But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3.8–9

Advent is sometimes referred to as a time of waiting. We are waiting for Christmas. We are waiting for the kingdom. We are waiting for Jesus’ return. In reality, it is more of a reminder that the Christian life is one of waiting. Just like the readers of Peter’s second letter, we are waiting for the day of the Lord, for a new heaven and a new earth.

But key to this waiting is how we wait. This week’s readings give us a few pointers. In the gospel, John calls people to repentance, to a change of mind and behaviour to be more in line with the coming kingdom. In Peter’s letter, he calls people to lead lives of holiness and godliness, reflecting the will of God in both thought and deed.

How we live lives of holiness and godliness in the twenty first century is something for us all to work out together. What is the right response to wars and conflicts in the world? How do we work to minimise the effects of climate change? What is a just response to the cost-of-living crisis? These are things we need to discuss and reflect on in the light of what we read in the bible and what we know of the love of Christ.

There will be opportunities to hear more about this in our services this Sunday. In addition, the Advent series on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons allows us to reflect some more about what the Sunday readings are saying to us.

There are the following services this Sunday:

8.00 am – All Saints – Holy Communion (said)

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

10.30 am – All Saints – Morning Worship (in the Link room)

4.30 pm All Saints – Nativity service

The 10.30 service at All Saints will be in the Link room as the Junior Church will be practicing for the Nativity service in the church.

There are the usual mid-week services. Next Sunday at St Mary’s is Creative Church in the morning and Carols by Candlelight in the evening. All Saints has Holy Communion in the morning. This gives the following pattern for the coming week.

Wednesday 13^th – 9.00 am – All Saints – Celtic morning prayer

Thursday 14^th – 10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 17^th – 10.00 am – St Mary’s – Creative Church

10.30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

6.30 pm – St Mary’s – Carols by candlelight

And as we wait, let us pray in the words of the collect for the second Sunday of Advent:

Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.
Amen

Yours in Christ

Mark

This Sunday we experience one of the two chief times of waiting in the Christian Church Year. Advent is a time of positive anticipation, a preparing for the joy to come. Lent, it’s sister waiting time, is thoughtful, a time of self examination yet also ultimately leading to a time of joy-but that is only reached via the suffering of Jesus’ Passion.

Yet both these periods are opportunities. They remind us of the value of active waiting, of perseverance. We may be in this process of awaiting what is to come, but it is not a passive, negative experience, it’s one of prayerful meditation and reflection, a time to be but also one to be alongside others and to be with God.

In a culture that disdains waiting, this is a radical experience, a radical undertaking. Instead of the bingeing of experiences, the rushing through bite sized chunks of life, we are encouraged to consider, to become aware and present in our own lives, in where God has placed us. We have the opportunity to ground ourselves with God, especially if we have become distracted or unsettled by the pressures of life or the challenges of a world filled with discord and suffering.

So on this first Sunday of Advent, we start the reflexive journey towards the joy and celebration of Christmas. This preparation makes us ready to fully appreciate what 5e reality for Christmas is for us and to share the journey towards it with others. Experiencing the anticipation gives the chance to discover and experience so much. Let us see where God takes us all during these next few weeks.

This weekend we have Holy Communion at 10.30 at All Saints on Sunday with Revd Diane and Mark, and the Toy Service at 10.00 at St Marys with Revd Lizzie and Revd. Kester. At 6.30 on Sunday we have the Advent Procession with candles and wonderful choral Advent music at St. Marys with Revd Lizzie and Revd Kester.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday 6th 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 7 th 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Saturday 9th 2.00-2.00 – Saturday Lunches at St Marys Church

Sunday 10th 08.00 – Holy Communion – All Saints Church

10.00 – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys Church

10.30 – Service of the Word – All Saints Church

16.30 – Nativity Service – All Saints Church

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

Rev Kester de Oliveira

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

Ephesians 1:17-19

As we come to the end of the Church’s year we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. It is a reminder of God’s majesty and power as King. A king who we will in just a few short weeks come to recognise as the baby in the manger. A King who at Easter is vulnerable and bruised and crucified.

