The Servant KingDear All Saints and St MarysThe reading from the gospel of Mark that occurs this week in the lectionary is a one that was hard to grasp for the first followers of Jesus and is still a challenge today. Jesus tells his motley crew, after they fight among themselves (again!) that the call to greatness, is one that is first and foremost a call to service. James and John the "Sons of Thunder" had asked that they might have a place at the "top" table, ahead of others. That's what caused the angry scuffle. Jesus uses it as a teaching opportunity for all those that gathered around. It is still today a "teachable moment”.Jesus is often guiding people to the greater kingdom vision of a place of service over and above that of hierarchical power and privilege. Jesus' choses to spend his last evening with his friends showing them, in the washing of feet. The master is the one who kneels and washes feet, rather than hold court at table. The idea that the true power of God, that the kingdom is first and foremost carried out in the service, practical and prayerful, of those around us. How do we serve others?Whilst away this week on conference, one of our speakers - ELizabeth Oldfield, spoke passionately about something that resonated with me. Her core message was one about building relationships, and how this is at the centre of how we relate to people, build people up and understand our differences more keenly. A phrase that stood out for me was "Connect before you Correct!". Her focus on deep listening to others, to listening to ourselves and our preferences, whilst simultaneously curiously seeking out to discover why other people might view the world differently was refreshing and full of wisdom. Jesus' call to servant ministry, turning the topsy turvy world of power and privilege on its head requires us to connect with others by accepting a servant centred service. Who might we reach out too and listen too today? Who might we cross the road or church aisle to listen too. Who might we not know? Who do we see? Who might we not see? It was a teachable moment for me. As is still the words of Jesus today "but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant"Worship Services this Sunday 20th October10am - Baptism with Communion at St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion with Hymns - All SaintsThe week aheadMonday 21st 10.30am - Tiny Tots - All SaintsTuesday 22nd 10:30am – M4T - St MarysWeds 23rd 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThursday 24th 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sSaturday 26th 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s7.00pm – All Saints Quiz - £6 a ticket.Sunday 27th 8.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am Sung Holy Communion – St Marys10.30am Cafe Church – All SaintsGod of Glory, the end of our searching, help us to lay aside all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom, and to give all that we have, to gain the pearl beyond price, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. AmenRevd Lizzie
Money, money, moneyMust be funnyIn the rich man's worldMoney, money, moneyAlways sunnyIn the rich man's worldAll the things I could doIf I had a little moneyIt's a rich man's world’ . (Money, Money, Money-ABBA) Dear Friends in Christ, I was reading an article about how much money the Democrats and Republicans have raised for their election costs, and it was staggering. The power of the ‘tech bros’ like Elon Musk through their staggeringly huge fortunes is increasingly alarming. Money-the presence or absence of it-seems to be increasingly the goal of life in the modern world. Yet so many others have so little. We see that in Fishponds-the homeless, those struggling with paying for heating and food. The gaps in society seem to grow ever bigger. This Sundays Gospel reading has the challenge to the rich young man. Can he give up his wealth to serve Jesus? It seems to be his stumbling block. Yet we need to also remember that it’s not having money in itself that’s evil but the love of it. History charts the wealthy who have shared that wealth. Its placing money above anything else that is the issue-especially when it replaces God in our hearts, and it can be any5thing that we put in the place of God that can become our stumbling block, not just money. I hope that the rich young man was able to see this and came to follow Jesus. Sunday 13th October. Twentieth Sunday after Trinity 8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints10.00am Holy Communion - St. Marys10.30am Messy Muddy Church - All Saints7.15pm Generations - All Saints The Week AheadMonday 14th October Tiny Tots - 10.30am All Saints Community Hall Beavers - 6.15pm All Saints Community HallWednesday 16th October Celtic Morning Prayer - 9.00am All Saints Church Benefice Bible Book Club – 2-3.30. St. Marys ChurchThursday 17th October Holy Communion - 10.00am St. Marys Church13th Bristol Cubs - 6.30pm All Saints Community Hall13th Bristol