Author: Sam Toogood

Polymath bluffer, lover of cricket, Wodehouse, music and F.L.O.S.S, and home-dad to Hope and Robin.

Week beginning Sunday 15th March 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by K8 on Unsplash

I have always liked that Mothering Sunday is also known as “Refreshment Sunday” – it brings to mind images of cake and good coffee. Mothering Sunday comes exactly halfway through the season of Lent, giving us a time of reprieve from whatever it is that we have “given up” for 6 weeks. It is the pitstop that we need to be refilled with joy and rejoicing, before approaching perhaps the hardest part of our Christian story, the crucifixion. 

I also find it interesting that the readings for Mothering Sunday blends some of the complex tensions of this day. In one Paul reminds us in Colossians of the gifts of compassion and kindness. In the other we are at the foot of the cross, with Mary and the disciple John, staying with Jesus in his final hour. So the rejoicing in what we are encouraged to be in Christ, is also held with the way in which Christ made this possible.

Perhaps the line that helps to bring these together is Paul’s encouragement to “bear with one another”. On this day, as we come together to celebrate Mothering in line with our faith in the God of all creation, who died for us – then may we be a refreshment to each other by “bearing with.”

Services on Sunday 15th March  – Mothering Sunday

10:00am – Holy Communion – St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion – All Saints

​​​The Week Ahead

Mon 16th March

9:00am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 17th March

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 7:30pm – Lent Group One

Wed 18th March

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm – Lent Group Two, St Marys’ Parish Room

Thu 19th March

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 20th March

11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’s

Sat 21st March

12:00pm – 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 22nd March

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints

6:30pm – Passiontide Music & Readings, St Mary’s

Blessings,

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 8th March 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Frank Albrecht on Unsplash

This week’s Gospel reading tells the story of Jesus and the woman at the well — a moment where Jesus gently crosses cultural boundaries to notice and speak to someone others might have ignored. From this simple interaction, the conversation deepens. Jesus speaks of ‘living water’ — the grace of God that refreshes and renews us. Reminding us in the third week of Lent that God meets us in ordinary places and welcomes us just as we are, ready to guide us. 

This week at Messy Muddy Church, we continue our exploration of saints. No spoilers about who we’re exploring! But they were known for their courage of faith. 

The woman at the well also shows great courage. After meeting Jesus, she goes and tells others about her experience. Her story reminds us that faith often grows through simple witness, honest conversations, curiosity, and openness. 

May we be encouraged this week to notice God in the simple moments each day, and may we all be a little more courageous in our faith.  

This week’s Worship  

There are plenty of opportunities to join us for Worship:  

8:00 am Holy Communion, All Saints  

10:00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s  

10:30 am Muddy Messy Church, All Saints  

5:00 pm Generations, All Saints  

The week ahead  

Mon 9th March

9:00 am – Tiny Tots, All Saints 

Tue 10th March

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 

7:30pm – Lent Group One, Vicarage 

Wed 11th March

9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints 

2:00 pm – Lent Group Two, St Mary’s Parish Room 

Thu 12th March

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

Sat 14th March

12:00 pm- 1:30 pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s 

Sun 15th March

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

10:30 am – Holy Communion, All Saints  

Blessings,

Charlie
Ordinand- All Saints and St Mary’s – Bristol Diocese 

Week beginning Sunday 1st March 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Jack Niles on Unsplash

Through Lent this year we are asked to look at a number of encounters between God and specific people. This week we get a glimpse of conversations between God and Abraham in the Old Testament and the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus in the New Testament. Both are fascinating insights into who God is.

The encounter with Abraham in Genesis focuses on Blessing. We hear God say

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing,

God blesses Abraham, but does that in order that Abraham will be a blessing to others. Like springs of water that start in a very specific place, that then ripple out to form rivers and streams to refresh, sustain and support all other life.

We need God’s blessing in our lives, we need that refreshment that sustains us so that we can also be a source of blessing to others. I have known a great number of people who have blessed me with their wisdom, goodness and presence. I hope that I have at times also been a blessing to others.

How have we received blessing in our lives? Perhaps more importantly how have we then also blessed others.

