Week beginning Sunday 24th May 2026

On 23 May 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Pentecost is often described as the birthday of the church. We remember the day when a small group of frightened people were transformed into a movement that swept the Roman Empire and, eventually, much of the world. However, to simply describe it in these terms is to completely miss the point of what happened on that day and what the church really is.

At the heart of the feast of Pentecost is the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit that brought about the transformation of that small group of disciples into the growing community of believers that we hear about in the Acts of the Apostles. It is the Spirit that guides and strengthens the church today. It is the Spirit that reveals to each one of us the path that God has set before us.

This Pentecost is an opportunity to open our hearts and minds afresh to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, to seek the truths that he reveals to us, develop the gifts that he gives and bear the fruits that he nurtures.

We have a few opportunities to take this further on Sunday. There is Holy Communion at All Saints at 8.00 and 10.30 and at St Mary’s at 10.00:

08:00	All Saints	Holy Communion (said)
10:00	St Mary’s	Holy Communion
10:30	All Saints	Holy Communion

We have the usual services this week. Next Sunday there is a Benefice service at St Mary’s. As such, there will be no 10.30 service at All Saints.

Wednesday 27th	09:00	All Saints	Celtic Morning prayer
Thursday 28th	10:00	St Mary’s	Holy Communion
Sunday 31st	08:00	All Saints	Holy Communion (said BCP)
	10:00	St Mary’s	Benefice Communion

Let us pray for that the Holy Spirit may dwell in our hearts and minds using the words of the collect for Pentecost:

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your Church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yours in Christ

Mark

Week beginning Sunday 17th May 2026

On 16 May 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Laziness breeds laziness. Excuses breed excuses. If you are a leader and choose to cut corners, you will find that your followers follow your behaviour. If, as a leader, you are strict about rules – yet make excuses for when you yourself fall short – you will establish a culture of excuses. That may sound gloomy; but what about the opposite?

Volunteers breed volunteers. I am far more likely to put up my hand, saying “I’ll do that”, when I am confident that I know that others will do likewise in turn. Who would want to be churchwarden, with all its consequent responsibilities? Yet, knowing that there are other volunteers doing their bit – and still others who will put their shoulder to the wheel if the warden asks for assistance – then the role becomes less onerous, and, indeed, pleasurable. Who would want to be treasurer? Even worse, who would dare to volunteer to be Safeguarding Officer? The other day, I read a Safeguarding Policy which was over 180 pages long. In the midst of all those words, there was only one sentence that truly stood out: ‘safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility’. We all have our part to play in making this parish safe, welcoming and a breeding ground for faith. Thank goodness we have people to take a lead, with buildings, money and safeguarding – but everyone has a part to play.

Edward Thomas wrote a poem called ‘Adlestrop’. The last verse goes like this:

And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

In the silence of a train stopping for a moment at Adlestrop station, Thomas hears one blackbird. Yet, as he listens more closely, he realises that that bird evokes a response from other blackbirds nearby, and that in turn sets off “all the birds of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire”. Our role as Christians is to live lives of kindness, generosity and holiness. We do so with the hope that a chain reaction will happen, until all creation is singing to the glory of God.

PS: Say a prayer of gratitude this week for Church Wardens, Treasurers, Safeguarding Officers, and “all the birds” of All Saints and St Mary’s Fishponds.

Rev’d Bob

Services for Ascension Sunday – 17th May

10:00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am Holy Communion, All Saints

11:45am – All Saints APCM

5:00-7:00pm Generations – All Saints – Joint Youth BBQ and Pilgrimage Celebration

The Week Ahead

Mon 18th May

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 19th May

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 20th May

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm – Bible Book Club, St Mary’s

Thu 21st May

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 23rd May

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

Sun 24th May

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints

Week beginning Sunday 10th May 2026

On 9 May 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Jesus is a fabulous storyteller. He would also use images and pictures to help us understand who God is and what that means for the world. In this week’s gospel as we approach the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, Jesus uses the image of an “Advocate” to describe the Holy Spirit. “Advocate” is often the word that is associated with courtrooms. An advocate is a person who can speak on our behalf, who will champion our cause.

