A couple of weeks ago I was encouraged to reset my daily routine. I am not very keen on trying to introduce new routines and was hesitant and suspicious of this ask – which didn’t bode well. The routine involved taking just 5 minutes a day, preferably when I could be undisturbed, to stop and just notice what was going on around me. I started to walk outside with a cup of tea in the early morning, or sometimes later just before it got dark. It was a breath in, a pause. I started to notice the sounds of the road, the house and the birds. I noticed the cold, the slight evening chill, and how it made me feel. But most of all it made me feel grateful. It was a way of reintroducing counting the blessings of the day to come and the day that had ended. It didn’t even matter if what ahead looked hectic or challenging, or if what had been had been hard or tiring. I surprisingly still felt thankful for something, often someone.

This week All Saints celebrates Harvest, a way of physically saying thankyou in worship and being able to share in the goods that God has given. If you can bring something to the service that would be wonderful and the gifts will be divided between the Julian Trust and Fishponds Food Bank. After our worship there is a harvest lunch and everyone is welcome to come and be together and eat together. There is no need to bring food, that is all pre prepared and there is a suggested donation towards this.

St Marys shares in creative ways reflecting on creation in the morning, and then thankful ways with Dedication Choral Evensong. A chance to give thanks for all those that make up the body of Christ.

As the colder weather starts to become apparent we are trying a variety of different ways in which to conserve energy in both churches as well as still provide welcoming spaces for worship. Some services will move to easier spaces to heat, others will remain in church. We will experiment with what works best during the coming months. Please do feel free to wrap up warm, leave hats on during a service, bring your favourite hot drink or water bottle with you. We are also asking people to talk to PCC members and others in the congregations about what might work for them, and what their needs are. Some of us may not feel the cold as much as others, some of us have vulnerabilities that we are not aware of – we are all different, and yet have a shared responsibility to each other.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday 5^th: 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 6^th: 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Sunday 9^th:

• 08.00 – Holy Communion at All Saints Church
• 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church
• 10.30 – Messy / Muddy Church at All Saints Church

I found this prayer helpful when thinking on what thankfulness and blessing. I hope it blesses you.

Almighty God, Lord of all humanity, we bring our prayers to you not just for this day but for everyday, the everyday world in which we try and follow you from dawn to dusk, and often lose our way. But in this everyday world we depend utterly on so many people you give us. May we celebrate them and thank you for them and pray for them. Amen

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

I was thinking a little this week about the phrase “A wing and prayer” and pondering where it came from. I have always viewed it optimistically, a sense of relying and trusting that all will be well, even if planning has gone awry. The phrase originated from an incidence when a pilot was returning from a bombing raid in WWII. He was very unsure of his chances of getting back, and so asked for prayers to get them home. The plane landed safely, and so was known as the plane that “prayed its way back”.

Prayer is the interconnecting thread of a faith community, a thread that binds us to God, and each other. It is why Christians often pray in “the power of the Holy Spirit”. When in a small group leading some discussion based on prayer the other day, I asked everyone to think about what their favourite prayer was. It was a really insightful and felt deeply connecting and spiritually deepening as people shared what that was and why. I have lots of “favourites” so it is hard to pick one, or even a top ten. However, for me one of the prayers that we use in the church, one used this week at the funeral not only of HM Queen Elizabeth, but also of our dear friend Kay Powell, is the prayer of commendation. It is a prayer that has such certainty and assurance that whenever it is prayed, it makes me feel deeply thankful for my Christian faith. I offer this prayer to you today, but invite you to consider what your prayer is and possibly share that with someone in the coming week.

God our creator and redeemer,
 
By your power Christ conquered death
 
And entered into glory.
 
Confident of his victory
 
And claiming his promises,
 
We entrust our sister/brother to your mercy
 
In the name of Jesus our Lord,
 
Who died and is alive
 
And reigns with you
 
Now and for ever.
 
Amen

Our Worship this Sunday 25^th September

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion with St Marys Kids – St Marys

10.30 – Cafe Church – All Saints

The Week Ahead

Wednesday 28^th 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 29^th 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Thursday 29th 19.30 – St Marys PCC – Parish Rooms

Sunday 2^nd 10.00 – Open Church at St Mary’s Church

Sunday 2nd 10.30 – Harvest Festival at All Saints Church

Sunday 2nd 6:30 – Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Church

Please keep Revd Jordan and Revd Mary in your prayers as they finish their time and ministry at St Johns, St Aidens and St Michaels in the Kingsway Benefice, and also for those parishes as they enter into a vacancy process.

