Tag: bible

Week beginning Sunday 2nd November 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

There have been two and a half momentous occasions in the life of the worldwide church in recent weeks:

Pope Leo 14th and King Charles praying together in the Sistine Chapel, a holy place which lies at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church.  The backdrop is the magnificent portrayal of the Last Judgement, painted by Michelangelo.  The King was there not solely as monarch, but also as the supreme Governor of the Church of England.  Both Pope and King guide, govern and encourage their branches of the worldwide church, not through dictat, but by drawing on the wisdom of the ages, and through their own personal examples of attempting to live a godly life.  500 years of discord – sad though much of that has been – is set against the background of God patiently drawing us closer by grace, towards our heavenly home.  That is what it means to live “under the judgement of God”. 

Sarah Mullally, currently Bishop of London, has been appointed to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.  I did not think that I would live to see the day when a woman – a gracious, strong, godly woman – would sit on the Throne of Saint Augustine.  She takes on the mantle of guiding the Church of England, formally begun in 597 AD – a church which has weathered storms and dangers, which has at times been a shining example of Christ-like living (and at times has cloaked the light for the Holy Spirit, through timidity, half-heartedness and resistance).  The Church of England has never been perfect – but is at its best when humbly seeking to discern God’s will afresh in new circumstances, and sacrificial serving all people of this land.

The “half” momentous occasion has been the decision form the House of Bishops to pause its efforts to make the Church of England a more inclusive, hospitable church (by recognising the full contributions of LGBTI+ disciples).  I am truly saddened by this.  But I take heart from the other two examples – that the journey towards building God’s kingdom on earth is neither easy nor short; that God’s gracious providential care will not be thwarted.

This Sunday marks the festival of All Saints, when we are called to remember the “saints” of past generations (some of whom, as they sought to be faithful to God, made decisions that we now question), the “saints” from different countries and cultures to our own, and the “saints” who do not look like us.  I put the word in inverted commas, because saints are not only to be found in stained glass windows.  Saints are all those who listen attentively for God’s word, who know they won’t get everything right, but who trust in the continuing inexhaustible kindness of God. 

This Sunday we have the following services

10am – Creative Church – St Mary’s

10.30am – All Saints Patronal Festival with Junior Church and Band

6.30pm – Choral Evensong – St Mary’s

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 3rd Nov

10.30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints 

Tue 4th Nov

10.30am – M4T, St. Mary’s Parish Rooms 

Weds 5th Nov

9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints 

Thurs 6th Nov

10.00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s 

Fri 7th Nov

11.00am – Living After Loss, St. Mary’s 

Sat 8th Nov

12.00pm – 1.30pm – Saturday Lunches, St. Mary’s 

Sun 9th Nov

8.00am – Holy Communion, All Saints 

10.00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s 

11.00am  – Civic Remembrance in Park – Fishponds Park

10.45am – Remembrance Service – All Saints 

7.15pm – Generations, All Saints 

Revd Bob

Week beginning Sunday 26th October 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash

Dear Friends in Christ,

One of the things I’ve noticed about being embedded in a community is the role of the unexpected leader. These are people who may be the most unlikely to lead in an ‘official’ way but who do so, often in dramatic and dynamic style, but also in quiet and unobtrusive ways.

In reality many of us are people of influence and manifest ‘soft’ authority, perhaps within our families or our friendship groups.

The unexpected leader is often someone who doesn’t follow conventional, ‘polite’ paths. They often are the ones who challenge authorities or systems. They may be those establish groups  to come together to achieve a common goal or address an injustice.

It’s easy to think that we as ordinary citizens have no power, no influence, but we do, and we can enable others to do so. It just needs the spark of one person to start a fire that changes everything.

This Sunday is Bible Sunday, and Jesus is starting his own journey through leadership. As a male in Judaic society, he would already possess inherited and unearned power. Now he speaks at the synagogue, itself a conveyer of his position.

His listeners are initially proud of what he’s doing-the local boy doing good-until he dumbfounds them by not playing the expected game, challenging them and breaking out a message that affronts them. 

Jesus begins his ministry with the Isaiah reading, proclaiming a message bigger than his hearers want. He’s not limited by his context. He’s now emerging into a new era, the ultimate in unexpected leaders.

