I want to tell you about something I find achingly beautiful - something that blows my mind and heals my soul.Did you know that Jesus is signed by tapping the palm of one hand with the middle finger of the other, and vice-versa? This tactile sign indicates the wounds Jesus sustained when he was nailed to the cross. The creators of British, American and Australian sign language chose the wounds of Jesus as the defining hallmark of his identity. It's a fact that makes me sit up and take notice.We might wonder why God chose not to wipe out these scars from Jesus's resurrected body. In one sense Jesus needs those scars to prove to Thomas, the apostles and us, that he really is the same Jesus, the Crucified One whom God has brought back to life. But is there more we can learn from his wounds?Reflecting on Christ and the cross in his first letter, the apostle Peter tells his readers:He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2: 24)Peter is quoting words from a passage in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:4-5), to make a powerful link between Isaiah's Suffering Servant and Jesus the Crucified Messiah.Handel's Messiah picks out those same words (using the King James Version) in his famous Chorus. You may like to listen to it during this season.Surely, surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.Handel's emphatic repetition of the words: 'Surely, surely' encourages me to hope that suffering - my own and the world's - may not turn out to be as pointless as it first seems. I am reassured it can be transformed into something better.Peter's letter points out a dual purpose of Christ's cross and resurrection: the healing of suffering and the forgiveness of sins. Some suffering just happens to us, but there is also pain we cause. The risen Christ bearing his scars gives us courage to face both.When the risen Jesus appears to different people we see different aspects of healing taking place. With the gentle greeting, of ‘Mary!' in the garden Jesus brings solace in sorrow (John 20:16). With his command: 'Feed my sheep!'(John 21:17) Jesus brings restoration after remorse and repentance to Peter who denied him. And with 'Put your finger here and see my hands', Jesus offers Thomas concrete certainty to dispel his doubt.(John 20:27)Are you feeling downcast today? Are you feeling guilt, shame or humiliation? Have you ever felt rejected or betrayed? Are you tempted to doubt God's power and goodness? Take heart! Jesus's closest disciples and even Jesus himself experienced trials and overcame them. We too are beloved and forgivable. God is with us and for us. During my life I've experienced and observed how God still comes to meet people and refresh their hope. During this Passiontide and Easter, I invite you to tap the palm of one hand with the middle finger of the other, and vice-versa, and say Jesus. Ponder. What healing does God want to hold out to you? How will this Easter mystery: 'By his wounds you have been healed' ring true for you? Like Thomas, may you find yourself exclaiming in amazement, 'My Lord and my God!'Risen Christ,your wounds declare your love for the worldand the wonder of your risen life:give us compassion and courageto risk ourselves for those we serve,to the glory of God the Father.Collect for the 5th Sunday of EasterEaster Peace, Revd Diane, assistant curate.
Clothing ourselves in God's love.Dear All Saints and St MarysThis week we have a mini pause from Lent and celebrate "Mothering Sunday". A mix of traditions and emotions Mothering Sunday comes originally from people returning from their work places to their Mother Church and parishes. One of the readings for this week is from Colossians. It speaks of humility, kindness, compassion and patience, all things that all people are encouraged to practice in daily life, rhythms and rituals. As a church we gather as a "family", a hybrid of people of different ages and stages, life experiences, wisdom and folly and together collectively try to understand how these Christ centred practices might be lived out in life. Our worship this Sunday 30th March - (Remembering that the clocks go forward!)8am - BCP - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung All Age Communion - St Marys10.30 - All Age Communion (with band) - All SaintsTHE WEEK AHEAD Monday 30th 10.30am Tiny Tots - All SaintsMonday 30th 7.30pm. Lent Group 1Tuesday 1st 10:30am. Music 4 Tots - St. MarysWeds 2nd 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsWeds 2nd 2.00pm. Lent Group 2 - St. MarysThursday 3rd 10:00am Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 4th 11.00am Living after Loss - St MarysSaturday 5th 10:00am to 12noon Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café –All SaintsSaturday 5th 12.00noon to 2:00pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 6th 10:00am Creative Church – St Marys10:30am Holy Communion and Junior Church – All Saints6:30pm Passiontide readings and Music– St. Mary’sBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Dear All Saints and St Mary’sThis week our Lent course, from Charlie Bell’s book Searched me out and known me, looks at what it means to be “holy”, reflecting on Psalm 32 and today’s gospel reading from Luke’s gospel. The word “holy” has a rich range of meanings. This is just as true of the Greek and Hebrew languages in which the bible was originally written.One meaning of “holy” is to be set apart for the service of God. When people refer to the communion table in church as the “holy table”, what they are saying is that this piece of furniture has been set aside for a specific use in our services. Because of that use, it is something special and should be treated with respect. In the same way, we are all set aside for God’s service in our baptism. As such, we are all holy and we are all saints, because we are set aside for God’s service.But there is another much deeper and richer meaning to what it means to be “holy”. It is to have something of God about you. In Christian terms, it means to be Christ-like. Although we are made in the image of