Advocacy is a real gift – the ability to find the right words, the most persuasive way of changing hearts and minds. Often, I view this as the Holy Spirit being my advocate before God. It’s a good place to start. However, there is another way of viewing this. What if the advocate is there to also plead to me, not just for me? As we enter the end of the season of Easter, then we are assured by Jesus of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives – an advocate – who is will speak the truth to us about who God is and how that directs and guides us. The Holy Spirit is “The Advocate” in our lives, one who as we meet in prayer and worship promises to speak to us the truth of God so that our lives can be shaped more closely to reflect that of Jesus Christ. May the Spirit advocate for us and to us in our lives and may we open ourselves to listening.

This Sunday at All Saints we return with Muddy Messy Church at 10.30am – come and enjoy the spring garden and learning about our Saints (What do you know about St Dunstan?). St Mary’s holds its APCM annual meeting after the 10am Holy Communion service. I look forward to seeing you there.

SERVICES THIS SUNDAY – 10^th MAY

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Holy Communion (and APCM) – St Marys

10.30 – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints

(Generations will meet the following week on the 17^th May with another young people at All Saints at the earlier time of 5pm).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 11th May

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 12th May

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 13th May

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 14th May

10:00am – Ascension Day Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 15th May

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

Sat 16th May

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

12:00pm-3:00pm – Spring Fair & Crafts, All Saints

Sun 17th May

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion and APCM All Saints

5:00pm-7:00pm – Generations BBQ

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 3rd May 2026

On 2 May 20263 May 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Thomas the disciple asks Jesus anxiously – “But how will we know the way” in this week’s Gospel. And it’s a good question, one that I have asked on many occasions. Normally it is about looking at a map, or asking the Sat Nav – how am I going to get from here, the place I am in right now – to there – the place that I want to be or need to get to.

Most of the time we ask that question when thinking about travel. But it’s also a great faith and life question – How do we know the way? Who do we ask? Where are the signs? What can I do to prepare so that I get there safely?

Jesus response is to say “I am the way” – and for Christians that has been a solid foundation and manta – a cornerstone to rely on – when navigating life. In the early church Christians were often referred to as “People of the Way” – and it is something that I think still speaks volumes about what we are called to be and how to live. If we keep our hearts, heads and focus concentrated on the person of Jesus and the way that he showed us how to live, how to be with people and how to love others and the world – then we have a good road map to follow.

WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND – SUNDAY MAY 3RD

10:00 am – Creative Church – St Mary’s – Parables of Jesus

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

6.30 pm – Evensong – St Mary’s

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tue 5th May

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

Wed 6th May

9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 7th May

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 9th May

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

Sun 10th May

8:00 am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00 am – Holy Communion and APCM, St Mary’s

10:30 am – Messy Muddy Church, All Saints

Please find attached the weekly sheets, fayre poster and readings for this week – and I look forward to being with you all.

Blessings

Rev’d Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 26th April 2026

On 25 Apr 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Dear Friends,

Our worship this week points to the hope we have in a life following in Jesus’ footsteps.

After last week’s pilgrimage, full of real examples of love, generosity, and hospitality, I find myself back to writing essays this week (just five more to go!) and have taken comfort in the readings as I’ve been writing and preparing for this week’s Cafe Church.

At Cafe Church, we reach the final session of our series on the Nicene Creed, as we reflect on resurrection and eternal life, and how this shapes our own story.

We focus on the line: “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” A hope that is not only for the future but already shaping life in Christ now.

In our Communion services, both Acts and John’s Gospel point towards this: new beginnings for those who are broken or suffering, and Jesus as the Good Shepherd who leads us into life in all its fullness.