It is perhaps the greatest paradox of all faith language, that Christians hold together, without tension, that Christ is King, and yet that same King is known in the most earthly, normal and tangible ways that we experience as humans. This Sunday we will hear the final Kingdom season Parable, that of the sheep and the goats. It is accompanied by a passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The above few verses are some of the most encouraging drawing us into a community which believe in that immeasurable greatness and power of Christ the King. What I think I like about it is the all expansive language. I like to measure things, quantities to cook with, length of time, distance of hikes walked and miles run. Yet, God’s power we are assured is immeasurable. Infinite. Eternal. These are the all encompassing words that we are met with at the end of this Kingdom season. I pray that they will be an encouragement and blessing as we move towards Advent.

This week we have a variety of services – everyone is welcome at all of them. Cafe church brings us to the conclusion of the Book of Jonah. We also end November at All Saints with Christingle – so a glimmer of Christmas on our horizons.

SERVICES ON CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY – 26^th NOVEMBER 2023

8am – HOLY COMMUNION – ALL SAINTS – REVD DIANE

10am – FESTIVAL SUNG HOLY COMMUNION – ST MARYS – REVD LIZZIE

10.30am – CAFE CHURCH – ALL SAINTS – CAFE CHURCH TEAM

4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE – ALL SAINTS

THIS WEEK

Tuesday 28^th November

• 10.30am – Music for Toddlers – St Marys
• 7.30pm – 9pm – Advent Group

Wednesday 29th November

• 9am Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints
• 2pm – 3.30pm – Advent Group

Thursday 30th November

• 10am – Holy Communion – St Marys

Saturday 2^nd December

• 11am – 2pm – St Marys Christmas Fair

Sunday 3^rd December

• 10am – Toy Service with the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides – St Marys
• 10.30am – Holy Communion with Junior Church – All Saints
• 6.30pm – Advent Carol Procession – St Marys

Christmas Cards are ready for delivery at both churches so please pick up a set and help distribute them in the parishes. Also starting this week are Advent groups – please speak to Diane, Mark, Kester or Lizzie about details.

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Sharing a message to go out with our weekly email can either come easily, or be more elusive. When stuck, it helps to ask, Whose voice or voices have stood out this week? Where are those people situated? What are they saying, and how might they be God’s messengers?

Three have caught my attention.

1) St.Paul

The words of Paul the apostle to the early Christians in Thessalonica (Sunday’s 2nd reading) – stand out as a voice worth hearing in this week’s world.

Beloved, you are not in darkness, for you are all children of light.Since we belong to the day, let us keep awake and be sober. Let us put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ, died for us, so that we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

2) Canon Richard Sewell

This morning BBC Radio 4 Today programme listeners heard a sober voice of courage from a dark place–Canon Richard Sewell speaking about the dangerous situation at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Founded as a Christian mission in 1882, it has been run by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem since 1982. Their mission, as Canon Richard explained, is the ministry of Jesus Christ in treating the poorest, the most disadvantaged in a very poor country. We do not get involved in politics and rely entirely on international donations. We need power, we need supplies and we need open access for people who are in desperate need who are suffering. May God help, protect and resource them swiftly. More info here .

SERVICES THIS SUNDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2023

Readings: Zephaniah 1:7,12-18; 1Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

10.00 – St.Mary’s – Sung Holy Communion

10.30 – All Saints – Holy Communion with hymns

SERVICES AND EVENTS IN THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 20th November – 10.30 -All Saints – Tiny Tots

Tuesday 21st November- 10.30 – St.Mary’s – Music 4 Toddlers

Wed 22nd November – 09.00 – All Saints – Celtic Prayers

Thurs 23rd November – 10.00 – All Saints – Holy Communion

Sat 25th November – 8.30-10.30 – St.Mary’s – Family Breakfasts

Sat 25th November – 12.00- 14.00 – St.Mary’s – Saturday Lunches

SERVICES NEXT SUNDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2023 Christ the King Sunday

08.00 – All Saints – Said Holy Communion

10.00 – St.Mary’s – Sung Holy Communion

10.30 – All Saints – Cafe Church: Christ the King

LOOKING AHEAD

Advent Bible Study – Please see the posters for Advent groups this year. Tuesday Evening (7.30-9pm) and Wednesday (2-3.30pm) Starts week of 28^th/29^th November. Please speak to Revd Diane, Kester or Lizzie for information.

