Rejoice in the Lord always

Dear All Saints and St Mary's

Happy Gaudete! What a great word to say and reflect on. It is a word that has been set to many a tune, but the one that always springs to my mind is the Steeleye Span 80's version - a gift of an earworm for your weekend!

Here in the middle of Advent the season makes a slight change of step. This Sunday coming has been known as Gaudete Sunday - a word that means "Rejoice". The pink candle on the advent ring is lit. It marks a moment when our eyes can see in the faint distance the manger that we are asked to move towards in order to wonder at the gift of Jesus that God brings us all at Christmas.

"Rejoice" is the word that springs from one of the readings that we are given this Sunday - St Paul in his letter to the Philippians says this

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

It is an encouragement that despite the darkness that enfolds us that in everything by prayer we can bring our needs to God, and to be assured that the Lord is near and to be gentle with each other. Amongst the fever of Christmas preparations, I want to continue to cling to Advent, to stay in that place a little while longer in this season. Yet the call is to keep going, step by step, till we finally arrive prayerfully able to give over all that we need to God who comes to love the world.

We have the joy of being able to welcome the Bishop of Bristol, Bishop Viv, to celebrate holy communion and preach at 10am at St Marys. Our rejoicing continues at All Saints in the afternoon at 4.30pm with our children sharing with us the Nativity. Both services full of the glimpses of hope, love and rejoicing that we are called to be part of. Bring yourselves, your families, your neighbours and friends to rejoice and join in the joy.

Worship Sunday 15th December

8am Holy Communion – All Saints
10am Sung Holy Communion with Bishop Viv– St. Mary’s
4.30pm Nativity Service – All Saints

The week ahead

Mon 16th
10.30am Tiny Tots Christmas Party - All Saints
7.30pm Advent Group

Weds 18th  
9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer  - All Saints
12 noon Funeral of David Godfrey - St. Marys
6.00pm. Fishponds School Carol Service

Thursday 19th
10:00am Holy Communion - St. Mary’s11am - Advent Group

Saturday 21st
12.00noon - 2:00pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s
1.00pm - 6.00pm D&D fundraiser “Yuletide Ball” -All Saints

Sunday 22nd
8.00am - Holy Communion BCP - All Saints10:00am Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am Holy Communion - All Saints 18.30 - Carols by Candlelight - St Marys

In gentle prayer

Revd Lizzie