Celebrations and thanksgivingDear All Saints and St MarysThis weekend Bishop Viv will ordain new Deacons and Priests in Bristol Cathedral. This is a wonderful occasion for the whole church, and also especially for us as we celebrate alongside Fr Kester as he is ordained priest to serve in the parishes of All Saints and St Marys.One of the readings this weekend in the Old Testament reading of Micah speaks of "doing justice, walking humbly and being kind". It has struck me that as we approach this weekend it will also be the final ordination in Bristol for Bishop Viv as she looks to her retirement. We send her our blessings and prayers and thanks for her episcopal ministry. She has lived out those three qualities of Christian discipleship - a call of justice, kindness and humility. As we pray and discern for a new Bishop of Bristol, may these words of scripture be our guide. Our Junior Church will be looking at this on Sunday, and I invite you all to contribute your thoughts, prayers and wisdom to this process. This weekend of celebration and thanksgiving areSaturday 5th July - - 3pm - Ordination of Fr Kester - Bristol Cathedral Sunday 6th July - 10.30 am - Benefice Service - All SaintsSunday 6th July - 6.30pm - Choral Evensong - St MarysEveryone is welcome to all the above and also to a celebration in St Mary's parish rooms at 6pm-8pm on Sat 5th July post the ordinations. Let's come together and celebrate in all these different ways this weekend. God is good!The week aheadWeds 9th July 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints Sunday 13th July8:00am - Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Holy Communion - St Marys10:30am - Junior Church Family Service - All Saints7:15pm - Generations - Vicarage With thanksgivingRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
"Doing Good"Dear All Saints and St MarysThe Acts of the Apostles was written about 100 AD, a generation after the first Gospels. It contains stories about the growth of the church, and reflects some of the concerns they were having, as local Christian communities were becoming more established. Yet, preserved within these chapters, there are some very early summaries of Jesus’s life. These verses show how the earliest Christians talked about Jesus, before later refinements were made (such as we say each week in the Creed). One important early description is found in Acts 10.38, with four different descriptions of Jesus. Each of these captures something true about Jesus, as they experienced him in his own lifetime, and also as we experience him now. ‘God anointed Jesus with power’: yes, God’s power was evident, as he taught and as he fed people in amazing ways. ‘Jesus healed those who were oppressed’: yes, Jesus released people trapped by illness, stigma, or lack of love. ‘For God was with him’: yes, when we meet Jesus, we meet God. But my favourite phrase is this: ‘Jesus went about doing good’. It is such a simple phrase, but it condenses into five words so much of what I believe about Jesus. Whatever troubles he met, whoever he came across, whatever difficult circumstances he encountered, Jesus simply did good. He made goodness happen, and not only left people in a better place – but also gave them the power to continue doing good themselves. In our culture, being a “do-gooder” is a critical description, usually delivered with a sneer. But I don’t think it should be. How about this wonderful quotation from a Quaker missionary, who was saying in different words what Acts 10.38 is pointing us towards: “I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”This Sunday's Worship on 22nd June8:00 - Holy Communion, All Saints10:00 - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30 - Café Church, All Saints The week aheadWeds 25th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThurs 26th June 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. MarysSaturday 28th June 12noon - 1.30pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 29th June 8:00am - BCP Holy Communion - All Saints10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am - Holy Communion, All Saints Revd Bob.
Dear All Saints and St MarysHappy Holy Trinity Sunday! Did you know that Bristol Cathedral's "name" is "The Holy and Undivided Trinity"? I have always found it inspiring and comforting that the "mother" church of this city and the diocese bears this name. Trinty Sunday comes straight after the feasts of Pentecost and the Ascension. In many ways bringing full circle the whole theological journey that Christians live from the beginning of creation, through Jesus life and death and resurrection to the sending of the Spirit. It is when we celebrate all that is unique about the Christian faith. And it is a unique and radical claim that God can be both one and three all at the same time. That we can know God in all ways simultaneously, and experience God in this dynamic relationship of God who creates, redeems and sustains us in one community and one communion. A day when we sing three fold "Holy!Holy!Holy!"Sunday 15th June are worship is 10am - Sung Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All SaintsThe week aheadWednesday 18th 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThursday 19th 10.00am Holy Communion - St. MarysFriday 20th 11.00am Living after Loss - St. MarysSaturday 21st 12noon to 1.30pmSaturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 22nd June 8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am Holy Communion - St Mary’s10.30am Café Church - All SaintsBlessingsLizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Come Holy SpiritDear All Saints and St Mary's,This Sunday, we remember the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first disciples, equipping them with courage, unity, and a new language of love to proclaim the gospel to all nations. It was not the end of the story, but the beginning—the birth of the Church.As an Ordinand, walking this journey of discernment and formation, I am struck with how Pentecost reminds us that ministry is not something we take up alone. It is God’s Spirit who calls, who equips, and who sends. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters of creation now dwells in each of us, empowering us to live as Christ’s body in the world.What might it look like to truly open ourselves to the Spirit’s work in our lives and in our communities? Where is God inviting us to speak hope, act justly, and love boldly?With three different styles of Worship this Sunday, we hope that you can join us at one of them.This Sunday 8th June – Pentecost8:00am – Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am – Holy Communion, St Marys10:30am – Messy Muddy Church, All Saints7:15pm – Generations – All Saints LinkThe week aheadWeds 11th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThurs 12th June 10:00 Holy Communion - St. MarysSaturday 14th June 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sNext Sunday 15th June10:00am – Holy Communion St Mary’s10:30am – Holy Communion, All SaintsCome, Holy Spirit.Fill the hearts of your people and kindle in us the flame of your love. Renew your Church and send us out in the power of your Spirit, to the glory of your name.AmenWith every blessing,Charlie BlackettOrdinand -All Saints and St Mary’s - Bristol Diocese