(Continued from above)

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

3) The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally

Another voice of faith echoing St.Paul’s sentiments this week was that of the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, in her closing speech at General Synod. She encouraged the church, despite differences, to keep on ‘seeking understanding of one another, of our faith tradition in the spirit of openness and deep mutual respect’. She illustrated this attitude with a beautiful quote from Cole Arthur Riley’s book This Here Flesh

To be able to marvel at the face of our neighbour with the same awe we have for the mountain top and the sunlight reflecting, this manner of vision is what will keep us from destroying each other.

The Bishop of London concluded, ‘Let us choose not to destroy one another, but truly to encounter one another to dare to see God’s image in each other, to embrace each other without judgement, to rejoice in the gift of one another’s different understanding, to be one body, however messy, and by doing this know that God is in this place.’

May Bishop Sarah’s words inspire prayer and action for the healing of distress far and near, including that faced by residents of Barton House in neighbouring Barton Hill and all supporting them to find new accommodation after their evacuation for safety.

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Every blessing, Revd Diane (curate)

And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Matthew 24.6–8 (NRSV)

War is a reality of the fallen world, in which we live. Today, the relative stability that we have had in Europe since the end of the second world war feels more fragile than ever. During the cold war, the great powers exported their wars to various distant countries in South America and Africa. Now, wars in Ukraine and the Holy Land are encroaching on Europe’s borders and the relative peace we have enjoyed seems in danger.

Yet in all the fear and anger, Jesus’ speaks of a clear message. “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you” (Matthew 5.44). It is a message that speaks of reconciliation, of valuing each individual and of working for the benefit of all. It speaks against seeking vengeance and punishment and for trying to resolve issues in a way that take everyone’s needs into account.

Wars are the clearest sign of human sinfulness. Sometimes, a war becomes inevitable because of all the human failings that have led up to it. Sometimes a war is the result of fear or misunderstanding. Sometimes it is greed or political expediency. Whatever the cause, the way we fight wars matters. However, what we do afterward matters much more.

The reason why Europe has had an unprecedented period of relative peace since the second world war is that serious effort was made to rebuild and reconcile a war-torn continent. Many of those who came to power after the war shared the hope of Robert Schuman that “war…becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible” (the Schuman declaration, 9 May 1950).

This vision was deeply rooted in the Christian convictions of Schuman and many others. Loving your enemy means building a post war society, in which people from all nations can flourish. “Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble”, the book of Proverbs reminds us (24.17), but rather “If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink” (25.21).

One of the articles on this Thursday’s episode of From our own correspondent on BBC Radio 4 (also available from BBC Sounds and as a podcast) was from Ramla in central Israel. This is one of Israel’s mixed cities with both Jewish and Arab populations. It describes of a group of Jews and Arabs meeting together to discuss ways to defuse tensions and work together. It is one small sign that, even in the darkest moments, reconciliation is possible, and that people of different backgrounds can work together for peace.

We will have more opportunities to think and pray about this at our Remembrance Day services on Sunday. These are as follows:

8.00 am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00 am – Holy Communion – St Mary’s

10.45 am – All Age Service and Act of Remembrance – All Saints

11.00 am -Act of Remembrance – Fishponds Park War Memorial

Note that the service at All Saints starts slightly later than usual so the act of remembrance can take place at 11.00 am.

We have our usual midweek services this week, with Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints on Wednesday and Holy Communion at St Mary’s on Thursday. Next week we have our usual third Sunday pattern with Holy Communion at both St Mary’s and All Saints. This gives the following services for the coming week:

Wednesday 15^th – 9.00 am – All Saints – Celtic Morning Prayer

Thursday 16^th – 10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 19^th – 10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

10.30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

In the words of the collect for Remembrance Day, let us pray

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Yours in Christ

Mark

Light in the Darkness

“God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light. You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life”

These are the words that we heard last week at the baptism at All Saints and will again a couple of times this weekend at St Marys – and then again on Wednesday at the Confirmation service led by Bishop Viv. It is such a joy to be part of these profound and joyful moments, whether it is a baby, a young person or an adult, we are all caught up and called into the light of God when we witness these moments of faith.

