At Glastonbury Festival the Sanctuary Tent is run by local Christians. It’s a place people come to in search of water, away from the heat. Volunteers notice that a cup of water is often the prelude to deeper conversations. Visitors are happy to find a listening ear, and frequently ask for prayer.

A simple cup of water is all it takes, says Jesus, to offer a welcome that cares. Hospitality stands at the centre of Christian discipleship.

But Jesus also warns his disciples that missionaries and prophets of God are not always made welcome. It’s tough but also a reality. In the time of Jeremiah and Isaiah there were prophets a-plenty who were happy to get paid for telling people what they wanted to hear. ‘Don’t worry, ’bout a thing. Cause every little thing’s gonna be alright’ (springs to mind).

But God’s free gift of forgiveness, his grace, gives us the courage to break through the veil of denial, when we are tempted to forget the meaner and more broken parts of us. Instead of turning a blind eye, we can turn back towards Christ in trust, because he knows and loves the whole of us and can transform us from the inside out. Stormzy’s ‘Blinded by your Grace’ is a great counterbalance to Marley’s ‘Don’t worry’. Stormzy says it like Paul after his Damascus Road encounter with Jesus.

Lord I’ve been broken

Although I’m not worthy

You fixed me

I’m blinded by your grace

You came and saved me

SERVICES THIS SUNDAY 2nd JULY

10.00am – St.Mary’s – Creative Church – Theme: St.Mark

10.30am – All Saints – Holy Communion with Band and Junior Church

6.30pm – St.Mary’s – Evensong

UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS

Mon 3rd July – 10.30 – 12 noon- All Saints – Tiny Tots

Wed 5th July – 9.00 – 9.30am – All Saints – Celtic Prayers

Thurs 6 July – 10.00am – St.Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sat 8th July – 12.00-2pm – St.Mary’s – Saturday Lunches

SERVICES NEXT SUNDAY 9TH JULY

08.00 – All Saints – Holy Communion

10.00 – St.Mary’s – Sung Holy Communion

10.30 – All Saints – Children’s Celebration Service

19.15 – Vicarage – Generations Youth BBQ

HOLIDAY BIBLE CLUB 24-28 July mornings, at ALL SAINTS

There are now forms for a space for all 4-12 year olds at the back of Church. Our theme this year is Jonah with tons of games, bible stories, crafts, drama and singing. Speak with Revd Diane or Lizzie for more information

ORDINATIONS. On Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July the Ordination of Deacons and Priests by Bishop Viv will take place at Bristol Cathedral. Among the deacons is Kester de Oliveira (our curate designate), Dr Simon Atkins (who is known to Fishponds people as a local GP) and James Manning (who did a placement with us in Holy Week). Among the priests are Revd Sharon Gleed and Revd Sarah Heywood, whose vocations came to life during their time in our parishes. Please pray for them all as they continue to be God’s blessing in the parishes they now serve.

Father God, we pray for all those preparing for ordination at this time. We ask you to strengthen them as they serve your people. As congregations may we welcome support and encourage them in their work. Fill them with the fire of your Spirit, that their ministry may reveal the loving presence of Christ on Sundays and weekdays, both in church and in the forgotten corners of their parishes, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen

Thanks be to God!

Revd Diane, curate.

The epistle reading set for this Sunday is from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. It ends with one of the three quotes from Paul’s letters that make up the Easter Anthems. This canticle, originally set for Easter Day in the 1662 Prayer Book, is now used throughout the Easter season both to celebrate the joy and power of the resurrection and to commit ourselves to follow Christ, die to sin and live in sincerity and truth. In this passage, Paul reminds us that in our baptism we entered into Christ’s death and resurrection and committed ourselves to follow him. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the strength and guidance to live out that commitment in all we do.

At All Saints at 10.30 this Sunday we will be continuing our look at the book of Jonah in our Café Service. This week we will be looking at Jonah 3.1–4, which tells how God gave Jonah a second chance after he had run away from God. God called Jonah a second time and, this time, Jonah answered God’s call. In a similar way, in Luke 15.11–24, Jesus tells the story of how the prodigal son was given a second chance by his forgiving father, when he was truly sorry and was willing to try again. These stories remind us of how central repentance and forgiveness are to the Christian life and that God is always willing to give us a second chance if we are willing to try again.

