Joining Together Dear All Saints and St Marys"In Him the whole structure is held together". The words that we have from the passage in Ephesians this week speaks of Christ who binds people and brings them together. I have a strong image in my head of an adult holding the hands of two others, one either side. They are walking away from the viewer, so that only their backs can be seen as they set off into the distance. It could be the same image on a beach, or in a wood or down a busy high street. The adult in the centre holds the two together. They form the bridge. Through them the whole structure is held together. Similarly in the early church, the letters of the apostles speak plenteously about bringing together the Jews and the Gentiles. Accepting that the world has changed in the life of Jesus, that means that division of families, tribes and nations is now secondary to the way in which all people are called to God and asked to live. So that we are no longer aliens - but citizens with the saints. At St Marys we will have the honour of welcoming Maximus to the family of the church through his baptism. At All Saints there will be a celebration of Holy Communion. Both services help to remind us of ways in which we are united together. Held together. I look forward to being with you in worship.This Weekend's Services - Sunday 21st July10 am St Marys Church - Baptism with Hymns10.30 am All Saints - Holy Communion with HymnsThe week aheadWeds 24th 14.00 - Funeral of Mary Biddlecombe - St MarysThursday 25th 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sSaturday 27th 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s Sunday 28th 8.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints 10:00am - Sung Holy Communion – St Marys10.30am - Cafe Church – All SaintsPlease pray for us all this coming week as we begin Holiday Bible Club 2024. It has been a year of work and planning and we are so looking forward to the children being with us and learning together about Gideon, Esther and Timothy. Gracious GodMay we know the love that you extend to the world, may our footsteps be in rhythm with yours, may you guide us into your ways and may we humbly be your servants to all whom we meet. AmenRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Dear Sisters and Brothers in ChristIt certainly feels like we are in times of great change and uncertainty. The use and abuse of power is forefront in the world around us. Politically , there is an ongoing process of change, with new governments in the UK and France, and the seemingly endless lead up to the American elections. Power is being abused in aggressive and militaristic ways. The ongoing conflicts across the globe are testaments to how humanity is so often its worst enemy.The account of the fate of John the Baptist that we will explore on Sunday is a chance to reconsider the nature of power and how it is enacted-the contrast between transitory earthly power and eternal divine power.John the Baptist and Jesus have considerable parallels. John is the one who steps aside, but he is essential, the last Old Testament prophet proclaiming the one who will transform everything. Did these cousins knew each other well? Did Jesus come to be baptised by John as a result of that ongoing relationship? At this moment of divine meeting when John baptises Jesus, the parallels start to diverge. Jesus is now the centre of attention.What of John? We do not hear directly from him again, but we hear of him. He has upset those in power and been imprisoned because of it. We hear of the power of his words, but not the words themselves. In the ultimate fulfilment of those parallel lives, John will be executed by someone in power in a way set to humiliate and devalue on the pretext of vows and demands of others, ultimately killed seemingly as the result of a drunken vow made at a party. The story of John’s execution is either too bizarre and dramatic to give credence to or is utterly plausible because it is so peculiar. Certainly, any vow made by those with power would have to be honoured as this was an essential part of the structure of society at the time. Today to us it feels ludicrous, but we have to be wary of making these judgements via the lenses of modern thought.Could it be the kernel of truth-i.e. the imprisonment and death of John has been embroidered with this narrative to serve later purposes? It certainly could be. What is telling is that both in this story and that of Jesus, the narrative seeks to draw responsibility for the actions away from the man in power an onto others-the crowd with Jesus, Herodias and her daughter with John. It’s like the critique of power is there but is being defused by keeping the actual men in power blameless.Whatever the dynamics, the actual power and the perceived power are significant contrasts, and John’s story is a foreshadowing of Jesus’.Meditating on these reassures