Dear friends,

I hope you are well and enjoying whatever this summer is bringing your way whether, rest, festivals, holidays or just a different pace of life. Life at St Martin’s is certainly different as we said goodbye to the wonderful Rev’d Becky who has now moved house and will be taking up the role of Archdeacon of Bristol full me. We wish her all the best in her new vocation and look forward to those times in the future when she can visit. If you would like to support her at her installation and licencing at Bristol Cathedral it will be on Sunday 1st September at 3.30pm during evensong. I know she would really appreciate the support of St Martin’s as she begins this new chapter, for more details speak to me on Sunday.

Over the past weeks we have seen horrendous violence and disorder erupt after three children – Alice, Bebe and Elsie – were killed in Southport, along with many others who were injured and harmed. Our prayers are with the families of all affected and we pray that peace and hope would be marks of our society going forward. At St. Martin’s we believe that all human beings are precious and worthy of love – we believe in radical inclusion of all people. We seek to follow Christ who stood against violence and injustice, always teaching non-violence and calling us to be peacemakers. As such, I encourage you to take me to read the recent statements made by a diverse group of faith and secular leaders in Bristol, including Bishop Viv.

h ps://www.bristol.anglican.org/news/statement-regarding-the-extremist-ac ons-in-bristol.php

Last Sunday, as we gathered at 10:30 for Café church, we took me to reflect on the story of the Good Samaritan. This well-known parable of Jesus’ challenged the religious leaders of his me to widen their expectations when it comes to answering the ques on who is my neighbour? It was well known that the first part of our Bible, their Torah, with it’s many laws and requirements has love at the centre of all of it. Love for God and love for your neighbour. When Jesus is asked the ques on “who is my neighbour” in some ways they are asking, who must we love? As he often does, Jesus doesn’t answer directly but tells a story of a man who is in desperate need of help. The people who we might expect to offer help, the priests and holy men, walk by – not taking the me to show compassion. Instead, the most unexpected person stops – a despised Samaritan. In the story, he turns out to be the unexpected neighbour to the man in need, challenging the ques on asker to reflect on how he might open his heart to become more loving to those who might be considered an opponent. This story contains so much food for thought in our daily lives and, as we think about the hatred displayed towards Muslims, asylum seekers and refugees this month we can ask ourselves afresh, where do I find myself in this story? Who is my neighbour and how can I love them?

Wherever you find yourself this weekend, I hope you can find peace and rest as we seek God together, both as a gathered community in church but also as a family spread across the country and globe. Our services this week will be taken by Rev’d Dr Simon Taylor at both 8:30 and 10:30 where we will gather around the Lord’s table to receive from God and worship together. You are invited! Every blessing,

Rev’d Phil