Diane is preparing some activities to help our younger members think about some of these topics. There will be the usual discussion questions for adults. All are welcome to come and explore what it means for God to give us a second chance and how we can do the same for our neighbours.

This Sunday, 25^th June, we have the usual fourth Sunday pattern of services as follows:

8.00 am	All Saints	Holy Communion
10.00 am	St Mary’s	Holy Communion
10.30 am	All Saints	Café Church

During the week we have our usual pattern of services with Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints at 9.00 am on Wednesday and Holy Communion at St Mary’s at 10.00 am on Thursday. Next Sunday is a first Sunday, so there is Holy Communion at All Saints and Creative Church at St Mary’s. In Addition, Kester de Oliveira, who is coming to us as a curate, will be ordained deacon at Bristol Cathedral on Sunday morning. This gives the following services for the coming week.

Wednesday 28th June	9.00 am	All Saints	Celtic morning prayer
Thursday 29th June	10.00 am	St Mary’s	Holy Communion
Sunday 2nd July	10.00 am	St Mary’s	Creative Church
	10.00 am	Bristol Cathedral	Ordination
	10.30 am	All Saints	Holy Communion

This week, we are starting classes for anyone wishing to be baptised or confirmed. The sessions for young people will start at All Saints, starting this Sunday, 25^th June, at 12.00 noon. Sessions for adults will start on Wednesday, 28^th June, at 6.30 pm. If you are interested and have not let us know already, could you please contact me, Diane, or Lizzie.

God bless

Mark

Genesis 18:11 – “Sarah Laughed” – Finding Hope

The story in the Old Testament of how Abraham and Sarah discover that she is pregnant is a fascinating one that combines, strangers and hospitality and tents. Yet it has always been that verse about Sarah that I have been intrigued by. As she overhears the visitors talking about her being able to have a child, she “laughed to herself”. Its an easy scene to imagine – Sarah in her tent chuckling away at the foolishness of such chatter, gently shaking her head in disbelief at the ridiculous idea that she would be able to have a child after so many years of wanting one. Yet in that laughter, there would also have been a deep sadness I suspect. A hope and dream that had long ago been put down and shut away.

In Genesis several chapters later Sarah gives birth to Issac – a name which means “laughter”. The hope that had been locked up in a cupboard, that was seemingly gone, was realised. The story can be interpreted in different ways and much can be taken from it. Yet for me it is a reminder that what I think might not be possible, is not necessarily what God thinks is finished and done with. In that way Christians always live with a flicker of hope, however dimmed at times, but it is there because our stories tell us that at different moments in time God has already done what we thought impossible.

 

Services this weekend – Sunday 18^th June 2023

10.00 – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30 – Sung Holy Communion – All Saints

7.15pm – Generations – All Saints

 

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 21st June 9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 22nd June 10am Holy Communion– St Marys

19.00 – PCC DV Training at All Saints

Saturday 24th June 12.00 – 2pm –Saturday Lunches – St Marys

Sunday 25th June 08.00 – Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00 Sung Holy Communion– St Marys

10.30 – Café Church – All Saints

 A prayer for your week

BECOMING GOOD GROUND

As the rain and sun come down from the heavens making the earth to grow, so may your Word not return to you empty, bit embed itself in the soil of my silence. May I discover what makes for peace, whatever my language, and know your blessing, on which our peace depends.

Tess Ward

 

Blessings Revd Lizzie

This Sunday there is a rather beautiful coinciding of the season of Trinity with the celebration of Saint Barnabas. Saint Barnabas was a friend of Paul who was an early follower of Jesus and an Evangelist for the church. Barnabas introduced Paul to the leaders in the Church in Jerusalem, as well as spending time with the early church in Antioch. It was here that Paul and Barnabas departed ways, and Barnabus went back to Cyprus. He was martyred in AD61. The Prayer for St Barnabas begins “Bountiful God, giver of all gifts”. Bountiful is a wonderful word, and not one that is normally used in prayer. It has an energy and a buoyancy to it. It suggests an unending flow of God’s power and love, it is a well from which we can continually take rest and refreshment.