us when the actuality of the world around us becomes overwhelming. The real power and authority in this world is one of love and grace that is alongside those who seem to be powerless. God has turned the perceived order of the world on its head.Services and Notices for week beginning: 14th July 20247th Sunday after Trinity8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s10:30am – Muddy Church and Junior Church Celebration – All Saints18.30pm – Generations Summer Party – The VicarageThe week aheadMonday 15th July: 10:30am - Tiny Tots - All SaintsTuesday 16th July: 10:30am – Music for toddlers - St. Mary’sWednesday 17th July 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThursday 18th July: 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 19th July: 11:00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’s Saturday 20th July: 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 21st July:10:00am – Sung Service of the Word – St. Mary’s10:30am – 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. AmenBlessingsRevd Kester de Oliveira
A Sunlight of HopeDear FriendsAs we woke up on the dawn after election day with a new Prime Minister, Sir Keir spoke about a 'sunlight of hope' emerging from the shadows and he restated his focus on public service. Tim Farron, a Christian and Lib Dem MP speaks of politics as a 'mucky business' . He encourages us both to get involved in local life and pray for our MPs because the commitment to improving life for those who struggle is a noble but complex and demanding project. Sir Ed Davey falling off a paddleboard and getting on it again was a good illustration of that.Jesus came that 'they might have life to the full'. Here in Fishponds at All Saints and St.Mary's churches the core of our faith is to see lives flourish. Our new MP Damien Egan has already popped in to meet people from the wider community at St.Mary's weekly Saturday Lunch and we look forward to regular contact, so that people can make their views and needs known for making Fishponds not just 'quite nice' but a 'very good' place to live across all ages. We pray for MP Damien and for all local community leaders, faith leaders and support networks.Why not come along and join in our Sunday and midweek worship.Everyone is always welcome.Don't miss the Special Events on Saturday 6th July!All Saints 10 am to 12 noon: Coffee Morning and Repair CafeA special welcome to the local Fishponds LGBT+ Meetup group who we're helping to create their banner for Pride. Come along and have a look.St Marys 11am to 2pm: Summer FairEveryone loves a fair! What's not to like: cake, the raffle and tombola, the white elephant stall and books to browse - plus refreshments. Come along and bring your friends.Services This Sunday 7th July 2024St Marys 10.00 am: Creative ChurchAll Saints 10.30 am: Holy Communion with Band and Junior ChurchSt Marys 6.30 pm:EvensongThe Week AheadMon 8 July 10.30 am All Saints: Tiny TotsTue 9 July 10.30 am St Marys: Music for Todlers Summer Party!Wed 10 July 9.00 am All Saints: Celtic Morning PrayersThurs 11 July 10.00 am St Marys: Holy CommunionSat 12 July 12 noon 2pm St Marys: Saturday LunchesServices Next Sunday 14th July 2024All Saints 08.00 am: Holy Communion (spoken)St Marys 10.00 am: Sung Holy CommunionAll Saints 10.30 am Messy Muddy Church and Junior Church Celebration!Vicarage 7.15 pm Generations YP Summer Party! As we pray for all in Fishponds and work with our new MPs, a poem by Ian Adams encourages us to trust that life can get better, when we look at it through the lens of resurrection hope.See Resurrection in Everything - by Ian AdamsResurrection is not only a future hope.It happens now.Vibrant and inextinguishableAnd small signs of resurrection are everywhere.In the street where you live.In imaginative design.In the patient turning of the seasons.In courageous movements for justice,And in the daily acts of devotion that so many will offer to God and neighbour today.The invitation is to see resurrection.To allow the resurrection to seep into your life.To embody resurrection.So that you live resurrection life now.Go in Peace to Love and Serve the LordIn the name of Christ - in Fishponds and beyond.Revd Diane (curate)