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Those who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy! Psalm 126.5

During this past week of mourning for our late Queen Elizabeth II we have been reminded again and again of the good seeds she sowed across our nations and the whole world. The seeds of healing, forgiveness and reconciliation she planted were particularly remembered and emphasised during the visit of King Charles III to Northern Ireland last Tuesday. At a service of commemoration and thanksgiving for the Queen’s life at Belfast Cathedral the lines of the final blessing were poignantly shared among church leaders across a spectrum of denominations, and leaders of different faiths were introduced to His Majesty.

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This Sunday’s Harvest Thanksgiving at St.Mary’s at 10am will be led in part by the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows. How fitting, since Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of Girlguiding from 1953 until her death on 8 September 2022 and she herself had been a Guide, Ranger and she loved guiding which involved adventures out of doors.

Do come along and give thanks for both our late Queen, to support the guides and to give thanks for the fruits of creation at harvest-time. You are most welcome to bring donations of packaged and tinned food for the Loaves and Fishes Project run by the Community of the Sisters of the Church in Ashley Road St.Paul’s. The sisters help people in times of need with food, friendship and support and they give out a food parcel weekly to anyone who calls asking for one. https://bristol.sistersofthechurch.org/loaves-fishes-ministry

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above!
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love!

Services of Worship

Sunday 18th September

10.00am Harvest Festival at St. Marys with Revd Diane & Guiding Unit

Donations of tinned and packaged food welcome for the Loaves and Fishes food parcel ministry of the Community of the Sisters of the Church in Ashley Road, St.Paul’s.

Reading: Leviticus 23:33-43

10.30am Holy Communion at All Saints with Revd Paul Denyer.

Readings: Amos 8.4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2.1-7; Luke 16.1-13.

You are still welcome to write a message or memory of the Queen in the books of condolence at St.Mary’s or All Saints this Sunday.

The Week Ahead

Services

Monday 19th 11.00 The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, broadcast on TV and radio

Wednesday 21st 09.00 Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 22nd 10.00 Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Thursday 22nd 10.15 Funeral of Kay Powell at All Saints Church

Sunday 18^th 10.00 Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Church

10.30 Café Church at All Saints – on the theme of justice

Other events and activities

Monday 19th 10.30 Tiny Tots at All Saints – cancelled due to Queen’s funeral

Tuesday 20th 10.30 Music for Toddlers at St.Mary’s Church

Next Sunday

Sunday 25^th 10.00 Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Church

10.30 Café Church at All Saints – on the theme of justice

The last 24hrs have been extraordinary. As the Church and the World come to terms with the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and at the same time give thanks for the ascension of King Charles III, we have also been witnesses to a historic moment in time. It is time of change. The realisation of how closely linked, so many of the threads of life are to the monarchy, has dawned repeated in the last days as everyday items from coins to stamps, to clothing and anthems start that process of change. Queen Elizabeth has been a monarch who saw huge societal change in her lifetime, yet at the same time acted as a constant and familiar unchanging presence in so many peoples lives. One constant in her life has been her steadfast unapologetic but simultaneously warm Christian faith. The Queen was a person of prayer and a person who prayed. This faithful Christian witness has been an inspiration to many different people across countries and generations. She will be greatly missed by many, and we join others in praying for her and the Royal family at this time.

This Sunday our services of worship have been adapted to pay tribute to the late Queen in different ways. St Marys celebrates its patronal festival and we will continue in that, whilst also including readings, hymns and prayers that commemorate Elizabeth II. All Saints will have a reflective and quiet said service of Holy Communion at 8am, and then Muddy/Messy Church will gather at 10.30 in a way that continues to give thanks for and remember the Queen. (If coming to Muddy Church please try and find something purple to wear!)

Over the weekend both churches will be open at different times so that people can light a candle, pray and sign the book of condolences. If you can offer some time to be in our churches at all over the weekend whilst they are open please speak to or email Revd Lizzie.

SERVICES OF WORSHIP

SUNDAY 11^th SEPTEMBER

8am – ALL SAINTS – Holy Communion – Readings and Prayers for the Queen

10am – ST MARYS – Sung Holy Communion – Celebrating the Patronal Festival and Commemoration to HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II

10.30 – ALL SAINTS – MUDDY/MESSY CHURCH – Please wear something purple – Thanksgiving for the Queen.

CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER AND BOOK OF CONDOLENCES

SATURDAY 10^th SEPTEMBER

ST MARYS – 10am – 2pm. (SATURDAY LUNCHES WILL GO AHEAD IN THE PARISH ROOMS AT 12-2)

ALL SAINTS – OPEN 11am – 2pm.

SUNDAY 11^th SEPTEMBER (Including the services)

ST MARYS – 10am – 4pm

ALL SAINTS – 8am – 4pm

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 14^th 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 15^th 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Sunday 18^th 10.00 – Harvest Services at St Mary’s Church

10.30 – Holy Communion at All Saints Church

One of the strengths of the Church of England has been its deeply profound and historic prayers that it has shared over centuries and generations. These liturgical yet precise prayers can often give us the words we need when others fail us. For me the Commendation Prayer is one such prayer. I offer it this week to you all and invite you to pray for the late Queen, HM King Charles III, the World and all the Royal family.

God our creator and redeemer,
by your power Christ conquered death
and returned to you in glory.
Confident of his victory
and claiming his promises,
we entrust your servant Elizabeth into your keeping
in the name of Jesus our Lord,
who, though he died, is now alive
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever. Amen.

Revd Lizzie

Better to be a flowing river than a stagnant pond”….these were the wise words, although surprising ones, that we spoken to me by my training incumbent as I left Southville to come to Fishponds. I think that his reflection was meant kindly, he was sad to see us all leave. However, in that moment he saw hope and optimism. He always thought that a church that had a continue flow of people coming and going was a sign of health. Of course a flowing river is only possible and healthy if there are rocks and foundations, river beds and flowers that remain a constant – but his point was that changing seasons and people are also a positive force for good. How many people do we hold and treasure dearly who have pasted through our midst? What have we learnt from them? What did they take with them that was a little piece of us?

This week a small “delegation” of us went to send on from Fishponds our love and blessings to Revd Janey as she was licensed and installed in her new parishes in Hereford. It was a great and adventurous (my driving late through the Wye Valley always being amusing for passengers!) and a joy to be with her. It was a joy to be a sending church, and to see Janey received so warmly by her new parishes. It was good to know we are part of that eternal flowing river.

SERVICES THIS WEEKEND

10.00 AM – St Marys – Creative Church – Theme: Friendship

10.30am – All Saints – Sung Holy Communion with Junior Church

6.30pm – St Marys – Evensong

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 7^th 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 8^th 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Sunday 11^th 08.00 – Holy Communion at All Saints Church

10.00 – Holy Communion for Patronal at St Marys Church

10.30 – Messy / Muddy Church at All Saints Church

Please find attached the Roots materials for at home and the activitiy sheets that link to our bible readings this week as well as our weekly sheets.

We all look forward to welcoming everyone for worship, prayer and praise this weekend.

Blessings

Lizzie

God’s way or Our way?

I hope that you are enjoying the last bank holiday of the summer. For some its that opportunity to get away for a final break, for others its a chance to settle at home for some slower time. One of the readings that we will hear on Sunday is from Luke’s gospel. It recalls a time when Jesus sat down and dined with the “movers and shakers” of his community. Their conversations, and then the parables that are told, allows Jesus to point out the differences of what we might expect the kingdom of God to be like and the ways in which we operate. Who gets to sit at the table? How do we treat all the guests? What is the role of the host? The different ways in which we might honour or value people for our own gain is highlighted by Jesus and would not have been an easy thing to listen to. One of the challenging, but beautiful, purposes of faith is to be continually asking the question – is this my way? Or God’s way?

Cafe church is a great place to be able to really discuss that aspect of our Christian journey, a chance to speak and discuss and reflect with others about our ways and God’s ways, and where they do and don’t intersect in our daily lives.

Our services of worship this weekend on Sunday 28^th August are

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30am – Cafe Church – All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 31^st 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

18.30 – IN HEREFORD – Revd Janey’s licensing.

Thursday 1^st 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Sunday 4^th 10.00 – Open and Creative Church at St Mary’s Church

10.30 – Holy Communion at All Saints Church

18.30 – Evensong at St Mary’s Church

Restoration Song (Day 12)

God has called forth a people, and we responded to His call,

“Rebuild this ancient ruin, restore my city walls”

He has led us day by day, as we listened to His voice,

And we were fed on finest wheat, and manna from the skies.

