th Aug 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. Mary’sSaturday 31st Aug 9.00am - 11.30am - Autumn Clean - St MarysSaturday 31st Aug 12.00noon - 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 1st Sept 10:00am - Creative Church - St Marys10:30am - Holy Communion and Junior Church - All Saints6:30pm - Patronal Choral Evensong - St. Mary’sBlessingsRevd Lizzie
The Bread of LifeDear All Saints and St MarysThis week's gospel reading draws us even further into the conversation that Jesus has with his followers over the last few weeks about Bread. Bread is a very ordinary food, a staple of many diets, a few ingredients that when put together can feed lot's people. Yet it is this simple food that Jesus chooses as a way of life for his disciples - of how we are to be together, how we are to share together, how we are to come to know Jesus fully. And in sharing in Jesus together, we heal wounds, build unity and find the strength to lift our hearts and voices to sing a song of hope and peace for God's world. Bread not only becomes a food source, but a community foundation, a common ground. Jesus says "I am the living bread", one that feeds not just our stomachs, but also our heart, mind and souls. I am excited for us all as we are invited to come together this week and eat bread. Our services this Sunday 18th August10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All SaintsThe week aheadWeds 21st 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints Thursday 22nd 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’s Saturday 24th 12noon – 2.00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s Next Sunday 25th 8.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am - Sung Holy Communion – St Marys 10.30am - Cafe Church – All Saints Lord, each day as we wait on You,You strengthen our hearts.So now, as we eat the food set before us,strengthen our bodies, and as we share our lives around this table, strengthen the bond between us.Prayer at Communion - Celtic Daily PrayerBlessingsRevd Lizzie