This Sunday’s worship

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 27th April

10:30 am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 28th April

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 29th April

9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 30th April

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 1st May

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

12:00pm – Funeral for Martyn Nowell, St Mary’s

Sat 2nd May

10:00 am – Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Cafe

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

Sun 3rd May

10:00 am – Creative Church, St Mary’s

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

6:30 pm – Evensong, St Mary’s

Blessings,

Charlie

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

Week beginning Sunday 19th April 2026

On 18 Apr 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

We made it! Tired feet, sore muscles, blisters and a few bramble scratches – some amazing sunshine, and moments of torrential rain – but this Friday a group of 10 young (and a few not so young) pilgrims made it to Bristol Cathedral. We walked 55 miles from Swindon to Bristol Cathedral and we have had a good journey. I am heart stoppingly proud of the young people who have held each other when they needed to and cheered each other along the way with conversations, prayer, food, more food and a mountain of chocolate. They have been amazing.

You have all been with us – your generosity and kindness have enabled us to do this – from pit stop butchers sausage rolls in Cricklade to an incredible well needed pub dinner in Sherston. Thank you – it made such a difference, and we prayed for you along the way with thanksgiving in our hearts. We met some incredible people, whose hospitality matched yours, from fresh milk and hot meals from the farming community in Brinkworth to cake at Malmesbury Abbey. Everywhere we went people blessed us, God blessed us and I know we also blessed them in our journey. Thank you. I am sure you will hear stories from this week for years to come that will continue to bless us all. God is Good.

The services this week will be

SUNDAY 19^th APRIL

10:00am – Holy Communion at St Marys

10:30am – Holy Communion at All Saints

Join us for worship and prayer at both churches as we hear of the story of the Emmaus Road.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 20th April

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 21st April

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 22nd April

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 23rd April

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 25th April

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

Sun 26th April

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints

Please find attached readings and weekly sheets

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 12th April 2026

On 11 Apr 202611 Apr 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Christ is Risen Alleluia – He is Risen indeed – Alleluia!

SUNDAY 12^th APRIL – SERVICES

8am- Holy Communion – All Saints

10:30am – Benefice Service of Holy Communion – All Saints

6:30pm – Evening Prayer – St Marys

Happy Easter (Again!) because Easter is more than a weekend but lasts a full 6 weeks. During this we have some of the most vivid gospel stories of Jesus risen life, starting this Sunday with Jesus’ encounter with Thomas who is full of doubt and faith.

2000 years later CS Lewis, a person who was full of faith and doubt, wrote the Chronicles of Narnia, detailing in fantasy fiction a story which speaks of resurrection and love. A story which has invited people across generations to connect with the Christian faith story. CS Lewis also wrote poetry and one of those that I rediscovered this Easter, speaks of love found in the elements – water, fire, air and earth. It reminds me that the joy of Easter is only possible because of the love that God shared in all things from Creation to the Cross. I wanted to share it with you this week as a poem and prayer for our faith journeys. It is one I will be taking with us on Youth Pilgrimage this coming week – do pray it with us as we walk.

Love’s as warm as tears – CS Lewis

Love's as warm as tears,
Love is tears:
Pressure within the brain,
Tension at the throat,
Deluge, weeks of rain,
Haystacks afloat,
Featureless seas between
Hedges, where once was green.

Love's as fierce as fire,
Love is fire:
All sorts - infernal heat
Clinkered with greed and pride,
Lyric desire, sharp-sweet,
Laughing, even when denied,
And that empyreal flame
Whence all loves came.

Love's as fresh as spring,
Love is spring:
Bird-song hung in the air,
Cool smells in a wood,
Whispering, "Dare! Dare!"
To sap, to blood,
Telling "Ease, safety, rest,
Are good; not best."

Love's as hard as nails,
Love is nails:
Blunt, thick, hammered through
The medial nerves of One
Who, having made us, knew
The thing He had done,
Seeing (with all that is)
Our cross, and His.