This Sunday 26 October – the Last after Trinity

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am- Holy Communion, St. Mary’s

10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints

The Week Ahead

Weds 29th Oct

9:00am –   Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thurs 30th Oct

10:00am –  Holy Communion, St. Mary’s

Fri 31st Oct

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

Sat 1st Nov

10:00am – Coffee Morning, Book Sale & Bristol Repair Café, All Saints

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

Next Sunday – 2nd November

10:00am – Creative Church, St. Mary’s

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

6:30pm – Choral 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 19th October 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
The Roman gates of Nicea.

This year is the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. At this council, The Emperor Constantine gathered all the wise and the great in the church to resolve some questions that had been dividing the church. Christianity is a religion centred on the story of God’s relationship with human beings. That story started in the Old Testament and continues to this day. At the heart of the story is the story of Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection.

Living out this story, some questions arose. Is God the Father the same as the creator God of the Old Testament? Is Jesus a god, a human or somehow both? If Jesus is in some way a god, are there two gods or one? If there is one God, how is Jesus connected with God the Father? And what do we think about the Holy Spirit, the church, baptism, and resurrection? The answers to these questions have surprising consequences. They affect our attitudes to creation, to human suffering and to community, among other things.

The answers to the questions of the day were summarised in a document that was agreed by representatives of all the churches. This was updated in fifty-six years later in the Council of Constantinople to produce what we know as the Nicene creed. This statement of the Christian faith is still accepted by almost all of those who call themselves Christian.

In honour of this anniversary, we have decided to think about the creed in our Café Church services at All Saints. After a general introduction in October, we will work our way through the creed. We will reflect on what it says and how that makes a difference to our faith and in our lives. All are welcome to our first session on October 26th.

Before then, this Sunday, we have our normal pattern of service for a third Sunday. In addition, there is a memorial service at St Mary’s in the afternoon, “A Time to Remember”.

10.00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
10.30 amAll SaintsHoly Communion
3.00 pmSt Mary’sA Time to Remember

The services for the coming week are as follows: 

Wednesday 22nd9.00 amAll SaintsCeltic morning prayer
Thursday 23rd10.00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
Sunday 26th 8.00 amAll SaintsHoly Communion (said)
 10.00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
 10.30 am All SaintsCafé Church

Your brother in Christ

Mark

Week beginning Sunday 12th October 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Everyone is Welcome
Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash

I am very fond of the signs that have the word Welcome on their doors, especially the ones that have it in multiple languages. The world Welcome comes from two words – “Wil” which means “desired” and “Cuma” which means “Guest”. Its a rather lovely way to think about the word – to desire a guest. To wish for company. 

At both All Saints and St Mary’s we welcome people in all sorts of different ways, and to many different things – worship, concerts, groups, cafes. To extend a welcome to a whole community is something that is core to the values of the Church of England, which has a parish in every part of the country.  Part of our DNA is that everyone in a parish immediately belongs and that we are all welcome, regardless of creed, colour, sex or sexuality. It also means that all are welcome regardless of ability, intellect, wealth or skill. We don’t earn our parish – we simply are born, work, or live in it – we belong because we are here. 

As both churches, we are looking at ways in which we can live out this welcome, whether that is through open churches, better access or more creative invitations, it is good to believe, trust in and know that Jesus is the person who teaches us and models for us a radical welcome. May we be parish churches who trust in that welcome that is extended to us all.

All Saints welcomes our furry (and not so furry) friends ,to worship tomorrow for the Pet Service at 10.30 – do bring along your pet, or if not, a cuddly toy as we look at place of animals in our lives. St Mary’s focus will be on raising awareness of disability and how we can make a difference here in this place with our welcome.

WORSHIP SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

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

10:30am – Pet Service, All Saints

 7:15pm – Generations, The Wood

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 13th Oct

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 14th Oct

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

Weds 15th Oct

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm – Bible Book Club, St. Mary’s

Thurs 16th Oct

10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s

Fri 17th Oct

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

Sat 18th Oct

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

Sun 19th Oct

10:00am – Sung Service of the Word, St. Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints

3pm – A Time to remember – St Mary’s

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 28th September 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Dear Friends in Christ,

Since I moved to Fishponds 2 years ago, I’ve spent a lot of time walking around the area. It’s sometimes chaotic diversity can be refreshing, exciting, sometimes challenging, but never dull! 