Services this Sunday – 1st March 2026

10:00 am – Creative Church – St Mary’s 

10:30 am- Holy Communion with Baptism, band and Junior Church – All Saints

6:30pm – Evensong – St Mary’s

The Week Ahead

Mon 2nd March

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 3rd March

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

7:30pm – Lent Group One, Vicarage

Wed 4th March

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm – Lent Group Two, St Marys’ Parish Room

Thu 5th March

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 6th March

11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’s

2:00pm – World Day of Prayer – Argyle Morley URC

Sat 7th March

10:00am – Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café, All Saints

12:00pm – 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 8th March

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Messy Muddy Church, All Saints

 5:00pm – Generations

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 22nd February 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Rubaitul Azad on Unsplash

“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”

That is a quotation from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (please excuse the gender-specific language).  I have long treasured these words, since I know that, when faced with my frailties and enduring imperfections, the easiest way to avoid the pain is to lie to myself.  It usually does not start out in a grand manner – rather, I pretend something didn’t really happen; or I excuse my own bad behaviour as I was tired.  There are many other ways of avoiding – but in the end, this is about lying to oneself.  And Dostoevsky points out that lying is only the first dangerous step.  What follows is that we become uncertain about the truth about ourselves.  Deep down, our self-respect is lessened – and so our respect for others decreases.  It is a long slippery slope.

Yet Lent is a time to pause – a time for a truce, with ourself and God.  Can we notice and admit those little indications that things are not going well?  And that we are ready to take some responsibility for this?  This is not self-abasement; rather, Lent is a season for increased truth-telling.  Rejoice in what is going well (that helps with noticing when things don’t).  And when there are painful moments of recognition, simply acknowledge that.  I find it so easy to jump immediately to promising to do better, or beating myself up for not being perfect.  Wait!  First, tell yourself the truth – action and reformation will follow later.  God’s grace is required for that; and God’s timing is not to be rushed.

1 Peter 5 has these comforting words: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that God may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you.”  Lent does not promise instant change.  Rather, it is a season for starting afresh, offering us a time for patience, humility and honesty.  Let’s see where that lead us.

 Revd Bob

Services this Sunday – 22nd February – Lent 1

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Mary’s

10:30am – Café Church – The Holy Spirit – All Saints

The Week Ahead

Mon 23rd Feb

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 24th Feb

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

 7:30pm-9:00pm – Lent Groups, Vicarage

Wed 25th Feb

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm-3:30pm – Lent Groups, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Thu 26th Feb

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 28th Feb

12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 1st Mar

10:00am – Creative Church, St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion & Junior Church, All Saints

 6:30pm – Evensong, St Mary’s

Blessings,

Rev’d Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 15th February 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Ahna Ziegler on Unsplash

This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. This year we have picked Let me go there: the spirit of Lent by Paula Gooder for our Lent disciplines. This book is divided into six sections, one for each week between Ash Wednesday and Easter:

  1. The Wilderness: Desolation and Redemption
  2. On Recognition: Jesus and the Wilderness in Mark
  3. Who Are You? Jesus and the Devil in Matthew
  4. Testings: Jesus and Testing in Luke
  5. Follow Me: The Call to Discipleship
  6. If You Want to Follow…: The Character and Cost of Discipleship

Each week has a short bible passage and a reflection for each day of the week. At the end of the week, there are questions to reflect on the passages and how they relate to our lives and experiences. We will be using these questions during our Lent groups on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons in Lent. To allow enough time to read the week’s material in advance, the Lent groups will start on the 24th and 25th of February.

The book is available in paperback or e-book formats.  There are copies at the back of the churches. Please see Lizzie for more details.

As Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, there will be a service of Holy Communion with the imposition of ashes, instead of the normal Thursday communion service. The remaining services for the coming week will be as usual:

Sunday 15th February

10:00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
10:30 amAll SaintsHoly Communion

The coming week:

Wednesday 18th9:00 amAll SaintsCeltic Morning Prayer
10:00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
Sunday 22nd8:00 amAll SaintsHoly Communion (said) 
10:00St Mary’sHoly Communion
10:30All SaintsCafé Church

Wishing you the blessings of a good and holy Lent.

Mark

Week beginning Sunday 8th February 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
By Matija Bradaška – http://www.mks-sticna.si/slo/raziskuj/razstave/zbirke/slike

This week marks a brief return to Ordinary Time, as we observe the Second Sunday before Lent. In this week’s gospel, Jesus encourages the disciples to look beyond material possessions and self-interest, instead directing their hearts towards others and the Kingdom of God. 

