Hope and Grace in Triumph and DisasterDear All Saints and St Mary'sArthur Fery had a stunning run at Wimbledon this year. He was a wild card entry, yet managed to reach the semi-finals. He played with panache, and gave post-match interviews that endeared him to thousands. The quotation (from Kipling’s poem If - ) that is on display in the Wimbledon Club House is appropriate to Fery as much as to us all: If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; Fery might have felt on top of the world because of his triumphs – but what truly shone through was his character. And then, after defeat in the semi-final, he might have been feeling abysmally low – but so many felt proud to have seen him in action. Yes, triumph and disaster can blind us to deeper truths, as they swamp other more sensitive, and more important, emotions. By all means, let’s at times get carried away with stirring emotions - provided we also have the wisdom, as the crowds disperse and the applause diminishes, to recall what is resiliently true: both God’s love for us, and our immeasurable worth.I am writing this before we know whether the England football team will meet with triumph or disaster in their semi-final. Quite intentionally, I wanted to put pen to paper before the result is known. For we have already seen fine examples of sportsmanship, courage and respect from our nation’s team. That lasts beyond any fleeting glory.There are some lines of Kipling’s poem that I find hard to take. But I have always valued this: Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:As I look back over 40 years of ministry as a priest in the Church of England, there are quite a few things that seem to have degenerated, rather than improved. I wonder if you feel something similar, as you contemplate the direction our nation has taken over the last generation. And yet ….. faithful people do not rely on improvement always happening. We know that sometimes we have to enter into dismal seasons of breaking down, loss and frustration. Does that stop us hoping? No! I am very encouraged to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury, on more than one occasion, use phrases like this: “we have to rebuild trust so that hope may grow”. She is clearly a woman of faith, confident that what is broken can be mended, and that flowers will bloom once again. All this will happen, relying on God’s good grace, in God’s appointed time.Revd Bob.Services this Sunday 19th July10am - Sung Holy Communion with Baptism - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All Saints7.15pm - Generations - Vicarage GardenThe week aheadMon 20th Jul 9.30am - Fishponds School Y6 Rehearsal 10:30am - Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 21st Jul 10.00am - Fishponds School Y6 Final serviceWed 22th Jul 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 23rd Jul 9:15am - 3.15pm - Holiday Bible ClubThu 23rd Jul 10:00am- Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 24th Jul 9:15am - 3.15pm - Holiday Bible ClubSat 25th Jul 12:00am -1:30pm - Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSunday 26th July 8:00am - Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10:30am - Cafe Church, All Saints
Ordination SundayDear All Saints and St MarysThere is something about sand and sea air that is refreshing and renewing. I sometimes wonder how much Jesus would have looked out over water (Lake of Galilee in his case) and stared into the distance and prayed. It seems easier somehow to look on water, or watch it wash over feet, and know the power and presence of God. Like staring at the night sky and wondering about our place in the universe and what that might mean, a way in which we connect to the bigger spaces and places, knowing that all of humanity looks up to and shares in the same created spaces. Similarly, the water that washes up from the ocean has traveled to us from elsewhere, has blessed and brushed the feet of others in its path."Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest" says Jesus. As we approach this weekend we join in the great collective season of ordinations around the world. The Church prays with the power of the Holy Spirit, as Bishops ordain people who are called to serve in the Church, to be connected people who bring their gifts to the service of others. They may only be with us a while, but they are there washing our feet, blessing our lives and serving their communities. This week we welcome back Charlie - as Revd Charlie Blackett - ordained deacon in God's church to our community. Pray with us and join with us at the Cathedral in Bristol for this moment. If you want to watch live stream then you can do so here on this link.https://www.youtube.com/@bristolcathedrallivestreamIf you are going to the Cathedral and want to catch the bus then feel free to park at All Saints Church, Fishponds and bus down.Services this Sunday are as follows8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10.30am - Bristol Cathedral (no services at St Marys or All Saints at 10 or 10.30)6.30pm Evensong and Celebrations - St MarysThe week aheadMon 6th July 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 7th July 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 8th July 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsWed 8th July 7.00pm - Make the Future Celebration - All SaintsThu 9th July 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 11th July 12.00am -1.30pm - Saturday Lunches - St. MarysSun 12th July 8:00am – Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - All Age Communion with Junior Church celebration - All SaintsBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
