Palms - Hands, Branches and DonkeysDear All Saints and St MarysEvery story has a beginning, a middle and an end. (or so some say) This week Palm Sunday arguably marks all three. It is an ending of Lent. A beginning of Holy Week. And it marks an interjection in the midst between the two. A day of remembering, retelling, taking part in the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. A day which marks the beginning but also draws us to the ending . A week which sees processions, fickle crowds, rowdy temples, unjust trials, eating, sleeping, praying, dying and rising. It is the story which for Christians holds profound truth about who God is and how God acts. May we all be invited into this Holiest of weeks together.This Sunday our worship allows us to open the palms of our own hands to receive God with the palm branches as we re discover again this life giving story.Palm Sunday - Sunday 13th April8.00am - Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am - Sung Palm Sunday Holy Communion Service - St Marys10.30am - Palm Procession Service - All Saints7.15pm - Generations Youth Group - All SaintsThe week aheadTuesday 11.00am Pat Jones Funeral - All SaintsTuesday 6.30pm Holy Communion - All SaintsWednesday 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsWednesday 6.30pm Taizé - All SaintsThursday 10.30am Chrism Mass - Bristol CathedralThursday 6.30pm Agape - All SaintsThursday 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion - St MarysFriday. 10.30am Good Friday Children's Activities - All SaintsFriday 1.30pm Liturgy of Good Friday - St MarysFriday 2.00pm Last Hour - All SaintsSaturday 12noon to 1.30pm - Saturday LunchesSaturday 7.30pm Easter Eve Holy Fire, Vigil and First Communion of Easter - St MarysEaster Sunday 20th April 10.00am Easter Sunday Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am Easter Sunday Holy Communion - All Saints6.30pm Easter Choral Evensong - St Marys.Oh....and a interesting poem I discovered this week to ponder about a Donkey by GK Chesterton ( because...why not on Palm Sunday)When fishes flew and forests walkedAnd figs grew upon thorn,Some moment when the moon was bloodThen surely I was born.With monstrous head and sickening cryAnd ears like errant wings,The devil’s walking parodyOn all four-footed things.The tattered outlaw of the earth,Of ancient crooked will;Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,I keep my secret still.Fools! For I also had my hour;One far fierce hour and sweet:There was a shout about my ears,And palms before my feet.God BlessRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Dear All Saint’s and St Mary’s, This week brings us to the Fifth Sunday of Lent, and the beginning of Passiontide, leading us through the final weeks of Lent to Holy Week and Good Friday.In John’s Gospel this week some of those closest to Jesus are beginning to understand where the road to Jerusalem is leading in the interaction with Mary, Lazarus and Judas. A time for us to particularly turn our thoughts and reflection to the Passion of Christ in the light of his suffering, taunting and subsequent crucifixion. We all have the chance to delve into this together at St Mary’s this Sunday evening with Passiontide readings and music.Our worship this Sunday 6th April 10am – Creative Church – St Mary’s10:30am – Holy Communion with hymns and Junior Church - All Saints6:30pm – Passiontide Readings and Music- St Mary’sThe week AheadMonday 7th - 7:30pm Lent Group 1Weds 9th 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsWeds 9th 2.00pm Lent Group 2 – St Mary’sThurs 10th 10:00am Holy Communion – St Mary’sFri 11th 12:30pm Lunchtime Concert – St Mary’sSat 12th 12 noon – 2pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSat 12th 11.00am Stations of the Cross at Dither Wood (Bring a picnic, lifts available sign-up sheet at St Mary’s or speak to Charlie or Kester) Sun 13th April: Palm Sunday8:00am Holy Communion – All Saints 10:00am Palm Sunday – St Mary’s10:30am Palm Sunday– All Saints7:15pm Generations – All Saints Link Blessings,CharlieDiocese of Bristol Ordinand – All Saints and St Mary’s, Fishponds