When we started, we were strangers. We hardly knew each others names.

Now we are brothers and sisters, and we will never be the same.

As we built, brick by brick, we discovered the corner stone,

And as we let Him mould and fashion us, He built us up in love

Now we have seen, and we have heard, that the Lord our God is great.

For a wilderness has been transformed, into His holy place.

Gerry Tuohy

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

It has been a real delight to return to Fishponds after some time away. Its always good to come home. One of the nicest things about coming home is that it can make me appreciate with fresh eyes the things that I have missed, or perhaps previously taken for granted.

This weeks reading from the bible invites us to think about how God sees us. Jesus heals a woman who has been ill for 18 years. He sees her need, and he responds. When he is challenged about this happening on the sabbath day, the day of rest, then Jesus is quick to answer. The woman’s needs had been obvious to the whole community for 18 years, yet no one had “seen” her – why should she wait a day longer? It is a moment of rapid compassion and response. God saw her with fresh eyes.

Each person is unique and precious in the sight of God, and so it is with great delight that at All Saints this Sunday we have the baptism of Eila to celebrate together with her family and friends. At St Marys there will also be a Holy Communion service at 10am and it will be such a joy to welcome Canon Trevor Denley as the celebrant and preacher there this weekend.

This Sunday 21^st August we have the following services of worship

10 am – St Marys – Sung Holy Communion – Canon Trevor

10.30am – All Saints – Holy Communion with Baptism – Revd Lizzie

The week ahead

Wednesday 24^th 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

Thursday 25^th 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Sunday 28^th 08.00 – Holy Communion at All Saints Church

10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

10.30 – Café Church at All Saints Church

Please find attached the weekly sheets, readings and also the Roots materials to use at home. Revd Janey has now moved to her post in Hereford Diocese. She will be licensed on Wednesday 31^st August at 6.30pm at St Nicholas Church, Hereford. Everyone is welcome. Please let me know if you are going and might be able to offer a space in your car, or if you need a lift so we can connect you with another person who has space.

In the week ahead I hope the following prayer may be a blessing to you

“A Telling Place”

Blessed be God who lifts us up.

Blessed be the Father of heaven.

Blessed be the risen and ascended Lord.

Blessed be the Christ in glory.

Blessed be the Spirit of Truth and Love.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit.

Bless us this day with vision.

Bless us this day with faith.

Bless us this day with hope.

May this place be a sacred place, a telling place,

Where earth and heaven meet.

Amen. Telling Place Community Team

Lizzie

Let us run with perseverance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

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Services this Sunday 14th August

08:00am – All Saints – Holy Communion – Rev Diane Simms

10:00am – St.Mary’s – Holy Communion – Rev Diane Simms

10:30am – All Saints- Messy Muddy Church – Elisa and Dave Williams

Services in the coming week and next Sunday:

Wednesday 17^th – 9:00 am – All Saints – Celtic Morning Prayer

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

Sunday 20^th – 10:00 am – St.Mary’s – Holy Communion

10:30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

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Dear All Saints and St Mary’s

There’s a popular saying that goes: Life’s a marathon, not a sprint. When results for A Level and then GCSE students are soon revealed, whatever grades are awarded – whether those grades feel like triumphs or disappointments – I pray that students would know that there is plenty of time ahead to work out next steps, re-take, try out new subjects, and explore different career options. It’s worth taking time, because you are worth it!

Many of us enjoyed watching the Commonwealth Games – the lucky ones at the Birmingham stadium – the rest of us on TV. There was a really upbeat vibe. It was wonderful to see the way everyone’s best efforts were applauded generously. It was also fascinating to watch para swimmers and para discus throwers compete together across different categories of impairment. Yes, of course it was a competition, but it was also a celebration of both talent and companionship and there was encouragement amid disappointment.

The author of Hebrews, who wrote the words above was a bit like a cheerleader – only for disciples in the early church. Chapters 11-12 presents a hall of fame of Biblical heroes of faith who never gave up trusting in God despite difficulty. I wonder which more recent Christians have inspired your faith? Why not tell us on Sunday over coffee?

In this week’s gospel Jesus urges his disciples to read the signs of the times they are living in. Times of challenge and hardship. This feels so true of our own present times. What areas of society might Jesus want our passion to erupt over as Christians? God’s justice always is geared towards lifting up those in adverse circumstances with least resources.

