Week beginning Sunday 5th January 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Epiphany

I am very fond of the season of Epiphany which comes straight after Christmas. I have pondered why this is and have come up with three reasons “I love Epiphany”

1) It feels like you get all the joy of Christmas with a little less of the stress! 

2) Its just a lovely word to say, with all the lovely “ph” sounds it rolls off the tongue!

3) It connects us deeply to our Eastern Christian Heritage that has so many riches.

So this week, we begin our Epiphany journey, as the church begins to grapple with and wonder at the God who is made manifest, real, visible in the baby of the manger. As the Magi make their appearance, having travelled far and for so long. As we learn of the tyranny of rulers and the burden of being a refugee. I invite us all to enjoy deeply this Epiphany season, so that it might bring us healing, perspective and joy.

This Sunday 5th January our worship is as follows

10am – Creative Church – Theme “East” – St Marys

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

6.30pm – Sung Holy Communion for Epiphany – St Marys

THE WEEK AHEAD

Weds 8th Jan  

9:00am –  Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

Thursday 9th Jan

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

Friday 10th Jan

1:00pm – 2:00pm – Lunchtime Concert – Kookie Yukes – St Marys

Saturday 11th Jan

12:00pm – 2:00pm – Saturday Lunches  – St. Mary’s 

Sunday 12th Jan        

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints 

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

10:30am – Muddy Church – All Saints 

7:15pm – Generations – All Saints Link

Epiphany Collect to ponder – till we see each other

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; 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 for ever. Amen

Blessings for 2025

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 29th December 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Happy Christmas from all at St Mary’s. Apologies, but no proper newsletter this week.

What’s on this week:

Sunday 29th December

10:30am – Joint Benefice Communion at All Saints

Thursday 2nd January

10:00am – Holy Communion at St Mary’s

Saturday 4th January

12:00pm – Saturday Lunches at St Mary’s

Sunday 5th January

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

6:30pm – Sung Communion on the eve of Epiphany – St Mary’s

Week beginning Sunday 22nd December 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

This week we celebrate the last Sunday of Advent and that leads us into the full wonder of Christmas. The readings take on the focus of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her magnificent song which declares the reshaping of God’s world, and how we are all invited to be drawn closer to the crib of creation. God’s story unfolds in the most unassuming and unexpected people. As Rachel Mann , theologian, remarks

“God calls the unlikely, and Mary joins a long line of those who will take their place in God’s wondrous work of transformation.’

A peasant girl who gives birth to a peasant king. 

Gods call is universal, one for all people. It is the message of hope that kindles its place in the soul of humanity. It is the great triumph of truth, love and hope and one that the world craves to hear and that we wonder at as we sit with candles, sing with carols and relearn again how God intends the world to be. 

It is the way of community, it is the message of the church, it is our hope. So come and celebrate with us in the multiple different services to listen again to the word made flesh, a song of humanity. A song of joy.

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

SUNDAY – 22nd DECEMBER

8am – BCP Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30am – Holy Communion with Hymns – All Saints

6.30pm – Carols by Candlelight – St Marys

CHRISTMAS EVE – 24th December

4pm- Family Carols and Christingle – St Marys

7.30pm – Carols by Candlelight – All Saints

11.30pm – Midnight Mass – St Marys

CHRISTMAS DAY – 25th December

10am – All Age Family Communion – St Marys

10.30 – All Age Family Communion – All Saints

Next Week

Sunday 29th December – BENEFICE SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – ALL SAINTS

Blessings this Christmas.

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 15th December 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Happy Gaudete! What a great word to say and reflect on. It is a word that has been set to many a tune, but the one that always springs to my mind is the Steeleye Span 80’s version – a gift of an earworm for your weekend!

Here in the middle of Advent the season makes a slight change of step. This Sunday coming has been known as Gaudete Sunday – a word that means “Rejoice”. The pink candle on the advent ring is lit. It marks a moment when our eyes can see in the faint distance the manger that we are asked to move towards in order to wonder at the gift of Jesus that God brings us all at Christmas. 