What strikes me within the diversity are the contrasts. Perhaps the starkest is between those who can afford to use the artisan and independent cafes and shops and those who sit on the streets begging.  These are the visible ones. Many more are just about scraping by unnoticed.

Of course, other places are even more stark in contrast. I visited Sao Paulo in Brazil and there the contrast between the uber wealthy and the destitute is shocking. 

Our Gospel warns us of stocking up earthly treasure at the cost of our spiritual lives, our connection with God – the transient vs the eternal. Yet it’s not telling us to hate the things of the world, but to have the right relationship with them. Being totally consumed with the modern consumerist world is a way of life that will never be fully satisfying as it’s never ending. But we mustn’t become so holier than thou that we fail to see the real need that so many have for the means to live and thrive.

Instead, Jesus is teaching us to not make money and stuff our God, but to keep God at the centre of our lives. These other things are an undeniable and vital part of life, but they are not its fullest answer. The tension of this is real, but God gives us the way to navigate it as long as we constantly lean into and on him.

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

This Sunday – 28th September (15th after Trinity)

8:00am Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am Harvest Festival Communion, St. Mary’s

10:30am Cafe Church, All Saints

The Week Ahead

Monday 29th Sept

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tuesday 30th Sept

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s

Wednesday 1st Oct

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thursday 2nd Oct

10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s

Friday 3rd Oct

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

Saturday 4th Oct

10:00am – Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café, All Saints

11:00am – Harvest in the Wood

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

7:00pm – Barn Dance, All Saints

Sunday 5th Oct 

10:00am – Creative Church, St. Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:30am – Junior Church, All Saints

6:30pm – Choral Evensong, St. Mary’s

Week beginning Sunday 14th September 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Before we decided to move to Bristol, there was a charming story in the national news that endeared me to this city.  Following troubles and riots, many were very angry with the Mayor, Marvin Rees.  In protest, someone painted a message on the road just outside his house with the message: “Marvin must die”.  Soon enough, the police were called and cordoned off the area – but not before, one of his neighbours had added a ‘T’.  So, now the message read: “Marvin must diet”!

Each one of us is allowed to be angry – but sometimes that is not all that has to be said.  Take an example from today: painting the middle of a mini-roundabout with a flag of St George.  Is that a message saying “we are proud to be British” (and, by implication: “migrants out!”)?  Yes, be proud to be British, but I believe you are required then to complete the sentence – WHY are you proud to be British?  And the answer cannot just be “because we hate the French”!

Occasionally, you might hear in a documentary a story about someone who came to this country and her life was turned around.  She will tell how, on arriving here, she felt safe, was enabled to go to university, raise a family and provide a future of hope for her children.  She is, very evidently, proud to live in this country – and we should be proud to be part of this country which made this happen.  How can we enable such a voice (of which there are thousands of examples) to be better heard?

This coming weekend, we mark the Dedication Festival of St Mary’s, partly by hearing the Gospel reading of the Magnificat.  It expresses not only Mary’s pride in her God, but also names why – God is the one who raises the lowly, and who feeds the hungry.  Mary was a single teenage mother.  Thank God a voice was found for her so that, even today, we can sing God’s praise, associate ourselves with God’s compassionate works and give hope to those in need.

Revd Bob

SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER SERVICES

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Eucharist – St Marys 

10.30am – Muddy/Messy Church Reptile Experience

7.15pm – Generations – All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 15th Sept

10.30am – Tiny Tots – All Saints

Tues 16th Sept

10.30am – Music for Toddlers – St. Mary’s Parish Rooms

Weds 17th Sept

9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

2.30pm – Bible Book Club – All Saints

Thurs 18th Sept

10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s

Fri 19th Sept

11.00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’s

12.30pm – 2.00pm – Concert performance – St. Mary’s

Sat 20th Sept

12.00pm – 2.00pm – Saturday Lunches – St. Mary’s

Sun 21th Sept

10.00am – Sung Service of the Word – St. Mary’s

10.30am – Holy Communion – All Saints

Week beginning Sunday 7th September 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