Finally,did you know that the beautiful East Window depicts the message of Hebrews 12.2? Across the bottom it reads “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. Contemplate it and you may pick up clues about whose wellbeing Jesus wants us to care about.

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Every blessing, Diane

Now, we are not afraid although we know there's much to fear 
We were moving mountains long before we knew we could

Miriam, Prince of Egypt

Dear All Saints and St Mary’s

As we settle into the school summer break, we may feel a little thin on the ground this Sunday. This might make Jesus opening words in our gospel reading even more reassuring than usual. Addressing his disciples, he says “Do not be afraid, little flock”. He reminds them that numbers don’t matter. God wants to give us the Kingdom and invites us to live out its values in our daily lives, always aware of what God is doing in us, through us and around us. He calls us to live the life of faith, stepping out beyond the boundaries of our own culture, as Abraham stepped out from his own country to travel to the Holy Land, as is described in our epistle.

It is through the eyes of faith, when we look at the world in the light of Christ, that we can see past the headline stories of doom and gloom to see that there is still much good in the world. It is how we respond to the cost-of-living crisis, the climate emergency and war and oppression in the world that matters. Do we believe that the gospel has something to say about generosity to the poor and vulnerable, care of creation and seeking true peace and reconciliation? Do we have faith that living out that message in God’s strength in our personal, community and political lives will bring the Kingdom closer?

In the words of Stephen Schwartz’s song from the film, Prince of Egypt, “there can be miracles, when you believe”.

We will have a little more time to reflect on a few of these thoughts on Sunday at All Saints at 10:30 am and at St Mary’s at 6:30 pm. In the morning at St Mary’s, we will be thinking about thanksgiving, with the opportunity to make thank you cards. In summary, Sundays services are:

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

10:30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

6:30 pm – St Mary’s – Evensong

We have our usual midweek services this week, with Celtic morning prayer at All Saints on Wednesday and Holy Communion at St Mary’s. Next Sunday, we have our usual second Sunday pattern, with Holy Communion at 8:00 am at All Saints an 10:00 am at St Mary’s. The 10:30 am service at All Saints will be Messy/Muddy church. This gives the following services for the coming week:

Wednesday 10^th – 9:00 am – All Saints – Celtic Morning Prayer

Thursday 11^th – 10:00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 14^th – 8:00 am – All Saints – Holy Communion (said)

10:00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

10:30 am – All Saints – Messy/Muddy church

Last week we said goodbye to Janey and welcomed Diane into her new role as our priest. While Lizzie is away, Diane will be presiding at all our communion services for the next couple of weeks. Please pray for her as she grows in this new phase of her ministry.

It was Bishop William Temple who said, “when I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t”. Let us go into the world, praying in faith and looking for those coincidences.

Mark

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Colossians 3:2

Greetings dear friends,

This week is my last week with you as your Curate before I head off to take up my new post in Hereford!

The last few weeks I’ve been saying many ‘goodbyes’ and having my ‘last’ turn at things, and felt that the sadness of that. One of the things that has held me together is remembering that God writes the story. All the chapters he’s written so far (and all the amazing ‘characters’ within them – that includes you!), I carry forward with me in my heart, and will discover how they feed into and shape the story to come.

I’m sure there will be many new challenges and surprises, but I’m encouraged by the idea that it’s all woven together into a bigger vision of God for my life. In some small way, that is me setting my mind “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”, as I trust God in the transition and in the new chapters beyond.

You have been wonderful people to be amongst ❤

This Sunday 31^st July is a fifth Sunday, which means we have our Benefice Service.

· This will be a service of Holy Communion at 10am at St Mary’s, led by Rev. Diane, with Rev. Janey preaching.

· There is no 10.30am service at All Saints this week – instead there will be an 8am BCP Holy Communion led by Rev. Janey.

In the week ahead, we have:

· Tuesday 2 August 10.30am Music for Toddlers

· Wednesday 3 August 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church

· Thursday 4 August – 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

Next Sunday 7thAugust, we have:

· 10.00am Open / Creative Church at St Mary’s

· 10.30am Holy Communion at All Saints

· 6.30pm Evensong at St Mary’s

It seems fitting to end with the beautiful prayer Paul writes to the church in Colossae, which is found in chapter 1 of his letter, and to make that my prayer of blessing for you this week:

May you “be filled with the knowledge of God’swill in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

Amen to that!

Rev Janey