“Rejoice” is the word that springs from one of the readings that we are given this Sunday – St Paul in his letter to the Philippians says this

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

It is an encouragement that despite the darkness that enfolds us that in everything by prayer we can bring our needs to God, and to be assured that the Lord is near and to be gentle with each other. Amongst the fever of Christmas preparations, I want to continue to cling to Advent, to stay in that place a little while longer in this season. Yet the call is to keep going, step by step, till we finally arrive prayerfully able to give over all that we need to God who comes to love the world. 

We have the joy of being able to welcome the Bishop of Bristol, Bishop Viv, to celebrate holy communion and preach at 10am at St Marys. Our rejoicing continues at All Saints in the afternoon at 4.30pm with our children sharing with us the Nativity. Both services full of the glimpses of hope, love and rejoicing that we are called to be part of. Bring yourselves, your families, your neighbours and friends to rejoice and join in the joy.

Worship – Sunday 15th December

8:00am Holy Communion – All Saints

10:00am     Sung Holy Communion with Bishop Viv– St. Mary’s

(10:30am    Rehearsal for the Nativity– All Saints)

4:30pm     Nativity Service – All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 16th December

10:30am Tiny Tots Christmas Party 

7:30pm – Advent Group 

Weds 18th December

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

12:00pm – Funeral of David Godfrey 

6:00pm – Fishponds School Carol Service 

Thursday 19th December

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

11:00am – Advent Group – St Mary’s

Saturday 21st December

12:00pm – 2:00pm – Saturday Lunches  – St Mary’s 

1:00pm – D&D fundraiser “Yuletide Ball”– All Saints  

Sunday 22nd December

8.00am – Holy Communion BCP – All Saints 

10:00am Sung Holy Communion – St Marys 

10.30am Holy Communion– All Saints 

18.30 – Carols by Candlelight – St Mary’s 

In gentle prayer

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 8th December 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
“Ugolino di Nerio or / tai / eller Ugolino da Siena (1295?-1337?/1347?): Saint John the Baptist / Johannes Kastaja / Johannes Döparen” by Finnish National Gallery is marked with CC0 1.0.

PLEASE NOTE:   St Mary’s Fair which was due to have taken place on Saturday 7th, but which had to be postponed due to the severe weather, will be rescheduled and the new date advertised in due course.

On this 2nd Sunday of Advent our attention is drawn to the prophetic voice of both Micah from the Old Testament and John the Baptist. It is also a Sunday when the advent theme of “Peace” is forefront.  Prophets often come as messengers, but they are not necessarily associated with being peaceful. I doubt that the company of John or Micah would have been comfortable, with their message of repentance and a promise of God who will act like a refiners fire!

However, it is a reminder to me that peace is hard won, however uncomfortable that may be. That the deep work of God that is needed in each of us even as it calls us to a place that can feel difficult and challenging. How can that be a good thing? What is God doing in this?  I hold to the knowledge that each of us is made in the image of God. That God works on us, and keeps working on us, because God loves us. God is never done with me or you. In that way I believe we will arrive with God, ourselves and others at a place which is refined as like gold and silver.

A prose that I came across this week by Casey Overton and is one I have found helpful for Advent – I offer it to you.

Advent is an irrational commitment to a better future.
Advent is a protest demand.
Advent is still believing we are loved even when we have forgotten what love feels like.
The scriptures cannot promise us smooth pathways nor can they entitle us to happiness.
Instead, we are given recipes for the audacity to await our collective salvation even from the brink of death.

May we know God’s prophetic call to peace.

This weekend’s worship offering.

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10:00am – Sung Holy Communion – St. Mary’s

10:30am – Service of the Word– All Saints (Link)  and Nativity Rehearsal (Church)

7:15pm – Generations – Christmas Treats – All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday 9th Dec    

10:30am – Tiny Tots Christmas Party – All Saints 

7:30pm – Advent Home Group 

Tuesday 10th Dec  

10:30am – M4T Christmas Party – St Mary’s 

Wednesday 11th Dec

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

2:00pm-3:30pm – Advent Group – St Mary’s

Thursday 12th Dec

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

Friday 13th Dec

1:00pm – Concert – St Mary’s

All Day – Briarwood School – All Saints

Saturday 14th Dec

12:00 – 2:00pm – Saturday Lunches  – St Mary’s  

Sunday 15th Dec

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints 

10:00am – Holy Communion with Bishop Viv– St Marys 

4.30pm – All Saints Nativity Service 

A reminder that next Sunday (15th Dec) is All Saints Nativity in the afternoon – please donate toys that are given to children who do not receive much at Christmas.

