Dear Friends in Christ,
Since I moved to Fishponds 2 years ago, I’ve spent a lot of time walking around the area. It’s sometimes chaotic diversity can be refreshing, exciting, sometimes challenging, but never dull!
What strikes me within the diversity are the contrasts. Perhaps the starkest is between those who can afford to use the artisan and independent cafes and shops and those who sit on the streets begging. These are the visible ones. Many more are just about scraping by unnoticed.
Of course, other places are even more stark in contrast. I visited Sao Paulo in Brazil and there the contrast between the uber wealthy and the destitute is shocking.
Our Gospel warns us of stocking up earthly treasure at the cost of our spiritual lives, our connection with God – the transient vs the eternal. Yet it’s not telling us to hate the things of the world, but to have the right relationship with them. Being totally consumed with the modern consumerist world is a way of life that will never be fully satisfying as it’s never ending. But we mustn’t become so holier than thou that we fail to see the real need that so many have for the means to live and thrive.
Instead, Jesus is teaching us to not make money and stuff our God, but to keep God at the centre of our lives. These other things are an undeniable and vital part of life, but they are not its fullest answer. The tension of this is real, but God gives us the way to navigate it as long as we constantly lean into and on him.
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,
Fr Kester de Oliveira
This Sunday – 28th September (15th after Trinity)
8:00am Holy Communion, All Saints
10:00am Harvest Festival Communion, St. Mary’s
10:30am Cafe Church, All Saints
The Week Ahead
Monday 29th Sept
10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints
Tuesday 30th Sept
10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s
Wednesday 1st Oct
9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
Thursday 2nd Oct
10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
Friday 3rd Oct
11:00am – Living After Loss, St. Mary’s
Saturday 4th Oct
10:00am – Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café, All Saints
11:00am – Harvest in the Wood
12:00pm – 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St. Mary’s
7:00pm – Barn Dance, All Saints
Sunday 5th Oct
10:00am – Creative Church, St. Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints
10:30am – Junior Church, All Saints
6:30pm – Choral Evensong, St. Mary’s
St Mary's, Fishponds 