Dear All Saints and St Mary'sI wonder what word you'd use to describe your week?For some it may have been busy. For others, perhaps uncertain, hopeful, or even joyful. Sometimes it feels as though a single word can sum up the days we've just lived.If I had to choose one, and it seems to crop up often for me, it would be enough. I often find myself thinking I don't have enough time, enough energy, or simply enough. I wonder if you can relate? I also know that I can be my own biggest critic, and that's not always very helpful!This Sunday's Gospel begins with people who are also thinking in terms of "not enough". Yet Jesus gently changes the question. Rather than focusing on what is lacking, he invites them to notice what is already there.I won't say any more—you'll have to come along on Sunday to explore that together! But perhaps over the next couple of days we might each pause and notice the gifts, opportunities, and people God has already placed in our lives. They may be more than we realise.Our Worship this week 10:00 am Creative Church, St Mary’s10:30 am Holy Communion with Hymns, All Saints 6:30 pm Sung Evensong, St Mary’sThe week ahead:Wed 5th Aug 9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 6th Aug 10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 7th Aug 11:00 am – Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 1st Aug 12:00 -1:30 pm - Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSun 9th Aug 10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary's10:30 am – Muddy Messy Church, All SaintsA Prayer - May God give us eyes to see the gifts already in our hands, courage to offer them in his service, and peace to trust him with the rest. AmenBlessings,Charlie Revd Charlie BlackettAssistant Curate, All Saints and St Mary's, Fishponds.
Dear All Saints and St Mary'sAnyone who saw the pictures of the floods in Valencia in 2024 will appreciate the power that water can have. Floods and storms are some of the clearest signs of a chaotic and destructive power that is beyond human control. Jesus' disciples were far more aware of this than most of us today. As fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John knew the danger of the storms that could blow up on the Sea of Galilee without warning, storms that were beyond human control and dwarfed the works of people.In this Sunday's gospel reading (Matthew 14.22-33), Jesus' disciples were trying to row their boat through one of these storms. In the midst of the wind and waves, Jesus came, walking on the water, in complete control of these destructive and chaotic forces. The disciples must have recalled the ancient stories of God parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the River Jordan (Joshua 3) for the people of Israel to pass through. It may have reminded them of the image of God moving over the chaotic waters of creation, parting the waters to allow the dry land to appear (Genesis 1). No human could control the waters, only God. They could see that Jesus was the Son of God, the great I am in human form living among us.We can reflect more on this this Sunday at 10.00 am with Holy Communion at St Mary's. The 10.30 am service at All Saints is Muddy Messy Church. Note that there is no 8.00 am service at All Saints this Sunday.Sunday 9th August10.00 am St Mary's Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Muddy Messy Church We have our normal services for the coming week. Next Sunday is the third Sunday of the month so we have Holy Communion at St Mary's at 10.00 am and All Saints at 10.30 am.Wednesday 12th All Saints 9.00 am Celtic Morning PrayerThursday 13th St Mary's 10.00 am Holy Communion\Sunday 16th St Mary's 10.00 am Holy CommunionAll Saints 10.30 am Holy Communion May God guide you through the storms of life and land you safely on the shore.Yours in ChristMarkMark SimmsLicensed Lay MinisterBenefice of all Saints and St Mary Fishponds
