Wise and gracious God
You spread a table before us
nourish your people with the word of life and the bread of heaven.
Prayers at the Preparation of the Table (CW p.293)
Dear Friends at All Saints and St Mary’s
I write to you full of anticipation (a mix of joy, excitement and trepidation) about what the Holy Spirit will unfold this coming Sunday when I preside for the first time at the Lord’s table. (All Saints at 10.30). In preparation, as well as useful instruction from Rev Lizzie, I’ve dipped into a book ‘Echoing the Word’ by Paula Gooder which traces the history and biblical sources of our CW Eucharistic Prayers. On Sunday I plan to use Eucharistic Prayer E – a new prayer created for Common Worship (2000), initially the work of Canon Jeremy Haselock. It is a classic ‘Western’ Eucharistic Prayer, in that the words ‘Send your Holy Spirit’ (the epiclesis ) come before the words Jesus used at supper with his disciples over the bread and wine (institution narrative for short) As someone who has taught adults who left school with no English qualifications, I find Prayer E very pleasing; it is short and simple, yet leaves nothing out. And what it says and shows is this: ‘Through Jesus’ dying and rising God has set us free from sin and death, once and for all.’ This is the good news we celebrate around the Lord’s Table. I look forward to seeing you and I’d love to invite folks to come outside afterwards for a church family photograph together around the Yew Tree – plus there will be refreshments at the back of All Saints to linger and chat over as usual. I look forward to sharing this special time with you.
Services for this week 17th July: The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
St.Mary’s 10.00 Creative Church with Rev Janey – Come and make a Suncatcher!- a glimpse of God’s glory
All Saints 10.30 Holy Communion with Rev Diane presiding and Rev Lizzie preaching
Readings: Genesis 18:1-10, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42
St.Mary’s 18.30 Evensong with Rev Janey leading and preaching
Sunday 19.15 Generations Youth Group end of year BBQ and Summer Games at the Vicarage
Upcoming Events and Services in the Benefice
In the coming week…
Monday 18th 10.30 Tiny Tots End of Year Party at All Saints Hall/Link
Tuesday 19th 10.30 Music for Toddlers at St Mary’s
Wednesday 20th 09.00 Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church
Thursday 21st 10.00 Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church
Services next Sunday 24th July
Sunday 24th 8.00 Holy Communion at All Saints Church
10.00 Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church
followed by a Farewell Lunch for Rev Janey (see poster)
10.30 Café Church at All Saints Church
🏀🥗🥕All Saints Family Cafe🍉🌮🧩
Summer Volunteering Shifts – please let Amy know your availability (see poster)
Opportunities include: Set up, Garden Check/Welcome , Cooking Lead/Support, Play or Craft Support, Family Cooking support, Family refreshments
Tuesdays 26 July, 2,9,16,23 August – various slots between 2pm and 5.30pm
Thursdays 28 July, 4,11,18, 25 August – various slots between 1pm and 5.30pm
In Sunday’s Gospel reading Jesus encourages Martha to get away from the pots and pans for a while and sit with him and her sister.Like many of you I watched The Real Story of Mo Farah this week. It was a moving and profoundly disturbing reminder of the unseen domestic servitude that people are caught up in under our noses – trafficked to the UK and elsewhere from an early age. The Gospel shows Jesus’ insistence on fullness of life for all – women, men and children. Rest and lesiure as well as work. I pray that in stillness, or activity you will receive fruitful blessings from God for the situations you face this week. During one of our benefice times of worship may you receive a blessing for the people you come with on your hearts – blessings of His healing and peace and joy!
Rev Diane
St Mary's, Fishponds 