Living by the power of the SpiritDear All Saints and St MarysJesus is a fabulous storyteller. He would also use images and pictures to help us understand who God is and what that means for the world. In this week's gospel as we approach the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, Jesus uses the image of an "Advocate" to describe the Holy Spirit. "Advocate" is often the word that is associated with courtrooms. An advocate is a person who can speak on our behalf, who will champion our cause.Advocacy is a real gift - the ability to find the right words, the most persuasive way of changing hearts and minds. Often, I view this as the Holy Spirit being my advocate before God. It's a good place to start. However, there is another way of viewing this. What if the advocate is there to also plead to me, not just for me? As we enter the end of the season of Easter, then we are assured by Jesus of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives - an advocate - who is will speak the truth to us about who God is and how that directs and guides us. The Holy Spirit is "The Advocate" in our lives, one who as we meet in prayer and worship promises to speak to us the truth of God so that our lives can be shaped more closely to reflect that of Jesus Christ. May the Spirit advocate for us and to us in our lives and may we open ourselves to listening.This Sunday at All Saints we return with Muddy Messy Church at 10.30am - come and enjoy the spring garden and learning about our Saints (What do you know about St Dunstan?). St Mary's holds its APCM annual meeting after the 10am Holy Communion service. I look forward to seeing you there.Services this Sunday, 10th May8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Holy Communion (and APCM) - St Marys10.30 - Muddy Messy Church - All Saints(Generations will meet the following week on the 17th May with another young people at All Saints at the earlier time of 5pm).The week aheadMon 11th May 10:30am - Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 12th May 10:30am - Music 4Tots, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 13th May 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 14th May 10:00am - Ascension Day Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 15th May 11:00am - Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 16th May 12:00pm - 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSat 16th May 12:00pm - 3:00pm – Spring Fayre & Crafts, All SaintsSun 17th May 10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am - Holy Communion and APCM All Saints5:00pm - 7:00pm - Generations BBQBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
People of the WayDear All Saints and St MarysThomas the disciple asks Jesus anxiously - "But how will we know the way" in this week's Gospel. And it's a good question, one that I have asked on many occasions. Normally it is about looking at a map, or asking the Sat Nav - how am I going to get from here, the place I am in right now - to there - the place that I want to be or need to get to. Most of the time we ask that question when thinking about travel. But it's also a great faith and life question - How do we know the way? Who do we ask? Where are the signs? What can I do to prepare so that I get there safely? Jesus response is to say "I am the way" - and for Christians that has been a solid foundation and manta - a cornerstone to rely on - when navigating life. In the early church Christians were often referred to as "People of the Way" - and it is something that I think still speaks volumes about what we are called to be and how to live. If we keep our hearts, heads and focus concentrated on the person of Jesus and the way that he showed us how to live, how to be with people and how to love others and the world - then we have a good road map to follow. Worship this Sunday 3rd May10.00 am - Creative Church - St Mary's - Parables of Jesus10.30 am - Holy Communion with Junior Church and Band - All Saints6.30 pm - Evensong - St Mary'sThe week aheadTue 5th May 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 6th May 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 7th May 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 9th May 12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSun 10th May 8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s and APCM 10:30am – Messy Muddy Church, All SaintsBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
Dear Friends, Our worship this week points to the hope we have in a life following in Jesus’ footsteps. After last week’s pilgrimage, full of real examples of love, generosity, and hospitality, I find myself back to writing essays this week (just five more to go!) and have taken comfort in the readings as I’ve been writing and preparing for this week’s Cafe Church. At Cafe Church, we reach the final session of our series on the Nicene Creed, as we reflect on resurrection and eternal life, and how this shapes our own story. We focus on the line: “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” A hope that is not only for the future but already shaping life in Christ now. In our Communion services, both Acts and John’s Gospel point towards this: new beginnings for those who are broken or suffering, and Jesus as the Good Shepherd who leads us into life in all its fullness. This Week’s worship 8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints The week ahead Mon 27th Apr 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints Tue 28th Apr 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms Wed 29th Apr 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints Thu 30th Apr 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s Fri 1st May 11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’s Fri 1st May 12:00pm – Funeral for Martyn Nowell, St Mary’s Sat 2nd May 10:00am – Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Cafe Sat 2nd May 12:00pm -1:30 pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s Sunday 3rd May 10:00am – Creative Church, St Mary’s 10:30am – Holy Communion and Junior Church, All Saints 6:30pm – Evensong, St Mary’s Blessings, Charlie Ordinand- All Saints and St Mary's - Bristol Diocese
God is good - We made it!Dear All Saints and St MarysWe made it! Tired feet, sore muscles, blisters and a few bramble scratches - some amazing sunshine, and moments of torrential rain - but this Friday a group of 10 young ( and a few not so young) pilgrims made it to Bristol Cathedral. We walked 55 miles from Swindon to Bristol Cathedral and we have had a good journey. I am heart stoppingly proud of the young people who have held each other when they needed to and cheered each other along the way with conversations, prayer, food, more food and a mountain of chocolate. They have been amazing.You have all been with us - your generosity and kindness have enabled us to do this - from pit stop butchers sausage rolls in Cricklade to an incredible well needed pub dinner in Sherston. Thank you - it made such a difference, and we prayed for you along the way with thanksgiving in our hearts. We met some incredible people, whose hospitality matched yours, from fresh milk and hot meals from the farming community in Brinkworth to cake at Malmesbury Abbey. Everywhere we went people blessed us, God blessed us and I know we also blessed them in our journey. Thank you. I am sure you will hear stories from this week for years to come that will continue to bless us all. God is Good.The services this week will beSunday 19th April10.00am - Holy Communion at St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion at All SaintsJoin us for worship and prayer at both churches as we hear of the story of the Emmaus Road.The week aheadMon 20th Apr 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 21st Apr 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 22nd Apr 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 23rd Apr 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 25th Apr 12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSunday 26th April 8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am – Cafe Church, All SaintsBlessings Revd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