This Sunday’s epistle reading is taken from the shortest of all Paul’s letters. The letter to Philemon, is a very personal letter, written to a specific individual at a specific time and in a cultural and legal context far removed from our own. Yet, possibly because of that very specific context, it speaks out clearly about the Christian values of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The recipient, Philemon, is a wealthy Christian. His house has served as a meeting place for the local Christians. Like all wealthy people, he owned slaves. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had run away, possibly having stolen from Philemon. When Onesimus met Paul, Onesimus became a Christian. Paul persuaded Onesimus to live up to the social expectations of the time and return to his master Philemon. However, Paul urges Philemon not to punish Onesimus, but to welcome him back with the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation that is at the heart of the gospel. Paul also tells Philemon that, if Onesimus has stolen from Philemon, Paul will pay back what has been stolen

Although Paul does not challenge the idea of slavery in his letters, he does challenge the attitude that many slave owners had to their slaves. Onesimus was Philemon’s brother in Christ and should be treated as such. This lays a foundation for a new way of thinking about relationships. Everyone, whether the most powerful or the weakest in society is a child of God. Those with power have a responsibility to treat those weaker than themselves with the respect and dignity that God gives to every human being. That includes forgiving those seeking reconciliation and working towards a world that supports and values all. This message, rooted in the Old Testament prophets, was proclaimed by Paul and has been echoed by Christian social reformers ever since.

This Sunday we have our normal first Sunday pattern of services. There is creative church at St Mary’s at 10.00 am and Holy communion at All Saints at 10.30 am. In the evening, we have Choral Evensong at 6.30pm. This will be the start of St Mary’s Patronal Festivel, which will conclude with Holy Communion next week.

This gives the following services for this Sunday

10.00 amSt Mary’sCreative Church
10.30 amAll SaintsHoly Communion with Junior Church
6.30 pmSt Mary’sChoral Evensong

We have our usual midweek services. Next Sunday has our normal second Sunday pattern with Holy Communion at All Saints at 8.00 am and at St Mary’s at 10.00 am. At All Saints at 10.30 am will be Messy/Muddy Church. This gives the services for the coming week:

Wednesday 10th9.00 amAll SaintsCeltic Morning Prayer
Thursday 11th10.00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
Sunday 14th8.00 amAll SaintsHoly Communion (said)
 10.00 amSt Mary’sPatronal Holy Communion
 10.30 amAll SaintsMessy/Muddy Church

So remembering the call to reconciliation and forgiveness that Paul urges in his letter to Philemon, let us pray in the words of the collect for this Sunday:

God of constant mercy,
who sent your Son to save us:
remind us of your goodness,
increase your grace within us,
that our thankfulness may grow,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Yours in Christ,

Mark

Week beginning Sunday 31st August 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by James on Unsplash

I am very fond of the little snippet that comes from one of the readings for this Sunday. In the letter to the Hebrews we are invited to 

“Show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” 

Not only is there something about being abundant, without favour, in a generous way of being with people. There is also something about having that sort of experience of people who are strangers that enrich our own lives. On one very simple level, everyone we may now count as “knowing” was at some point “unknown to us” – a stranger. 

For me one of the keenest delights of life is meeting and being with people. Some of these have long and profound impacts on our lives, and some are but fleeting – yet all of them are filled with the possibility that we are in the company of angels, even if we don’t know it at the time. 

May we gather together in that same way this Sunday for worship, being hospitable to all of us as known and unknown, strangers and angels. 