This week we celebrate St Barnabus at our Holy Communion services at All Saints (8am) and St Marys (10am) and then later at Muddy Messy Church (10.30am) at All Saints we will be looking at what binds us together as God’s Church by making some Bread! A great service for people of all ages.

Everyone is welcome to join us at our worship this week

SUNDAY 11^th JUNE 2023

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30am – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints

I leave you with the Collect Prayer for St Barnabas this week.

Collect for St Barnabas

Bountiful God, giver of all gifts, who poured your spirit upon your servant Barnabas and gave him grace to encourage others: help us by his example, to be generous in our judgements and unselfish in our service; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Dear All Saints and St Mary’s

We approach the final festival of the Easter Season – Trinity Sunday. Yet it could also be viewed as the First Sunday of a new season in the Church. It is a festival which often reminds me of the fictional French Musketeers – D’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis whose phrase was “One for all and All for One”.

Christians experience God, who is One, in three interconnecting and mutually dependent and co existing ways – what is commonly known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The intellectual engagement of how this is possible, to be both One God but known in three ways simultaneously has delighted and perplexed people for many hundreds of years. For me the interesting thing lies more in the way in which God the Creator, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit interact with each other. What does it mean to know God in different ways? What does the relationship and energy and fellowship between the Father, Son and Spirit show us about God? What does that relationship teach us about how to be more fully human?

“All for one and one for All” is a memorable way in which I am reminded that the Trinity of God is a way in which individuals are in fact deeply dependent and connected to others in the community, and only truly flourish if others are also allowed to flourish equally and simultaneously. Happy Trinity!

Services this Weekend – 4^th June – Trinity Sunday

10am – Creative Church – St Mary’s – Looking at St Matthew

10.30am – Holy Communion with Hymns and Junior Church – All Saints

6.30pm – Choral Evensong – St Mary’s

The Week Ahead

Wednesday 7^th June 9am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 8^th June 10am Holy Communion Corpus Christi – St Mary’s

Saturday 10^rd June 12 – 2pm –Saturday Lunches – St Mary’s

Sunday 11^th June 10am Sung Holy Communion– St Mary’s

10.30am – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Breath, Wind, Flame, Fire and Peace – Welcome to Pentecost!

Happy Pentecost. This weekend we celebrate together in different ways the great festival of Pentecost. 50 Days after Easter we celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit. It is a day where we are invited to breath in afresh the life giving power of the Holy Spirit which enables us to be God’s people in this part of the world, yet at the same time know that we are divinely connected to so many others all over the world.

There are so many different images of the Holy Spirit. Breath, fire and flame. But each of them are visible and tangible in different ways. We can see, feel, and often hear flame and breath. Both can be simultaneously comforting and disturbing. The Spirit is more than a mechanism through which the people can connect and communicate with God, the Spirit is the way in which we are given what we need to continue the work of Jesus Christ and God. The Spirit is the way in which we understand and discern God in our lives and can see God’s work in the world. It is the way in which we understand and experience both Gods power of comfort and challenge. It is the Spirit that gives us the confidence to wander into what can be unchartered places. It is the Spirit who calls us to account. It is the Spirit who guides us and guards us in times of uncertainty and it is the Spirit who gently leads us to safe pastures or enflames us to righteous action.

Come and worship with us this Pentecost and be renewed in faith and fellowship with the power of the Spirit.

THIS PENTCOST SUNDAY – 28^th MAY 2023

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Mary’s with St Mary’s Kids

10.30am – Holy Communion with Hymns – All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 31st May 9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 1^st June 10am Holy Communion – St Mary’s

Saturday 3^rd June 12.00 – 2pm –Saturday Lunches – St Marys

Sunday 4^th June 10.00 Creative Church St Matthews gospel– St Mary’s

10.30 – Holy Communion – All Saints

6.30 – Choral Evensong – St Mary’s

May you know the power of the Spirit rest on you this day.