A great example of this way of living can be found in St Valentine, the saint we’ll be exploring this week at Muddy Messy Church. Valentine was martyred on 14th February, a day that is still widely celebrated today, although the focus has shifted more towards romance. The Church, however, remembers St Valentine for his faithfulness, courage, and trust in God, even when that trust came at great personal cost. His life reflects Jesus’ call to live without fear, to let go of the need for comfort or security, and to place our trust in God’s love. 

This week’s Worship 

There is a lot going on this weekend with plenty of opportunities to join us for worship: 

8:00 am Holy Communion, All Saints 

10:00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

10:30 am Messy Muddy Church-St. Valentine, All Saints 

7:15 pm Generations, All Saints 

The week ahead 

Mon 9th Feb

10:30 am – Tiny Tots, All Saints 

Tue 10th Feb

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 

Wed 11th Feb

9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints 

Thu 12th Feb

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

Sat 14th Feb

12:00 pm -1:30 pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s 

Sun 15th Feb

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

10:30 am – Holy Communion, All Saints 

A prayer for this week 
Loving God, 
You invite us to trust you and to seek you. 
Help us to notice your presence in our lives. 
Free our hearts from worry and fear, 
draw us closer to you, 
and shape us by your love, 
so that we may love generously 
and care for those around us. 
Amen. 

Blessings,  

Charlie  

Week beginning Sunday 1st February 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Roman Suslov on Unsplash

There is something about how rituals originate and begin that I find really interesting. This week the Feast of Candlemas (or the Feast of the Presentation) is celebrated by the Church. Various rituals and ways of marking this feast have been given to us as a church over the years, mainly to do with blessing and light. St Marys will have Choral Evensong connecting us to some of the traditional canticles and music that has been formed over centuries. All Saints has developed its own tradition of encouraging people to bring a candle to our Holy Communion at 10.30, which is then blessed and lit and taken back to our homes and communities as a symbol of God’s light in the world. It is a feast that is warmly welcomed particularly at this time of year when many of us are longing for longer daylight hours and warmth.

Rituals often come from a human need, a need to mark an occasion, a moment, a season. They say something, about stopping and noticing. They are often simultaneously solemn, creative and celebratory – things that we all need in balance to continue the creator’s formation of us in our daily lives. May we all know the blessing of this feast as we begin February and mark this pivot moment between Christmas and Easter.

Services this weekend – 1st February

10am – St Marys – Creative Church 

10:30am – All Saints – Candlemas Holy Communion with Hymns and Junior Church

6:30pm – St Marys – Choral Evensong for Candlemas

The Week Ahead

Mon 2nd Feb

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 3rd Feb

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 4th Feb

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 5th Feb

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 6th Feb

11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’s

Sat 7th Feb

10:00am – Coffee Morning & Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café, All Saints

12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 8th Feb

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Messy Muddy Church-St. Valentine, All Saints

7:15pm – Generations, All Saints

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 25th January 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

This Sunday’s readings remind us that God’s call often comes in unexpected ways and invites us to step out of what is familiar. 

We hear Jesus calling ordinary fishermen—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—to leave their nets and follow Him. They didn’t have a map, and they didn’t yet know where the journey would lead, but they trusted God and stepped out in faith. 

The Church also remembers the Conversion of Paul, whose encounter with Christ completely transformed his life. 

Both stories encourage us to notice that God meets each of us in unexpected ways, inviting us to take steps of faith even when the path ahead is unclear. Inviting us to pause, listen, and be aware of the moments—ordinary or surprising—when God may be calling. Even the smallest steps of faith matter. God is present, guiding us, strengthening us, and opening up new possibilities along the way. 

Services this Sunday

8:00 am Holy Communion, All Saints 

10:00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

10:30 am Cafe Church, All Saints 

The week ahead 

Mon 26th Jan

10:30 am – Tiny Tots, All Saints 

Tue 27th Jan

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 

Wed 28th Jan

9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints 

Thu 29th Jan

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s 

Sat 31st Jan

12:00 pm-1:30 pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s 

Sun 1st Feb

10:00 am – Creative Church, St Mary’s 

10:30 am – Holy Communion and Junior Church, All Saints 

6:30 pm – Choral Evensong, St Mary’s 

A prayer for the week ahead 

Almighty God, 
Shine Your light on our paths and fill our hearts with hope. Help us trust in Your presence, step forward with courage, and know that even in uncertainty, Your love leads and strengthens us. 