Dear All Saints and St MarysThis weekend is often called Petertide - a name which is given to a season in the church when we celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. It is also one time in the churches season when we come together to celebrate with all those who have been called to be ordained in the church. As a benefice we will have to wait a little bit longer to be part of those particular celebrations together with our own curate Revd Kester. We continue to keep him very much in our prayers as he recovers his health. Our readings on Sunday remind us that we are all called to be worshippers on earth and in heaven and join with the words we hear in the Issiah reading, that cry "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts". These words form part of our Eucharistic prayers each week, a great thanksgiving that invites us all to praise God. Holy is a brilliant word, it combines both awe and wonder, with a sense of humility before God our Creator. It is a 4 letter word that speaks of being called to something precious, special and sacred. "Holy" is to be fully whole as people, an invitation to be truly ourselves as we find we are wrapped up in God's great big story and life. This weekend we gather as God's holy people, to worship the Almighty and be drawn into God's presence which embraces both Heaven and Earth. We will do this in our worship together as churches at the 10.30am Benefice service at All Saints. As a blessing we welcome the preaching ministry of Revd Robert Cotton, and it will be a delight on this ordination anniversary for many of us, that we will celebrate that same Eucharistic Prayer. Join us for our worship, as we join with God in Heaven and on Earth.Our Services this weekend - Sunday 30th June 20248am - BCP Holy Communion - All Saints10.30am - Sung Holy Communion Benefice Service - All Saints6.30pm - Said Evening Prayer - St MarysThe week aheadTuesday 2nd July 10:30am – M4TWeds 3rd July 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThursday 4th July 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 5th July 11:00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’sSaturday 6th July 10:00am - Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café – All Saints11.00 – 2:00pm – Summer Fair - St Mary’sNext SundaySunday 7th July 10:00am – Creative Church – St Marys10:30am – Holy Communion and Junior Church – All Saints6:30pm – Evensong – St. MaryHoly, Holy Holy LordGod of power and mightHeaven and Earth are full of your gloryHosanna in the Highest. AmenRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ Mark 4.40Dear All Saints and St Mary’sJesus’ rebuff of the disciples in this Sunday’s gospel reading sounds a little insensitive. Was it not obvious why they were afraid? Jesus was perfectly aware of the dangers of the storms on the lake. However, it is the disciples lack of faith, their lack of trust in him that he repeatedly disappointed him. If they really understood who he was, then they would not be afraid. In a similar way in this Sunday’s epistle, Paul tried to encourage the faith of the church in Corinth by showing how God had helped and supported him. The Christians in Corinth could trust God and be confident to live the sort of lives to which Christ was calling them. I his first letter, John told his readers that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4.18). If we trust God and we love one another, then we can start to put the fear aside and be more open, generous, creative, and brave in the way we live out our lives. We will have more opportunities to think about this further at the 8 am service at All Saints and the 10 am service at St Mary’s. At the 10.30 service at All Saints, we continue our look at the characters in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. I have said that these books are primarily about King David. However, there is another character, who is present throughout these books. That character, of course is God. It is David’s trust in God that is the key theme of the books. But, like all of us, David did not always know what God really wanted. When David wanted to build a temple for God in Jerusalem, God told him through the prophet Nathan, that it was not his job, but would be for his son. (You can read the story in 2 Samuel 7.1–29.) We will reflect a little on how to be more confident we are doing what God wants and how we can help others do the same.This gives us the following services for this Sunday 23rd June: 8.00 am All Saints: Holy Communion (said)10.00 am St Mary’s: Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints: Café Church In the coming week we have our normal services, with Celtic Morning Prayer at 9.00 am on Wednesday and Holy Communion at 10.00 am on Thursday. Next Saturday 29th June, Kester will be ordained as a priest in Bristol Cathedral at 3 pm. Next Sunday will be our benefice service at All Saints at 10.30 am. At this service, Kester will be presiding at the eucharist for the first time. Please remember him in your prayers. This gives the following services for the coming week: 9.00 am Wednesday 26th All Saints: Celtic morning Prayer10.00 am Thursday 27th St Mary’s: Holy Communion3.00 pm Saturday 29th Bristol Cathedral: Ordination Sunday 30th June 8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)10.30 am Sunday 30th All Saints Benefice Service We are starting a new series of sessions to prepare candidates for baptism or confirmation. For further details, speak to Revd Diane 07396732318 or Revd Lizzie lizzie.kesteven@live.co.ukAs Kester prepares for his ordination as priest, let us pray for him and for the ministry of the whole people of God:God our Father, Lord of all the world,through your Son you have called us into the fellowshipof your universal Church:hear our prayer for your faithful peoplethat in their vocation and ministryeach may be an instrument of your love,and give to your servants now to be ordainedthe needful gifts of grace;through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.AmenYours in Christ Mark