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Unwavering Hope

Risen ascended Jesus we give you thanks, because nothing, not life nor death, nor anything in creation, could ever separate us from your love for us. Kindle in our hearts your warm fire of justice and an unwavering hope. Amen.

from Christian Aid Week Daily Devotional

Dear All Saints and St Mary’s

Ascension stands the centre of this week. We hear how Jesus, lifted into the clouds, returned to his Father in heaven. Where’s the hope in that? I hear you ask. Has God abandoned us? Certainly not. As Jesus said, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever’. John 14:16. Our hope is rooted in two things: the power of prayer and the promise of the Spirit .

Power of Prayer. Jesus enthroned at his Father’s side, prays for us in heaven. Intercession is vital. Prayers change lives. Our own intercessions echo Jesus’ goodwill towards the world. We pray earnestly for healing and transformation in lives.

Promise of the Spirit. Jesus leaves so the Spirit can come to us – every where, anytime. Beyond Galilee. Beyond the First Century. Through the work of the Holy Spirit God’s presence and power can reach every corner of the globe in every time and place – from the community of Fishponds, Bristol, UK, to Malawi, Africa – the focus of Christian Aid week.

At training by Citizens UK this week we saw how stories – commonly referred to these days as lived experience – can be a powerful tool at the negotiating table: a tool for change in a community to bring to life the statistics, information and research findings. It is stories that illuminate and underpin the need for a better playground, toilets or improved public transport or whatever.
Christian Aid is passionate about storytelling. This year they are sharing the stories of struggles, hopes and dreams of two women in Malawi: Jen and Esther – to inspire our solidarity by giving money, so that we can demonstrate our belief in God’s justice for the poor.
Everyone loves a story. We listen and learn far more about the need for climate justice and educational provision, by hearing the stories of Jen and Esther and their families in Malawi. At All Saints we will watch a film and hear more about Esther at the service of Holy Communion at 10.30. There are Christian Aid envelopes in both churches or better still donate online.

https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week

The angels are right to say, ‘Why are you standing there looking up at the sky?’. Our hope of heaven needs feet on earth doing God’s work.

That’s why we continually pray ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven’. Till we really mean it.

Revd Diane, curate at All Saints and St.Mary’s.

This SUNDAY 21st May – The Sunday after Ascension

• 10.00 – Service of the Word with Baptism – St Mary’s
• 10.30 – Holy Communion with focus on Christian Aid week– All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 24^th May 9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 25^th May 10.00am Holy Communion – St Mary’s

Saturday 27^th May12.00 – 2.00pm –Saturday Lunches – St Mary’s

Sunday 28^th May 8.00am Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00am Sung Pentecost Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30am – Holy Communion for Pentecost – All Saints

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD

Holiday Bible Club for ages 4-12 is happening every morning from 24-28 July at All Saints. Our theme this year is Jonah with tons of games, bible stories, crafts, drama and signing. Forms can be found in St.Mary’s and All Saints. Book now as spaces are limited. Please speak to Revd Diane or Revd Lizzie for more information.

This Sunday, as our gospel reading, John 14.15–21 turns our attention from Easter to Pentecost, our reading from Acts, Acts 17.22–31, also takes a leap forward. Over the past few weeks, we have been following the events that took place in Jerusalem after the coming of the Holy Spirit. This week we hear about Paul’s visit to Athens.

Athens was, in some ways, like the city we live in. It was prosperous. It prided itself in its multicultural heritage. It had a strong intellectual tradition. Yet, when he arrived, Paul knew something was missing. The presence of so many different idols really bothered him. So, he started talking to people about Jesus. He talked to the Jews in their synagogues and to anyone who would listen in the marketplace. This drew the attention of some Greek philosophers who, in their intellectual curiosity, wanted to hear more. When Paul addressed them at the Areopagus, he started from what he had seen in the city. He tried to lead his hearers from their pluralist philosophy to a commitment to the one true God. Yet, in a society were sitting on the fence was regarded as a good thing, this was hard for many of them to accept.

This is another way in which our modern city is like Athens. There is a reluctance to make commitments and decide what is true and what is not. Many people would rather not decide between following Jesus and all the other things that shape their thoughts and values. Yet now as then, God calls us to follow Jesus. It is a decision that we make afresh in everything we say and do.