Scouts - 8.00pm All Saints Community HallFriday 18th October Living after Loss - 11am - 12noon St. Marys ChurchSaturday 19th October Saturday Lunches - 12noon to 2pm. St. Marys Church Fr Roger’s funeral - Thursday 24th October - 2.15pm - St John the Baptist Church - Ruar Dean. All Welcome. This academic year we welcome Charlie Blackett, who will be with both parishes on a long term placement as she trains to be a vicar. Next Sunday 20th October. Twenty First Sunday after Trinity 10.00am Baptism & Holy Communion - St.Marys Church10.30am Holy Communion - All Saints Church Looking aheadSaturday 26th October. Quiz Night - 7pm start. All Saints Community HallPrice £6 per person includes jacket potato with filling of choice May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen Blessings Revd Kester de Oliveira
He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:3 NRSVDear All Saints and St Mary'sThis Sunday, we start a series of readings that will take us through the Letter to the Hebrews in the next seven weeks. This great exposition of the centrality and uniqueness of Jesus, feels more like a sermon than a letter. It exhorts its hearers to be faithful to Christ, despite difficulties and persecution, because Christ is so much more than any of the leaders or heroes of the past. Christ became like us, 'a little lower than the angels', so that we might become like him, his brothers and sisters, children of the same Father. Jesus is the pioneer of our faith, the one who has gone before us and the one whom we follow. This Sunday, we have three services, at which we can concentrate our focus on Jesus and strengthen our commitment to walk in his way. There is Creative Church at St Mary's at 10.00 am and Holy Communion at All Saints at 10.30 am. At 6.30 pm at St Mary's we have Choral Evensong, at which we will be celebrating the Dedication Festival. This gives the following services for this Sunday:10.00 am St Mary's Creative Church 10.30 am All Saints Holy Communion6.30 pm St Mary’s Choral EvensongWe have our usual midweek services, with Celtic Morning Prayer on Wednesday at 9.00 am at All Saints and Holy Communion on Thursday at 10.00 am at St Mary's. Next Sunday follows our usual second Sunday pattern, with said Holy Communion at 8.00 am at All Saints, Holy Communion at 10.00 at St Mary's and Messy/Muddy Church at 10.30 am at All Saints. This gives the following services for the week ahead: Wednesday 9th 9.00 am All Saints Celtic morning prayer Thursday 10th 10.00 am St Mary's Holy Communion Sunday 13th 8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)10.00 am St Mary's Holy Communion10.30 am All Saints Messy/Muddy ChurchAs we start on this journey through the Letter to the Hebrews, let us pray for the grace to trust Christ and turn to him afresh each day, in the words of the collect for this Sunday:Faithful Lord, whose steadfast love never ceases and whose mercies never come to an end: grant us the grace to trust you and to receive the gifts of your love, new every morning, in Jesus Christ our Lord.AmenYours in ChristMark
Dear Friends in Christ,Reflecting on a British summer that seems to have consisted of more rain than sunshine, it’s easy to grumble about the ‘soft refreshing rain’ as the hymn puts it.Yet without it we wouldn’t have the richness of the creation we experience in this country. We can take for granted the variety and wonder of nature, the profound and beautiful scope of creation. Even more so, it’s so easy to forget that whilst we can buy all manner of things from the local shops, many today cannot do so. We naturally (and rightly) think of those in countries where crops fail and extreme weather decimate harvests, there are other ways that people are denied the food that they need. Those places where there is violence and war destroy the wonders of creation and restrict access to food. Even in this country, many live on budgets that are stretched to the max, with the use of Food Banks proliferating.But the text from Joel reminds us that God is with us, that even in the hardest times he does not desert us. He supplies us with all that is most necessary for our lives. Creation itself is a testament to God’s glory: a visual, sensual outpouring of his love, and a love that sustains us spiritually and physically.This Sunday 17th after Trinity8.00am Holy Communion: All Saints10:00am Harvest Holy Communion with Guides: St Marys10.30am Café Church: All SaintsThe week aheadMonday 23rd 10.30am Tiny Tots - All SaintsTuesday 24th 10.00am Tots 4 Music - St.Mary'sWednesday 25th 9:00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All SaintsThursday 26th 10:00am Holy Communion - St. Mary Saturday 28th 12.00 noon 2:00pm Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 29th 8.00am BCP Communion - All Saints10.00am Joint Benefice Sung Holy Communion - St. Marys with this year’s charity “Through the Roof”.May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. AmenBlessingsRevd Kester de Oliveira