Blessings and Peace

Revd Lizzie

Christmas Fayre Cancelled

On By JonathanIn Uncategorized

Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel the Christmas Fair which was due to take place tomorrow, Saturday 7th November, due to the red weather warning in place for Bristol.

We plan to reschedule when the weather is safe. Please follow our page to keep up with updates.

Stay safe!

Week beginning Sunday 1st December 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Advent Sunday

Photo by Alda González-Cuevas on Unsplash

With trepid anticipation I have been waiting for something to arrive in the post for the last few weeks, and when it finally did a few days ago, I was as excited as a small child who waits for Christmas. The object of my eager longing – a new diary. 

Each year the church starts again at Advent. Not January, or New Year, but Advent. This is when the new diaries, new lectionaries, new readings all start over. For me the arrival of a new diary is a chance to start again, with good intentions, that my new diary will not end up as haphazard, dilapidated, worn and scribbled on as last years. I am just as hopeful this year as I look at my well kept new diary, with entries in December looking neat and ordered.

As we begin Advent, we are asked to begin again. To start afresh with God. To come with all the hopes, dreams, worries and fears and lay them out to the Almighty. A spiritual cleaning is asked of us. I find that not only a good thing to do, but an essential thing for my soul. It helps me get things in order, builds a healthy spiritual perspective and confronts me with my need to listen more attentively to God, in worship, in Advent Groups, in fellowship at special services. Starting Advent well, like any new year gives sustenance for all that lies ahead.

I hope and pray that as we start Advent together, you are as expectant and excited as I am.

Our worship this weekend helps us to enter into that space of listening to God afresh – everyone is welcome to join us at all or any of them.

WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND – SUNDAY 1st DECEMBER

10:00am – St Marys – Toy Service – Guides and Brownies

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

6.30pm – Advent Candlelit Service

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday 2nd Dec  

10:30am – Tiny Tots – All Saints 

Tuesday 3rd Dec

10:30am – M4T  – St Mary’s

Weds 4th Dec

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

Thursday 5th Dec

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

Friday 6th Dec

11:00am – Living After Loss – St Marys

Saturday 7th Dec

11:00am – 2:00pm  – St Mary’s Christmas Fair  

Sunday 8th Dec

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints 

10:00am – Sung Holy Communion – St. Mary’s 

10:30am – Service of the Word and Nativity Rehearsal – All Saints 

7:15pm – Generations – All Saints 

God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us. God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time Amen

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Advent and Christmas 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn events

We have lots of special services and events in December and beyond! Everyone is very welcome at all of them.

Sunday December 1stToy Service
Advent Service		10:00
18:30
Saturday December 7thChristmas Fair11:00 — 14:00
Sunday December 8thHoly Communion Service10:00
Sunday December 15thHoly Communion Service, lead by Vivienne Faull— Bishop of Bristol10:00
Sunday December 22ndHoly Communion Service
Carols by Candlelight		10:00
18:30
Tuesday December 24thFamily Carol Service with Christingle
Midnight Mass		16:00

23:30
Wednesday December 25thAll Age Family Communion10:00
Sunday December 29thHoly Communion with carols at our sister church All Saints10:30
Sunday January 19thEpiphany Carol Service18:30

Week beginning Sunday 24th November 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Christ the King

Photo by Paul Zoetemeijer on Unsplash

I wonder what our first thoughts are when we think of what a King is. 

There are the historic kings with their penchant for lopping off heads (I see you Henry VIII) and sending troops off to conquer places that don’t belong to them. Then there are the kings depicted in art and media, those of fantasy and biography. Some are heroic forces for good, others evil and destructive, and some are comic.