God, we can become more like Christ. This growing in the likeness of Christ is sometimes referred to as “sanctification”. It is the central purpose of our lent disciplines. We look to see where we are falling short or missing the mark and try to change our attitudes and behaviours, so we follow Christ more closely. In more traditional language, we repent of our sins.We will have more opportunities to think about this at our Lent groups on Monday evening and Wednesday afternoon.This Sunday we have our normal fourth Sunday pattern with Holy Communion at 8.00 am at All Saints and 10.00 am at St Mary’s. The 10.30 am service is Café Church, where we will be continuing our look at Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. This week we will be looking at chapter six and seven and considering what they teach us about freedom.This gives us the following services for Sunday 23rd March:8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)10.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Café ChurchOur Lent groups continue this week on Monday evening at 7.30 pm and Wednesday afternoon at 2.00 pm. In addition, we have our usual weekly services of Celtic Morning Prayer at 9.00 am on Wednesday at All Saints and Holy Communion at 10.00 am on Thursday at St Mary’s.Monday 24th March 7.30 pm Lent group Contact us for locationWednesday 26th March 9.00 am Celtic morning prayer All SaintsWednesday 26th March 2.00 pm Lent group St Mary’s parish roomThursday 27th March 10.00 am Holy Communion St Mary’s Next Sunday is Mothering Sunday, so we have services of Holy Communion at St Mary’s and All Saints. In addition, there will be a service of Holy Communion according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer at 8.00 am. This gives the following services for Sunday 30th March:8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (BCP)10.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Holy CommunionAs we enter the third full week of Lent, let us pray for God’s guidance and we seek to grow in the likeness of Christ:Eternal God,give us insight to discern your will for us,to give up what harms us,and to seek the perfection we are promisedin Jesus Christ, our Lord.God bless, MarkMark Simms, Licensed Lay Minister, Benefice of all Saints and St Mary Fishponds
Dear Friends in Christ,How are you doing with your Lenten observances? The desire to give up things such as chocolate or social media are laudable but also so easy to stray from. Or there’s the temptation to abstain and then binge when Lent is completed (or is that just me!).But maybe we can take on new things-ways of behaviour, devoting more time to spiritual practices. Whilst our other period of preparation at Advent is one of joyous anticipation, Lent is more poignant and sober, but also a time of beauty and depth. But both conclude in times of joy.The book we are studying for Lent (Searched me Out and Known Me by Charlie Bell) this week reminded us what we base Lent upon-Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness (note not a desert as is often thought). Jesus needed this time alone with God to discern his own identity following his baptism before he began his ministry.So as we continue in our Lenten journey let us mirror and reflect upon this foundational moment in Jesus’ life.This Sunday. 16th March. Lent 2 10:00am Holy Communion – St. Mary’s10:30am Holy Communion with Hymns – All SaintsThe week aheadMonday 17th March Tiny Tots 10.30am - All Saints Community HallMonday 17th March Evening Lent Group 7.30pmWednesday 19th March Celtic Morning Prayer 9.00am - All Saints Church Wednesday 19th March Afternoon Lent Group 2.00am to 3.30am - St. Marys Church (note new time)Thursday 20th March. Holy Communion -10.00am. St. Marys ChurchFriday 21st March Living After Loss 11.00am to 12noon - St. Marys ChurchSaturday 22nd March Saturday Lunches 12noon to 2.00pm - St. Marys ChurchNext Sunday. 23rd March. Lent 3 8.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am - Sung Holy Communion – St Marys10.30am - Cafe Church – 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. AmenBlessingsFr Kester de Oliveira
Dear All Saints and St MarysAs a young man, on two occasions I decided to give up alcohol for Lent. One year, I was successful, not drinking a drop until Easter Day. Yippee! I was so proud of that achievement – which, of course, defeats the whole object of a Lenten discipline. This is not meant to be about our moral strength or determination. Rather, Lent is a season to be more attentive to the presence of God, and our neediness. So, on the other occasion, I managed to avoid alcohol for 36 hours – but, by the Friday evening after Ash Wednesday, I gave up. I can remember sitting in the pub with my pint of beer, thinking “I’ve blown it. What a weakling!”. Until I remembered that wonderful story about two people who go into the Temple (Luke 18). The Pharisee is proud of his achievements; the other one – you or me – says “God, I’ve blown it again. Sorry. How can you help me be better next time? Thank you for not abandoning me”.Services this weekend for the 9th March 20258:00am. Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am Holy Communion – St. Mary’s10:30am Muddy Church – All Saints4:15pm Generations (Crazy Golf)The week aheadMon 10th 10.30am - Tiny Tots – All SaintsMon 10th 7.30pm - Lent GroupTues 11th 10:30am – Music for Toddlers - St. MarysWeds 12th 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsWeds 12th 1.00pm – Lent Group – St MarysThursday 13th 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sSaturday 15th 9.30am - Safeguarding Training – All SaintsSaturday 15th 12noon - 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St. Mary’sSunday 16th 10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s10:30am – Holy Communion – All Saints