Amen. 

Blessings, 

Charlie 

Ordinand- All Saints and St Mary’s – Bristol Diocese 

Week beginning Sunday 18th January 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Lee Young on Unsplash

The Church’s winter season is now over, although the weather outside may still be very wintry. The season begins with Advent, is centred on Christmas and concludes with Epiphany. Yes, some say that it should be thought to extend to Candlemas (February 2nd), but with Easter eggs already on sale in the supermarkets, I think Epiphany provides an appropriate seasonal ‘full stop’. But which of these three days is most significant? Of course, each one is important.

Advent Sunday kicks it all off and is best symbolized by a candle in the darkness. I always listen to Handel’s Messiah on this and the following days. This famously begins with the aria: “Comfort my people”, the opening words from Isaiah 40. We need comfort, and we are also called to offer comfort. Christmas day is the centre, around which so much happens: from Carol services, to mince pies and presents, to visits with family and neighbours. Just as a wide variety of people were drawn to Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus, so we also recognize the need to be with others, “bearing one another’s burdens, sharing one another’s joys”.

Yet, I could not do without Epiphany. There is so much in that story: the Magi have to travel far, and arrive late (just like many of us, I imagine, who only become aware of some deeper truths in our later years). The birth of Jesus is not merely a personal family affair – the Epiphany sets this birth in the context of world affairs, untrustworthy rulers and horrific killings (the massacre of the innocents, Matthew 2.16 – 18). The Epiphany reminds us that, though Jesus was born a Jew, he is given to all humankind – our faith can never be solely a matter of personal preferences, it requires us to look beyond.

But the saying I love most occurs in the second half of Matthew 2.12: “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road”. The Magi had to go back home – but they were different and their route had to be different. Faith takes us onwards, even when our surroundings may be familiar. 2026 cannot merely be a replay of 2025. I may already have failed with my New Year Resolutions – but this verse encourages me to try afresh, to experiment, to seek out new paths and companions. All the Gospel readings for the Sundays of the Epiphany season (from now until the start of Lent) nudge us to look at what is familiar in fresh ways: how may God be revealing something now that we have not seen and tried before.

Revd Bob Cotton

This Sunday 18th January Services are

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion with Hymns – All Saints

6:30pm – Epiphany Carols – St Mary’s

The Week Ahead

Mon 19th Jan

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 20th Jan

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 21st Jan

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm – Bible Book Club, St Mary’s

Thu 22nd Jan

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 24th Jan

12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 25th Jan

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Café Church, All Saints

Week beginning Sunday 11th January 2026

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

“I shall sustain you in courage and confidence”

Issiah 42:4
Photo by Oliver Cole on Unsplash

After the New Year has been celebrated, and we start to see the Christmas Trees being put out for collection January can feel like one of the longest months of the year and so I reach eagerly, like a hungry child, for these words at the start of 2026. And what a promise it is – The promise of God to sustain us in courage and confidence. 

The Church looks in different ways at “Who Jesus is” in the month of January, and this week it sees us dwell on the Baptism of Jesus. At the very start of his adult ministry Jesus is baptised in the river Jordan and he hears the voice of God from heaven. There are words of affirmation, ones which like Isaiah give him courage and confidence for his ministry. We all need times of feeling sustained, of being given courage and confidence in life’s journey and so I hope and pray that at this time, in this moment, we all are able to quieten the noise that so often surrounds us and hear God’s promise to us all.

Services for this Sunday – 11th January

8am – Holy Communion  – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys*

10:30am – Muddy Messy Church – St Mungo – All Saints

7:15pm – Generations

Coming up this week, we have:

Mon 12th Jan

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints
Tue 13th Jan

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms
Wed 14th Jan

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
Thu 15th Jan

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s
Fri 16th Jan

11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’s
Sat 17th Jan

12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s
Sun 18th Jan

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints
6:30pm – Epiphany Carols, St Mary’s

*Please be aware that the heating is not working in St Marys Church currently, so do wrap up warm, bring a hot water bottle/blanket/cushion and we will do all that we can to provide warmth and welcome*

Muddy Messy Church start a year of looking at SAINTS – and begin with St Mungo – What do we know about this person? What can we learn about their lives – for a engaging way of looking at faith creatively then why not come and along and see what we can discover as a church.

In courage and confidence

Revd Lizzie​​