This Sunday, we have our usual second Sunday pattern of services, as follows:

8:00 am – All Saints – Holy Communion (said)

10:00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

10:30 am – All Saints – Messy Muddy church

We have our usual pattern of weekday services, with Celtic Morning Prayer on Wednesday at All Saints and Holy Communion for Ascension Day on Thursday at St Mary’s. Next Sunday, there is a baptism at St Mary’s and Holy Communion at All Saints. This gives the following services for the week:

Wednesday 17^th – 9:00 am – All Saints – Celtic morning prayer

Thursday 18^th – 10:00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 21^st – 10:00 am – St Mary’s – Baptism

10:30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

So, as we look towards Ascension and Pentecost, let us pray for the help of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Christ in the words of the collect for this Sunday:

Risen Christ,
by the lakeside you renewed your call to the disciples.
Help your Church to obey your command
and draw the nations to the fire of your love,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen

Yours in Christ.

Mark

This weekend marks the Coronation of Charles III. For some it will be a very welcome extra bank holiday, and for some it will be a solemn act of allegiance. For many it will be somewhere between those two things. It is for the Church of England an important moment in public life. To be the Church of England is to hold both the doctrine and story of our catholic and protestant brothers and sisters whose shoulders we stand on, whilst also recognising that the Church of England’s foundation is intrinsically linked to the Crown. We are the established church, which brings with it joys and challenges.

The coronation weekend is in the season of Easter– where in churches we have been reflecting on the resurrection and its impact on us as disciples. The story from Acts this week tells of the first martyr Stephen. It is a shocking and brutal story, but also one of a courageous and confident faith.

May we all know that confidence in faith as we watch or participate in different ways this coronation weekend. May Charles be a King of confident faith and may we look to Christ the King as our resurrected Lord and Saviour.

This SUNDAY 7^th May

• 10.00 – Creative Coronation Church – St Marys
• 10.30 – Sung Holy Communion with Junior Church – All Saints
• 5pm – Sung Coronation Evensong (with tea and cake from 3pm) St Marys

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 10^th May 9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 11^th May 10am Holy Communion – St Marys

Saturday 13^th May 12.00 – 2pm –Saturday Lunches – St Marys

Sunday 14^th May 08.00 Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00 Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30 – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints

Blessings and prayers

Revd Lizzie

During the Easter season, our lectionary readings follow the development of the early church with a series of readings from the Acts of the Apostles. This Sunday, as we approach the mid-point of the season, we have a short description of the life of the church in Jerusalem, shortly after the day of Pentecost. This can be found in Acts 2.42–end.

It was this reading that inspired Andrew Roberts to identify ten “holy habits” that can nurture our faith. They can help us, both as individuals and as a Christian community, to follow Christ faithfully and fruitfully. These holy habits are:

• Biblical teaching
• Fellowship
• Breaking bread
• Prayer
• Sharing resources
• Serving
• Eating together
• Gladness and generosity
• Worship
• Making more disciples

We had a first look at some of these habits in our Lent groups and Holy Week reflections. I will think a little bit more about them on Sunday. If you would like to know more, you can find a more information on the Holy Habits Web site. There is a lot to think about on the Web site, along with resources for further study, both individual and in groups.

This Sunday we have one service for everyone in the benefice. This will be a benefice service of Holy Communion in All Saints at 10.30 am. There will be no 8.00 am service at All Saints and no service at St Mary’s.

10.30 am All Saints Benefice Holy Communion

We have our usual weekday services for the coming week. Next Sunday, in addition to our usual Creative Church at St Mary’s and Holy Communion at All Saints, we have Evensong for the coronation weekend. This gives the following services for the coming week:

Wednesday 3^rd

9.00 am – All Saints – Celtic morning prayer

Thursday 4^th

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 7^th

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Creative church

10.30 am – All Saints. – Holy Communion

5:00 – St Mary’s – Coronation evensong

In addition, we have events for the coronation on Saturday. Please see the relevant notice sheet for details.

As we reflect of the image of Christ, the good shepherd, in our gospel reading for Sunday, we also pray for King Charles as he prepares for the coronation and for all who have authority in this land.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, and all who are in authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness, and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Yours in Christ.

Mark