Dear All Saints and St Marys

If you only heard one word from the mouth of Jesus, what might that be? ‘Love’. ‘God’. No, I suggest that the key word Jesus speaks to us today (as he did 2000 years ago to the first disciples) is ‘now’!

When should I do good? Now! How often should I forgive my brother? Actually, the number does not matter. What matters is: now! If you pass the person who has been beaten up in the street (while the priest and the Levite pass by on the other side), when is the best time to help? Now!

St Paul captures this in a wonderful verse on 2 Corinthians. First God says to us: “at an acceptable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation, I have helped you”. In other words, God hears us NOW – as soon as we pray. God does not delay – God’s help may not be what we expected, nor what we thought we want; but there is no delay.

Martin Luther was asked: what would he do if the world were to end tomorrow? He answered, “I would plant an apple tree today.” Now! There is a Greek proverb which says: a society grows great when old people plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit. There is value in doing something today – even if the benefits will not be manifest till many years later.

So, perhaps it is not surprising that the key moment in this week’s Gospel reading is when Jesus says “now”! “I am now. God’s promises are now – in me, by me, with me.” And that ‘now’ continues up to today. God’s actions are not merely found in the past. God acts today – in us, by us, with us.

This Sunday 26th January the service at church are as follows

8am - Holy Communion - All Saints
10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys
10.30am - Cafe Church - All Saints

Cafe Church is a open and informal space which begins with coffee/tea and breakfast that enables worship with space for discussion and reflection with others. We are currently looking at the Book of Romans together and is good way to get to know people and learn together about the Christian faith)

The week ahead

Monday 27th 10.30am Tiny Tots - All Saints Community Hall
Tuesday 28th. 10.30am Music for Toddlers - St Marys
Wednesday 29th. 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints
Thursday 30th 10:00am Holy Communion - St. Mary’s

Saturday 1st Feb 

10:00am Coffee Morning, Book Sale plus the Bristol Repair Café - All Saints
12noon - 2pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s
3pm - 6pm Open Tango - All Saints Community Hall

Sunday 2nd 

10:00am Creative Church - St Marys
10:30am Holy Communion and Junior Church - All Saints
6:30pm Candlemas Choral Evensong - St. Mary’s

Revd Bob Cotton