This week we worship together as a Benefice at All Saints – 10.30am Holy Communion. Join us there for our continued Easter celebrations and worship.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 13th Apr – Fri 17th Apr

Youth Pilgrimage

Wed 15th Apr

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 16th Apr

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 17th Apr

11:00am Living After Loss, St Mary’s

Sat 18th Apr

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

Sun 19th Apr

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints

Blessings

Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 5th April 2026

On 4 Apr 20264 Apr 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Uncategorized

Happy Easter!

There will be imperfection in heaven – thank goodness. Otherwise, I won’t stand much of a chance. However, not everyone would agree with that. One traditional perspective is that we first need to spend some time in purgatory. That is where we will be straightened out, our sins purged away, our mistakes removed, and everything will be put right. Then, and only then, will we be fit for heaven, to spend eternity in the glory of God’s presence. I see it differently.

Our mistakes and brokenness are not eradicated; rather they are incorporated into God’s plans. God’s holiness will not be diminished by being in the presence of us, fallen humanity. After all, the body of the risen Jesus still bears the marks of crucifixion. The cross, with all its horrors and woundedness, does not scare God away; rather, this is drawn into God’s persistent, faithful, compassionate care and healing of the world. Thomas – doubting Thomas, puzzled Thomas – needed both to see the marks of the cross and also to meet with the risen Lord. Only then did it start to make sense. Jesus is the wounded healer. Jesus descended into the grave so that the fear and sting of death would no longer be a barrier between us and God.

Francis Spufford has just published his latest novel, Nonesuch. It’s on my pile of books to read during the Easter holidays. A recent review by Andrew Brown says this: “Right at the end, Iris, who has been so joyful, brave, and ultimately successful, is offered the chance to undo a terrible mistake she had made years before the story opens. She takes the chance, and wakes in another timeline, where — it seems — she never will meet her husband. I found myself longing for her not to undo the past. Put in theological terms, Spufford shows us that a world without sin is also one without the possibility of redemption, that the first Adam is needed if the second Adam is to come.” This does not give us licence to sin. Rather, it gives us confidence that, because of the power of the resurrection, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sadly, I have many memories of times that I wronged someone. I am not being flippant about the pain I caused. Yet, especially as we celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I know that these mistakes are woven into God’s overall plan of redemption and healing.

Revd Bob

Services this Easter Sunday – 5^th April

10:00am – Easter Sunday Communion with Baptism – St Mary’s

10:30am – Easter Sunday Communion with Junior Church and Band – All Saints

6:30pm – Easter Sunday Choral Evensong – St Mary’s

The Week Ahead

Wed 8th April

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thu 9th April

10:00am – Holy Communion – St Mary’s

Sat 11th April

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

Sun 12th April

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10:30am – Benefice Holy Communion = All Saints

6:30pm – Evening Prayer – St Mary’s

Mon 13th April – Fri 17th April

Youth Pilgrimage

Week beginning Sunday 29th March 2026

On 28 Mar 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

This Sunday the churches mark the beginning of Holy Week. This last week of Lent we journey with Jesus and the disciples as we remember together the places and events of that week of Jesus life. It is a turbulent time, full of joys, sorrows, crowds and conversations. We are invited to ask some of the most profound questions about life and death. What does this mean for me? What does this mean for the world?

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of this moment. All over the world people will gather, as we are also invited to do, to join processions which retell the story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. The people were eager for change, enthusiastic in their desire for a new leader, on the verge of revolt as they welcomed Jesus into the city. The King that they wanted so badly came on a donkey, offering peace and non violence as a response, rather than aggression or war.

In a world where some see war and violence as a possible solution to global friction and disagreement, perhaps it is most pertinent that Jesus offers the world a very different path to follow. We are invited this week to look on, journey with, the humble Son of God, who radically came to show us a new way to live.