They are also words that seem apt at this time of year when the clocks go back and the winter nights draw in. I have spent most of this week finding the light on my phone as I fumble with my keys in the dark when out and about in Fishponds. Any light, be it from a phone, a torch, a street lamp or a candle is a welcome guide to my feet and hands and brings with it a sense of confidence, even if I can’t fully see everything that lies ahead of me. The light allows me just to get through the next step, or door without stumbling. The light guides me in that moment that I need it most.

This week we celebrated All Saints and All Souls. Each of these festivals bring us people whose lives can guide our feet and hands in the way of God. May we continue in these winter months to draw on their courage and their faith and Jesus’ light.

THIS SUNDAY – 5^th NOVEMBER

10.00am – St Marys – Creative Church – Hospitality and Posada Making.

10.30am – All Saints – Holy Communion with Junior Church

2pm – St Marys – Baptism

6.30pm – St Marys – Choral Evensong with Adult Baptism

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday 7^th November – 10.30am – Music for Toddlers – St Marys

Wednesday 8th November – 9am Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 9^th November – 10am – Holy Communion – St Marys

Saturday 10th November – 9am – 11.45 Autumn clean

12-2pm – Saturday Lunches – St Marys

Sunday 12^th November –8am – Holy Communion All Saints

10am-Sung Holy Communion and Civic Service– St Marys

10.30am – All Age Remembrance Service– All Saints

7.15 – Generations – All Saints

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Jesus you are the Way: meet us in the way.

Dear Friends,

This Sunday marks a significant point on the way of faith for two members of our congregation at All Saints as they come to Christ, the Way the Truth and the Life, in Holy Baptism. How appropriate then, that we are combining their baptisms with our Patronal Festival at All Saints. All Saints Day reminds us that we don’t follow Jesus on our own. Through baptism we become members who belong to each other in Christ, members of a company of saints below (on earth) and above (in heaven).

The candidates have been preparing for baptism using a resource called ‘Emmaus’. You may remember that it was on a road towards Emmaus that a comforting stranger drew near to three of his disciples. They feared Jesus had gone away from them for ever. As they reached home they invited the stranger in for supper and in the moment that Jesus broke the bread their eyes were opened and they recognised their Lord and Saviour. What joy! Jesus – the now Risen Christ – was in their midst.

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SERVICES THIS SUNDAY 29th OCTOBER 2023

Bible Readings: Revelation 7:9-17; Matthew 5:1-2

08.00 – All Saints – BCP Holy Communion

10.30 – All Saints – Joint Benefice Holy Communion with Baptism, celebrating the Patronal Festival of All Saints

18.30 – St.Mary’s – Said Evening Prayer

THIS WEEK’S SERVICES AND EVENTS

Mon 30th October – 10.30 – All Saints – Tiny Tots

Wed 1st November – 09.00 – All Saints – Celtic Prayers

Thur 2nd November – 10.00 – St.Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sat 4th November – 12.00

St.Mary’s – Saturday Lunches

SERVICES NEXT SUNDAY 5th November

10.00 – St.Mary’s – Creative Church

Posada: We are going to be creating Posadas from recycled materials, to share the blessing of hosting the Holy Family leading up to Christmas. If you want to know more speak to Diane, Andrew or Jan or just come along and join in some meaningful crafty fun!

10.30 – All Saints – Holy Communion

18.30 – St.Mary’s – Choral Evensong for All Saints with Holy Baptism

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UPCOMING BAPTISMS AND CONFIRMATIONS

Confirmation Service – Wednesday 8th November 7.30pm – All Saints Church – Come and be part of the church witness to welcome our young people and adults into the faith.

Advent Calendars At the back of both churches you can views samples of the Church of England Advent Calendar with stickers and booklets of Daily Reflections from Christmas Eve to Epiphany. Deadline for orders is Sunday 12th November.

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continued from above

Baptism is that lightbulb moment, that this Jesus everyone is talking about has died and risen again not just for them, or for you, but also for me – even me! Jesus is my Saviour. He is with me and can be my travelling companion every day of my life. That’s why Elisa, our choir director, has chosen such a fitting closing hymn by Darlene Zschech which says this so powerfully:

My Jesus, My Saviour, Lord there is none like you
All of my days, I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of your hands. Forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in YOU

There’s something really important about making that lightbulb moment public- to be baptized front of your friends and family and people that you love to say- this is my faith and this is something that’s very important.

