To all God’s beloved in Fishponds, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since we are on the cusp of Bible Sunday I couldn’t resist opening my message with this beautiful greeting by the apostle Paul. He uses it to begin his letter to the Romans. This Sunday marks the launch of our new Cafe Church year studying Romans, animated by Bible Society’s dynamic presenter, Andrew Ollerton.

The Last Sunday after Trinity is commonly celebrated as Bible Sunday and the Collect gives thanks for the Holy Scriptures and asks that God would help us ‘hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them’ So how where do we start so our Bible studies don’t give us indigestion?

Over the years, I have valued tools for Bible Study e.g. consulting commentaries, using a Lectio Divina method of hearing the Bible as if God is engaging in a conversation with me through a phrase or passage. I find the so-called ’Swedish Method’ particularly helps me engage with any passage by using a range of questions (one version of the Swedish Bible Study Method is attached with this email). Four key questions are:

What stands out to me in this passage? What don’t I understand? Does the passage remind me of something going on in my life, or the world at the moment? What will I do as a result of reading this passage?

If I apply these questions to this week’s Gospel reading about the healing of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46 - 51 this is the sort of thing that emerges for me… For you, it may look different.

What stands out to me in this passage?

The care of the people around Bartimaeus: ’Take heart, he (Jesus) is calling you!”
The courteous way Jesus addresses the blind man without making assumptions: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’
Bartimaeus chose the better, more life-transforming thing- not more money (he was begging), but the recovery of his sight.
Bart’s faith made all the difference. He trusted Jesus and Jesus healed him.

What don’t I understand?

I wonder why Bartimaeus addressed Jesus as ’Son of David’? I will need to consult a commentary to find this out, or a local Bible expert

Does the passage remind me of anything?

My thoughts turn to those who sit and beg around Fishponds and God’s greatest desire for their flourishing and how that might happen for them and how God might use our churches to be a part of that

What will I do as a result of reading this passage?

I will ponder the question of Jesus (What do you want me to do for you?) and, like Bartimaeus, try to identify and then dare to ask for something I would really like God to do in my life

Services on Sunday 27th October 2024

8.00am Holy Communion – All Saints
10:00am Sung Holy Communion, Trinity – St Marys
10.30am Cafe Church –Book of Romans (Episode 1)- All Saints

Events in the week ahead

Monday 28th October: 
No meeting for Tiny Tots, Beavers, Cubs or Scouts - Half Term

Wednesday 30th October: 
Celtic Morning Prayer - 9.00am at All Saints Church

Thursday 31st October: 
Holy Communion - 10.00am in St. Marys Parish Room (enter via back door)

Friday 1st November: 
Living after Loss - 11.00am in St. Marys Parish Room

Saturday 2nd November: 
Coffee Morning - 10am to 12noon at All Saints Church. Plus Bristol Repair TeamSaturday Lunches - 12noon to 2.00pm at St. Marys

Services on Sunday 3rd November 2024

10:00am – Creative Church – St Marys
10:30am – All Saints Patronal Festival: Holy Communion with Baptism and Junior Church – All Saints
6:30pm – Choral Evensong – St. Mary’s

As you can see, there are three services to choose from to come and worship God together in Fishponds this Sunday. We look forward to seeing new and old faces. And you even get a lie-in, as the clocks go back one hour!

I wonder what points your preacher will draw out and what you will hear this Sunday? While we can read the Bible alone, it is even better when we explore the Bible in community. We can learn from a preacher who has studied the Gospel text and consulted commentaries and read what contemporary theologians are drawing out for today’s world. Or we can meet around a table and hear how a passage is resonating with members of the church family (e.g. at Café Church). Hearing from each other helps us care for one another better as we come to know what others are going through.

Additional Collect for Last Sunday after Trinity

Merciful God, teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,that trusting in your word and obeying your willwe may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

May God bless you with a healing message from the Scriptures this Sunday, Revd Diane (curate)