The services this Palm Sunday – 29^th March

8am – BCP Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Palm Procession and Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30am – Palm Procession and Holy Communion – All Saints

Services in Holy Week

Tuesday 31^st March

6.30pm – Celtic Holy Communion – All Saints

Wednesday 1^st April

6.30pm – Taize Service – All Saints

Thursday 2^nd April

6.30pm – Agape Meal – All S

7.30pm – Washing of Feet and Holy Communion with Vigil – St Mary’s

Good Friday 3^rdApril

1.30pm – Liturgy of Good Friday – St Mary’s

2pm – Last hour at the Cross – All Saints

Saturday 4^th April

7.30pm – Easter Eve Vigil – St Mary’s

Easter Sunday (5th April)

10am – Easter Communion with Baptism – St Mary’s

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

6.30pm – Easter Choral Evensong – St Mary’s

Rev’d Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 22nd March 2026

On 21 Mar 202621 Mar 2026 By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

This Sunday is the start of Passiontide, and our attention is fixed even more firmly on Holy Week and the suffering or passion of Jesus. Our Old Testament reading tells of Ezekiel’s vision of a valley of dry bones being brought back to life. Our New Testament reading is the story of Jesus bringing his friend, Lazarus, back to life. Both these stories point forwards to Easter and Jesus’ resurrection.

However, to look at these stories as merely a pointer, is to miss the richness and depth of what each of these these stories have to say to us.

Ezekiel’s vision is a message of hope for a people feeling rejected and downtrodden. In the despair of Israel’s exile in Babylon, God spoke to the people of restoration. This was not just a restoration of their land, but also a restoration of their spirit. But above all it was a restoration of their trust in God.

At the heart of John’s telling of the story of Jesus and Lazarus is Jesus’ declaration “I am the resurrection and the life”. It is in Jesus that we get the new life that we long for. That life is more than just bringing a a dead person back to the life that they knew before. It is a life that gives us the hope that the pain and suffering in the world can and will be overcome. It is a hope that even death itself has been defeated.

We will have more opportunities to reflect on this in or communion services at 8.00 am at All Saints and at 10.00 at St Mary’s. The 10.30 am service at All Saints is our monthly café service, where we will continue our discussions around the creed. This week we will be thinking about the church and what it means to believe in the church. At 6.30 pm there is a service of Passiontide music and readings at St Mary’s.

This gives the following services for this Sunday 22nd March:

8.00 am	All Saints	Holy Communion (said)
10.00 am	St Mary’s	Holy Communion
10.30 am	All Saints	Café Church
6.30 pm	St Mary’s	Passiontide music and readings

In the coming week we have our usual midweek services. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. As such, there will not be a benefice service. St All Saints and St Mary’s will each have their own services for Palm Sunday at the usual times. However, there will be service of Holy Communion at 8.00 am at All Saints. In addition, our Lent groups will continue on Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon. This gives the following services for the coming week:

Tuesday 24th March	7.30 pm	Vicarage	Lent group
Wednesday 25th March	9.00 am	All Saints	Celtic morning prayer
	2.00 pm	St Mary’s parish rooms	Lent group
Thursday 26th March	10.00 am	St Mary’s	Holy Communion
Sunday 29th March	8.00 am	All Saints	Holy Communion (said)
	10.00 am	St Mary’s	Holy Comunion
	10.30 am	All Saints	Holy Communion

As we continue our journey towards Holy Week and Easter, let us pray for the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

Yours in Christ

Mark

Services for Ascension Sunday – 17th May

The Week Ahead

SERVICES THIS SUNDAY – 10th MAY

THE WEEK AHEAD

WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND – SUNDAY MAY 3RD

THE WEEK AHEAD

This Sunday’s worship

The week ahead

SUNDAY 19th APRIL

THE WEEK AHEAD

Christ is Risen Alleluia – He is Risen indeed – Alleluia!

SUNDAY 12th APRIL – SERVICES

THE WEEK AHEAD

Happy Easter!

Services this Easter Sunday – 5th April

The Week Ahead

The services this Palm Sunday – 29th March

Services in Holy Week

SERVICES THIS SUNDAY – 10^th MAY

SUNDAY 19^th APRIL

SUNDAY 12^th APRIL – SERVICES

Services this Easter Sunday – 5^th April

The services this Palm Sunday – 29^th March