Kings can be seen as vital links to heritage and tradition. Others see them as outdated and irrelevant. These sides can veer towards extremism in their passion, and history attests to this.

But then, is a king someone surrounded by pageantry and wealth, even if (like in the. UK) their role is ceremonial, or someone who may not embody this overt history but actually have more power? 

Here is the modern quandary we encounter  this weekend when we celebrate Christ as King. Is this imagery still helpful? It counted for much before, but even then it was used to believe that monarchs were chosen directly by God, rather than emphasising how Jesus’ kingship is entirely different to the human concept of monarchy.

Jesus is a leader, a figure of power-the highest power of all-that of God, yet unlike any king or earthly leader he serves, he avoids any of  the palaver attached to royalty or indeed any type of earthly leadership. 

Whilst the term king conjures up certain images that can be equally helpful and unhelpful, no other modern leadership term is free from positive of negative interpretations whatever field it appears within-sacred or secular. 

We see his leadership with power and authority, which so often can corrupt and destroy. Politics can become a game of ambition and ego. However, there are leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu who were fully human,  their humanity creating leaders of principle and integrity. Others like John F. Kennedy, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jnr. were killed for their integrity but their influence continues to inspire. 

But Jesus as leader embodies, explodes and transforms whatever concept of leadership that society may create. His leadership is beyond our limited forms as he embodies the human and the divine. He leqds  without corruption or selfish ambition . He leads to serve and serves to lead. He redefines  the word king, as he redefines what it is to be human and held in the love of God.

Sunday 24th November Christ the King/Sunday next before Advent

10:00am: Holy Communion – St Marys

The Week Ahead

Tuesday 26th Nov

10.30am: Music for Toddlers – St Marys

Thursday 28th Nov

10:00am: Holy Communion – St. Mary’s

Saturday 30th Nov          

12.00 – 1:30pm: Saturday Lunches – St Mary’s

Sunday 1st Dec (Advent Sunday)

10:00am: Creative Church – St Mary’s

6:30pm: Evensong – 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

Fr Kester de Oliveira

Week beginning Sunday 17th November 2024

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

One of my favourite story books as a child was “The owl who was afraid of the dark” by Jill Tomlinson.  For me it evokes good memories, it was both a book that my mother read to me and also one that I was first able to read by myself. The baby owl Plop (what a great name!) discovers new things about the dark, that it can be a place of excitement and discovery and need not always be a place to be feared.  

Yet the darkness can be a scary place. As the nights draw in and the days shorten, so too do the readings we hear in church take on more sombre and darker notes. The bible stories remind me that the whole compass of life will involve rupture and darkness, uncertainty and fragility. How do God’s people navigate the darkness and yet remain a people of light and hope? That is a question that has been asked time and time again.

These past weeks of elections, budgets, remembrance and fracture illuminate a vulnerability and fragility of the world. The Church is not immune from the darkness, and it necessitates a need to be both repentant and reflective about how harm done is acknowledged and amendment keenly sought. 

In the Letter to the Hebrews it speaks of “how to provoke one another to love and good deeds” and to “not neglect meeting together”. I was struck by how important both elements of this were to being able to discover the guiding lights when it feels dark outside.  That we are called to be a people who “agitate” ourselves and others in love and that this is done most effectively when we meet others. Some of the most poignant, challenging and yet hopeful of moments in life are when we seek to be with others in the flesh, face to face. 

I wish to encourage us to do so, be it in church, cafes, parks or elsewhere in the spaces we work, play and encounter others. Meeting together, even when fragile and wobbly, is a possible way to be able to see in the darkness, so that it doesn’t confound or frighten us, but allows us a path of light to follow.

This week we meet to worship together – Sunday 17th November

10am – St Marys – Sung Holy Communion with Baptism

10.30am – All Saints – Holy Communion with Hymns

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday 19th

10:30am – M4T – St Mary’s parish room.

Weds 20th

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

Thursday 21st 

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

12:00pm – Funeral – St Marys 

Saturday 23rd

12.00  Wedding – St Mary’s  

Sunday 24th

8.00am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10:00am – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys 

10.30am – Cafe Church – All Saints

Blessings

Revd Lizzie