Perhaps this is why the baptism service involves walking from one end of church to the other, in order to symbolise the journey of faith we are travelling along …

Do come and join in, as we rejoice with our candidates and continue together along the way of faith, knowing Jesus walks with us.

Revd Diane, curate

I wonder how people in the early churches felt when they received a letter from Paul? Knowing his tendency to speak his mind, I could understand them not being really enthusiastic about it!

This week the Deanery Chapter spent time reflecting on the first 2 chapters of 1 Corinthians. Paul had to write to the Corinthian church to tackle divisions that had formed in the church. How he does so is to write some of his most beautiful prose. He writes of the love of God that underpins and informs everything, and that every single person has a uniquely significant role in this new family, this body of Christ. His stressing love being the bedrock that is God and that transforms all who accept Jesus is powerful and transformative.

The letter to the church at Thessalonica isn’t written to address a problem. It’s a joyous one of celebration and gratitude, written to commend and encourage a church that’s displaying generosity and hospitality, living out that love written about in 1 Corinthians. The power of this love has become widely known, and it’s attractive, it speaks more than words can do. This is a joyful, glorious letter, reminding us that Paul didn’t only write to condemn or correct.

The Gospel tackles the challenge made to Jesus about taxation, but this is really about loyalty and authority. The clever rhetoric is used to try to catch Jesus out, to trap him. Yet he is not just wiser than his questioners, but more agile with his engagement with the word games that they are playing. In doing so, he teaches us about the nature of real authority and the role of God.

This Sunday we have at All Saints the 8am Said Holy Communion with Revd Diane, Café Church with Mark Simms & Revd Kester, and the 10am Sung Holy Communion at St Mary’s with Revd Diane.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Please note the Benefice Holy Communion with full immersion baptism taking place at All Saints on Sunday 29^th at 10.30. Please pray for all those to be baptised that day and all our baptismal and confirmation candidates.

Wednesday 25th October 9am Celtic Morning Prayer: All Saints

Thursday 26th October 10am Holy Communion: St Marys

Saturday 28th October 12-2pm Saturday Lunches: St Marys

Sunday 29th October 8am BCP Holy Communion: All Saints

10.30am Benefice Holy Communion with Full Immersion Baptism– All Saints

6.30pm – Evening Prayer – St Mary’s

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

Rev Kester de Oliveira

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4.4

As Diane reminded us last week, joy is a theme that runs through Paul’s letter to the Christians in Philippi. Yet there are times when Paul’s call to rejoice always, to be glad at all times, is hard to hear. In a week where we have had another major earthquake and one of the most horrendous terrorist attacks in living memory, it can feel hard to be joyful. In Ecclesiastes 3.4, the author says that there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance”. It is important that we do not forget to lament the pain and suffering in the world. Responding to the world’s needs in prayer and practical action is part of the mission of the church.

However, Paul knew that, it is important to look out for the good things that God has given. This is particularly true when things are not going well. When writing this letter, Paul himself was in prison. Yet he started his letter with thanks and an expression of his own joy. Even though he was in prison, he could rejoice in the success of the Christian community at Philippi.

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, but they can be the same time. If we only ever rejoice and give thanks for the good things in the world, we can fall into simplistic naivety. If we only lament and weep for the pain and suffering, we can be trapped in despair. To hold the two in tension is to acknowledge that evil is real, but that, in Christ, God has overcome the power of evil.

This Sunday, we have the Harvest Festival at St Mary’s and Holy Communion at All Saints:

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Harvest Festival

10.30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

This week we have our normal weekday services, with Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints on Wednesday and Holy Communion at St Mary’s on Thursday. Next Sunday follows the normal fourth Sunday pattern, with Holy Communion at All Saints at 8.00 am and at St Mary’s at 10.00 am. The 10.30 am service at All Saints will be café church, with our last session looking at Jonah.

Wednesday 18^th

9.00 am – All Saints – Celtic morning prayer

Thursday 19^th

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 22^nd

8.00 am – All Saints – Holy Communion (said)

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

10.30 am – All Saints – Café Church

So let us come with joy to rejoice, but to bring the needs of the world to him who, by the power at work within us, can accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3.20)

Mark