Distinctive, Connected and HolyDear All Saints and St MarysI may be a slow learner, but at last I think I understand what is meant by “doom-scrolling”: to become so involved with any social media platform, that you spend inappropriate amounts of time and emotional energy, reading multiple messages, all with a similar theme of how awful things are. I hope I have caught myself before becoming a complete addict. The messages that I read each day come from the USA, telling me how dreadful President Trump is. Each time I read such a message, I get a little kick from hearing how awful he is …. and want to move on to another similar message. In my opinion, these messages may be accurate – but they sure can be addictive. Beware! So, I can find myself saying “He is awful; I don’t want to be like him”. But look carefully – that is just the same language that President Trump is using. He tells us how dreadful his enemies are, and how goodness and wisdom only lie on his side. How can we find another route, without demonising the President? That is some of what the Bible readings help us focus on this Sunday. We are called to be distinctive (“salt of the earth”) and also to be connected (feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty). We are called to be holy (which means being ‘set apart’) and also to be holy (life-enhancing for others, not just for ourselves). Perhaps one habit to strengthen is to identify a new thing/person each day who is life-enhancing. Focus on that thing/person for a moment, give thanks, take heart!Revd BobServices this weekend at All Saints and St Marys - June 28th8am - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Holy Communion - St Marys10.30 - Cafe Church - All Saints - Looking at St Johns GospelThe week ahead Mon 29th Jun 10:30am - Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 30th Jun 10:30am - M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 1st Jul 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints Thu 2nd Jul 10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 3rd Jul 11:00am-12noon - Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 4th Jul 10:00am-12noon - Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Cafe, All SaintsSat 4th Jul 10:00am -2:00pm - Summer Fair, St Mary’s Sunday 5th July8:00am - Holy Communion, All Saints 10:30am - Ordination of Deacons, Bristol Cathedral 6:30pm - Evensong St Mary’s
Preaching like WesleyDear All Saints and St MarysI was delighted to be able to accompany a small group of children from Fishponds Primary school to the John Wesley New Rooms on Thursday. We were taking part in a Citizens UK campaign action and met down at that Wesley Chapel and rooms. One of the added benefits was being able to extend the trip by a few hours and take in the chapel and museum, something that I had never done before. It was a great joint adventure together as we stood in the Wesley pulpit, roamed around the displays about music, social justice and looked at Wesley's call for abolishing slavery - so compelling that I might have considered for a moment conversion to Methodism! (Fear not - if you cut me in half like a stick of rock, it would say Church of England in the middle)What was interesting was the sheer delight of the children, as we discovered new facts and stories together, sharing in this lively and living history that is such a part of our brilliant city of Bristol. Being able to stand in that pulpit, with the children and think about what the bible is about, and how it might impact our lives now, as well as asking the children what they might preach if they were doing that this Sunday was fascinating - their questions being deep and rich. What a marvel young people are, and what a privilege it is as adults in the community and church, that we have to be trusted people that can accompany them on that questioning journey. May we all be a bit more like Wesley in his quest for the social gospel, and taking action to see that in our world, in our life time.Join us for our worship this weekend in the following waysSunday 21st June 202610.00am - Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion - All Saints7.15pm - Generations - All SaintsThe week aheadMon 22nd Jun 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 23rd Jun 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish RoomsWed 24th Jun 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsThu 25th Jun 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sSat 27th Jun 12:00pm -1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSunday 28th June8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10:30am – Cafe Church, All SaintsBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