Numbers, Poems and GraceDear All Saints and St MarysOn February 27th this week, the church remembered the Poet and Priest George Herbert. (1593-1633). He was a prolific writer. Through books, poems and hymns he managed to craft something about the ordinary life with God's remarkable and extraordinary grace. He is both deeply serious and yet hopeful and light to read. I was gifted a book of poems a few months ago, a collection by Janet Morley. In it, at the beginning of Lent, is a poem by George Herbert. It is called Trinity Sunday. Weird perhaps to think of Trinty Sunday at this point in the year - but the poem, albeit it brief, is more about the way in which three's come together for good and grace. There are three verses, three virtues, three nouns, three verbs to end. It feels that it combines the whole of the three theologies of creation, contrition and resurrection. I leave it here for your prayers and ponderings as we make our way towards Lent.Trinity Sunday by George Herbert Lord, who hast formed me out of mud,And hast redeemed me through thy blood,And sanctified me to do good;Purge all my sins done heretofore:For I confess my heavy score,And I will strive to sin no more. Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,With faith, with hope, with charity;That I may run, rise, rest with thee.This Last Sunday before Lent - 2nd March10.00 - Creative Church - St Marys10.30 - Holy Communion with Band and Junior Church - All Saints6.30pm - Evensong - St MarysThe week aheadMonday 3rd 10.30am Tiny Tots - All Saints7.30pm - Lent GroupTues 4th 10:30am – Music for Toddlers - St. MarysAsh WednesdayWeds 5th 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’s1.00pm - Lent Group - St Mary'sFriday 7th - 2.00pm - World Day of Prayer - All SaintsSaturday 8th 12–2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St. Mary’sSunday 9th8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s10:30am – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints4.30pm – Generations – Crazy Golf at Frenchay.Revd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Waiting on WaitingDear All Saints and St MarysThe middle of February brings us into a betwixt and between time. The days are still cold, yet they are also noticeably longer and lighter. We are moving away from winter, but spring is not quite here. There are glimpses of what is to come, and yet it feels as if we are still in the thick of it.Easter, the ever-moveable Calendar feast comes as late as possible in 2025, and so that gives a rare opportunity of a three-week gap before Lent even begins. It feels a bit like the waiting room, before the waiting room. Or the departure area, that isn't quite yet the actual departure area. What possible purpose could this extra waiting space bring?I want to rush through it...to not consider its importance or notice its possible usefulness. Yet, perhaps it is a time to slow the steps down and not race through the year wishing it away - getting to of 2025 and looking back saying "Where did the year go?" These three weeks before Lent can be a blessing, a time of not requiring more from me than the attention to just the space it brings. So it is not a drag, or a bind to reach March - but the move from the speed of a sprint, into a steady jog, so that we can walk more easily into the year, and on the way hear more clearly God's call on our lives. This Sunday 16th February - the services are10.00am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All SaintsThe week aheadMonday 17th No Tiny Tots - Half term!Tuesday 18th No Music for Toddlers – as its half term! Wednesday 19th 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints Thursday 20th 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. Mary’s Saturday 22nd 12.00 - 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 23rd 8.00am - Holy Communion - All Saints 10:00am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys 10.30am - Café Church - All Saints Blessings and peace to you all.Revd Lizzie
Dear Friends,It’s been lovely this week seeing more sunshine and feeling that the days are getting a bit longer again. There are snowdrops in the churchyard and there is the real sniff of Spring in the air-though I wish the temperature was a bit higher!As we near the end of the Candlemas octave we also reach the end of the period of celebration and reflection that started back with Lent. I will miss the specialness of the services and the music but am also looking forward to what is to come. However, change is bittersweet., It’s endings as well as beginnings, and our Candlemas text reminds us of a moment of change and transfer. The Old Covenant becomes the New, with Jesus handed into the care of the aged Simeon to be blessed, knowing that at this supreme moment his role on this earth is completed, and he steps out of the narrative. Later, John the Baptist will do the same, notwithstanding the mix of drama and chronicle that ends his story.This is a meeting of the human and divine, grounded in family and community. Jesus is explicitly anchored in his society, but Simeon prophecies that that same community will be fractured and reassembled to be a new thing by what is to come. He will expand and transform Judaism, embrace the Gentile, create something new but also that contains and continues what is right from what already exists. Luke very specifically reminds us that Jesus is Jewish and remains Jewish. All that he becomes-all that he does-needs to be interpreted in this context.This Sunday 4th Sunday before Lent08.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am – Sung Holy Communion with Candlemas Procession - St. Mary’s10:30am – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints7:15pm – Generations – All Saints LinkThe week aheadMonday 10th - 10.30am - Tiny Tots – All SaintsTuesday 11th 10:30am – M4T - St. Mary’sWeds 12th 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThursday 13th 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’s 1.00pm - Funeral – St MarysFriday 14th 12.30pm - Concert – St MarysSaturday 15th 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches – St Mary’s 3pm – Interment of Judith West followed by refreshmentsNext Sunday 16th Third Sunday before Lent10:00am - 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. AmenBlessings Fr Kester de Oliveira