"In the shade of the branches shall nest winged creatures of every kind" - Ezekiel 17.23Dear All Saints and St MarysIt is rare to find a piece of scripture from the fiery prophet Ezekiel that feels comforting. Yet this week in the scriptures of Ezekial and later in Marks gospel we have images of two different types of places that give shelter. The Cedar Tree in the Old Testament gives a majestic picture of a strong and sturdy place where creatures can make a home. In Marks picture there is a scrappy and straggly shrub of a mustard seed which gives a place to call home to all creatures who find their way to it. I love both images as they connect deeply to how I know God. "What does the kingdom of God look like?" is the question that is pondered by Jesus. The picture he then draws us to is that of a tree in which all creatures can find a home and make a home. We all need a home. Somewhere we can go to where we are safe and warm. A place where we know how we are connected together as people and tribes. A place that is protective and welcomes us. It can be large and secure like the Cedar and as scrappy and straggly as the mustard tree - as long as we know it is our home and that we are invited to take our place in it. Come and take your place.Our worship this weekend Sunday 16th June 10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am Holy Communion with Hymns - All SaintsThe week aheadMonday 17th June 10.30am - Tiny Tots - All SaintsTuesday 18th June 10:30am - M4T - St. MarysWeds 19th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints Weds 19th June 7.15pm - All Saints PCCThursday 20th June 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. Mary’s Saturday 22nd June 12.00 - 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s Sunday 23rd June 8.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints 10:00am - Sung Holy Communion – St Marys 10.30am - Cafe Church - All Saints On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind. - Ezekiel 22:23Blessings and prayers Revd Lizzie
Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,This past week has given us time for sombre and grateful remembrance as we have marked the 80th anniversary of D Day. Amongst all the formality and history, what struck me most was the humility and grace of the various veterans that were interviewed. Alongside this was the power of grief and loss that was still raw after such a vast amount of time. For those of us born after these events it can be too easy to lose that reality of human suffering amongst the details of history and sadly also a nostalgic narrative that can soften the sad reality with a patina of acceptable memories. These dignified veterans were and are the core of this period of commemoration.Listening to them and their please for peace for the future gained extra power by the coming together of people and leaders from a diversity of countries, sharing in a common humanity. They were united in this commemorative act.It would be wonderful if humanity could simply be united in genuine love and grace, and this is the vision Jesus gives us in this weeks text. When his family come for him, waiting outside and concerned about his sanity, Jesus radically redefines the definition of family. The shared value is the acceptance of God, but this forms a new family that welcomes all-there are no barriers, no exclusions. He is not rejecting his blood family-he is expanding it, so we too are part of this vast, diverse and dynamic human family, and this is the good news that we can reflect upon this week.The services and events for the coming week are:Sunday 9th June8.00am: Holy Communion at All Saints10.00am: Holy Communion at St. Mary’s10.30am: Muddy Messy Church at All Saints7.15pm: Generation Youth Group at All Saints Community HallThe Week AheadMonday 10th June at 10.30am: Tiny Tots at All Saints Community HallTuesday 11th June at 10.30 am: Music for Toddlers at St Marys Parish RoomWednesday 12th June at 9.00am: Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints ChurchThursday 13th June at 10.00am: Holy Communion at St. Marys ChurchFriday 14th June at 11.00am: Living After Loss at St. Mary’s ChurchFriday 14th June at 6.30pm: Choir plus at All Saints ChurchSaturday 15th June at 12 noon: Saturday Lunches at St. Marys ChurchSunday 16th June10:00am – Sung Service of the Word – St. Mary’s10:30am – 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. AmenBlessingsRevd Kester de Oliveira