I want to tell you about something I find achingly beautiful - something that blows my mind and heals my soul.Did you know that Jesus is signed by tapping the palm of one hand with the middle finger of the other, and vice-versa? This tactile sign indicates the wounds Jesus sustained when he was nailed to the cross. The creators of British, American and Australian sign language chose the wounds of Jesus as the defining hallmark of his identity. It's a fact that makes me sit up and take notice.We might wonder why God chose not to wipe out these scars from Jesus's resurrected body. In one sense Jesus needs those scars to prove to Thomas, the apostles and us, that he really is the same Jesus, the Crucified One whom God has brought back to life. But is there more we can learn from his wounds?Reflecting on Christ and the cross in his first letter, the apostle Peter tells his readers:He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2: 24)Peter is quoting words from a passage in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:4-5), to make a powerful link between Isaiah's Suffering Servant and Jesus the Crucified Messiah.Handel's Messiah picks out those same words (using the King James Version) in his famous Chorus. You may like to listen to it during this season.Surely, surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.Handel's emphatic repetition of the words: 'Surely, surely' encourages me to hope that suffering - my own and the world's - may not turn out to be as pointless as it first seems. I am reassured it can be transformed into something better.Peter's letter points out a dual purpose of Christ's cross and resurrection: the healing of suffering and the forgiveness of sins. Some suffering just happens to us, but there is also pain we cause. The risen Christ bearing his scars gives us courage to face both.When the risen Jesus appears to different people we see different aspects of healing taking place. With the gentle greeting, of ‘Mary!' in the garden Jesus brings solace in sorrow (John 20:16). With his command: 'Feed my sheep!'(John 21:17) Jesus brings restoration after remorse and repentance to Peter who denied him. And with 'Put your finger here and see my hands', Jesus offers Thomas concrete certainty to dispel his doubt.(John 20:27)Are you feeling downcast today? Are you feeling guilt, shame or humiliation? Have you ever felt rejected or betrayed? Are you tempted to doubt God's power and goodness? Take heart! Jesus's closest disciples and even Jesus himself experienced trials and overcame them. We too are beloved and forgivable. God is with us and for us. During my life I've experienced and observed how God still comes to meet people and refresh their hope. During this Passiontide and Easter, I invite you to tap the palm of one hand with the middle finger of the other, and vice-versa, and say Jesus. Ponder. What healing does God want to hold out to you? How will this Easter mystery: 'By his wounds you have been healed' ring true for you? Like Thomas, may you find yourself exclaiming in amazement, 'My Lord and my God!'Risen Christ,your wounds declare your love for the worldand the wonder of your risen life:give us compassion and courageto risk ourselves for those we serve,to the glory of God the Father.Collect for the 5th Sunday of EasterEaster Peace, Revd Diane, assistant curate.
Clothing ourselves in God's love.Dear All Saints and St MarysThis week we have a mini pause from Lent and celebrate "Mothering Sunday". A mix of traditions and emotions Mothering Sunday comes originally from people returning from their work places to their Mother Church and parishes. One of the readings for this week is from Colossians. It speaks of humility, kindness, compassion and patience, all things that all people are encouraged to practice in daily life, rhythms and rituals. As a church we gather as a "family", a hybrid of people of different ages and stages, life experiences, wisdom and folly and together collectively try to understand how these Christ centred practices might be lived out in life. Our worship this Sunday 30th March - (Remembering that the clocks go forward!)8am - BCP - Holy Communion - All Saints10am - Sung All Age Communion - St Marys10.30 - All Age Communion (with band) - All SaintsTHE WEEK AHEAD Monday 30th 10.30am Tiny Tots - All SaintsMonday 30th 7.30pm. Lent Group 1Tuesday 1st 10:30am. Music 4 Tots - St. MarysWeds 2nd 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsWeds 2nd 2.00pm. Lent Group 2 - St. MarysThursday 3rd 10:00am Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 4th 11.00am Living after Loss - St MarysSaturday 5th 10:00am to 12noon Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café –All SaintsSaturday 5th 12.00noon to 2:00pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 6th 10:00am Creative Church – St Marys10:30am Holy Communion and Junior Church – All Saints6:30pm Passiontide readings and Music– St. Mary’sBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