Worship this weekend:

Sunday 31st August – Benefice Services

8am – BCP Holy Communion – All Saints

10.30am – Benefice Service Holy Communion at ALL SAINTS

(Please note there is no service at St Mary’s this Sunday as we worship with our sisters and brothers at All Saints)

The week ahead

Wednesday 3rd Sept

 9am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 4th Sept

10am – Holy Communion – St Mary’s

Friday 5th Sept

11am – Living After Loss – St Mary’s Parish rooms

Sat 6th Sept

10am – 12pm – Repair Cafe  – All Saints

12-1.30pm – Sat Lunches – St Mary’s

Sunday 7th Sept

10am – Creative Church (Forgiveness theme) – St Mary’s

10.30am – Holy Communion – All Saints

6.30pm – Choral Evensong – St Mary’s (Patronal Festival)

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 24th August 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash

August can be a strange month. For many it’s a time of holidays – especially those having to fit in their vacations with schools. Yet on the flip side it’s also when students get their exam results, with all the attendant worry and excitement that goes with it. It brings us this coming last Bank Holiday until Christmas. I always remember hating to see all the ‘back to school’ signs in the supermarkets reminding me that my lovely 6 week break was coming to an end!! Mind you-I’m sure a fair few parents also count those days down with anticipation! We also notice the nights starting to get dark again and the first hints of autumn.

Change-good and bad-is a fundamental part of life. No matter how hard we may fight it, we can’t avoid it. The future is something that can excite or terrify us, the past often becomes distorted through nostalgia. I now seem to view the 1980s as the best period ever simply because I was young then with hair and lots of energy. We have to be so careful that this nostalgia doesn’t blur our vision of the present and dictate how we look at the future.

In our Gospel reading this Sunday the disciples argue about which of them  would be regarded as the greatest. They’re projecting to a future they don’t understand rather than being present in that moment with Jesus. He in turn challenges their views on authority but also promises them thrones to judge alongside him-a somewhat contradictory message but one that we can unpack.

Ultimately, we can learn from them to not be defined only by our past and how that might shape our future, but to be in the present moments that’s where our life is happening now, and to not do so means we may miss the bad, but we also miss so much that’s good.

Amen

This Sunday 24 August (Bartholomew the Apostle)

8.00am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s

10.30am – Café Church – All Saints

The Week Ahead

Wednesday 27th August

Morning Celtic Prayer – 9.00am – All Saints Church

AA Meetings – 7.30pm – St. Mary’s Church

Thursday 28th August               

Holy Communion – 10.00am – St. Mary’s Church

Friday 29th August

Living after Loss – 11.00am – St. Marys Church

Saturday 30th August

Saturday Lunches – 12noon to 1.30pm – St. Marys Church

Bishop Viv’s Farewell Service – 3.00pm.   Bristol Cathedral (Tickets required)

Next Sunday 31st August (Eleventh Sunday after Trinity)

8.00am – BCP Holy Communion – All Saints

NO 10.00am at St. Mary’s

10.30am –  Benefice Holy Communion – All Saints

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 August 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

This Sunday’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews completes the story of the Old Testament heroes of faith. Last week we heard of Abraham’s faith and how he trusted in God’s promise. This week, having skipped over the epistle’s recounting of the stories of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, we have a whistle stop tour of the rest of the Old Testament. The fortunes of these people varied. Some were great kings, warriors, and judges. Some were saved from lions or enemy soldiers. Others, however, suffered mocking, poverty, imprisonment, or execution. However, all of them, through good and bad, kept their faith in God.

The letter then goes on to encourage its readers to follow the example of all those heroes that they had heard about. Whether things are going well or badly, we should persevere in the way that Jesus has set before us. We look to him, who is our example and our leader. He endured the cross, never giving up his faith in his Father or his love for all people.

We have a couple of opportunities to think more about this on Sunday:

10.00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
10:30 amAll SaintsHoly Communion

We have our usual midweek services. Next Sunday follows our usual fourth Sunday format. This gives the following services for the coming week:

Wednesday 20th August9:00 amAll SaintsCeltic morning Prayer
Thursday 21st August10:00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
Sunday 24th August8:00 amAll SaintsHoly Communion (said)
 10:00 amSt Mary’sHoly Communion
 10:30 amAll SaintsCafé Church

In addition, the bible book club will be looking at Nehemiah in St Mary’s parish rooms on Wednesday 20th August at 2:00 pm.

So let us pray that the faith described by the letter to the Hebrews may be seen in us:

Lord God,
your Son left the riches of heaven
and became poor for our sake:
when we prosper save us from pride,
when we are needy save us from despair,
that we may trust in you alone,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yours in Christ

Mark