Tag: Easter

Week beginning Sunday 11th May 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info
Photo by Galt Museum & Archives on Unsplash

This last week we have taken time to mark the 80th anniversary of VE day. It’s a time of celebration, nostalgia and sober reflection. The relief that was felt at the end of the European war inextricably linked to the reality of years of loss and suffering and a realisation that WWII was still raging. 

Watching the special events on tv, I was especially moved by the last remaining survivors of the services as they reflected on what this meant, all of them now in their 90s and older-a sombre reminder that soon these events will pass from living memory. Their dignity, strength and decency were tangible, as was the sense of the loss of so much to the war.

The plea for peace was framed with the awareness of ongoing conflicts, especially with the presence of Ukrainian troops. We need to remember, learn and reflect. 

Where is God in war? Nations and leaders may invoke their version of God to support their side, but Jesus is not with them. He is with all the people caught up in war. Jesus suffers alongside us when we suffer, shares our pain, our grief., stands alongside, knowing what is like to suffer. Let us be inspired by God to see the image of Christ in all of humanity, in all its richness and diversity but especially alongside those who suffer in the wars that continue to bring pain and suffering.

Amen

Sunday 11th May (Fourth Sunday of Easter)

8.00am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s

10.30am – Muddy Messy Church – All Saints

The Week Ahead

Monday 12th May

10.30am – Tiny Tots – All Saints Link Room

5.15pm – Squirrels – All Saints Community Hall

6.15pm – Beavers – All Saints Community Hall

Tuesday 13th May

10.30am – Music 4 Toddlers – St. Mary’s Church

Wednesday 14th May

9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints Church

Thursday 15th May

10.00am – Holy Communion – St. Marys Church

6.30pm – Cubs – All Saints Community Hall

8.00pm – Scouts – All Saints Community Hall

Friday 16th May

12.00pm – Living after Loss – St. Mary’s Church

Saturday 17th May

12.00pm – 3.00pm – All Saints Spring Fayre – All Saints Community Hall

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

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 4th May 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

BBQs on the Beach

One of my enduring memories as a teenager was being part of a youth pilgrimage to Whitby. After a 70 mile week of walking, we awoke early in the morning at Whitby and made our way to the beach. There a group of 30 young pilgrims and their leaders celebrated communion and had a BBQ on the beach for breakfast. Every time I read John 21, the gospel for this Sunday, and hear how Jesus meets his disciples on the shore of Lake Galilee for a resurrection fish breakfast, I remember this faith moment. We had all been changed by our weeks walking together, tired from our journeying but full of hope for what might be next. May we know and notice this Eastertide the changes that God brings about in our lives, as we pilgrimage together in this season.

Our worship this Sunday 4th May

10am – Creative Church – St Mary’s

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

6.30pm – Evensong – St Mary’s

Plenty of times to join together this weekend, with the Fishponds Arts Trail, Repair cafe and Saturday lunches. The All Saints fair is in a fortnight on Sat 17th May. 

The Week Ahead

Monday 5th May

10.30am Tiny Tots – All Saints
Tuesday 6th May

10:30am – M4T – St Mary’s
Wednesday 7th May

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints
Thursday 8th May

10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s
Friday 9th May

12.30pm – Concert – St Mary’s
Saturday 10th May

12.00 – 2:00pm – Saturday Lunches – St Mary’s
Sunday 11th May

8.00am – Holy Communion – All Saints
10:00am – Holy Communion– St Mary’s
10:30am – Muddy Messy Church
11.30am – All Saints APCM
7.15pm – Generations – All Saints

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Week beginning Sunday 27th April 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

It’s that wonderful time of year when Spring feels really tangible. After the cold and dark of winter we start to see sunshine and colour everywhere. The days are longer and brighter, and you can smell the new fragrances of Spring in the air.

We are celebrating Christ’s  resurrection, the event that remade us as Easter people, a rebirth-the spring-of our own lives of faith. It is appropriate that we are doing so this coming Sunday in a Joint Benefice Service at St Marys to celebrate as a whole church community. Like Spring, this is a wonderful time, but also one of promise. Nature  does not stay permanently in Spring. 

Spring  is beautiful, but part of that beauty is its transitory nature. Christ’s resurrection is our spiritual spring, but then it becomes the spiritual summer with his ascending to be once more with God and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. Our own spiritual spring leads onto our spiritual summer where  we grow and develop, 

Thomas, aka Doubting Thomas, represents an important part of this faith journey. He is not reprimanded for his question. Instead, Jesus responds and provides the answer he seeks. And he continues to do so when we also ask questions. God does not force blind, unexplored faith. Our journeys with faith are unique and are all the richer for their questions, their times of doubt and reflection. God welcomes our most honest and heartfelt questions and will provide an answer-even if it is not immediately or not in the way we expect. Thomas is our example, so instead of Doubting Thomas he can be Bold Thomas, Thoughtful Thomas, even Faithful Thomas.

Amen

This Sunday 27th April (Second Sunday of Easter)

8.00am Holy Communion – All Saints

10.00am Joint Benefice Service Holy Communion – St. Marys NB. NO 10.30am service at All Saints

The Week Ahead

Monday 28th April

Tiny Tots – 10.30am All Saints Community Hall

Beavers – 6.15pm. All Saints Community Hall

Wednesday 30th April 

Celtic Morning Prayers – 9.00am.    All Saints Church

Thursday 1st May

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

Cubs – 6.30pm.   All Saints Community Hall

Scouts – 8.00pm. All Saints Community Hall

Friday 2nd May

Living after Loss – 11am to 12noon. St. Mary’s Church

Saturday 3rd May.       

Coffee Morning  & Repair Café – 10am to 12noon.   All Saints Church

Saturday Lunches – 12noon to 1.30pm. Please note the change of time

Next Sunday 4th May (Third Sunday of Easter)

10.00am             Creative Church – St. Mary’s

10.30am.            Holy Communion – All Saints

6.30                    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

Week beginning Sunday 20th April 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Happy Easter- when it comes!

For most of the last week, I have greeted people with a “Happy Easter” with the caveat….”when it comes”.  Not knowing if I will see that person again before the “Big Day” it seems the right greeting. And we are still in that paused moment, when Easter has not yet arrived, but it is very very near. 

Easter, when it comes, is the moment that Christians believe changed the world absolutely and forever. Having walked the road of Lent and Holy week, of foot washing, agape meals, silence and Good Friday we are now almost at that time. A time when around the world in all shapes and sizes people will gather and sing and say “Alleluia – Christ is Risen”. A statement of faith and truth for Christians. 

So may I also wish you a Happy Easter here, in the hope of seeing you and being with you to celebrate this over the coming weekend. 

EASTER SERVICES – 19th and 20th APRIL

7.30pm – SATURDAY NIGHT – 19th APRIL – Easter Vigil, Fire and First Holy Communion. – St Mary’s

10am – SUNDAY AM – 20th APRIL- All Age Holy Communion – St Mary’s

10.30 – SUNDAY AM – 20th APRIL- All Age Holy Communion – All Saints

6.30pm – SUNDAY EVE – 20th APRIL – Easter Choral Evensong – St Mary’s

Blessings and Happy Easter

Revd Lizzie. 

Week beginning Sunday 13th April 2025

On By Sam ToogoodIn Weekly Info

Palms – Hands, Branches and Donkeys

Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end (or so some say). This week, Palm Sunday arguably marks all three. It is an ending of Lent. A beginning of Holy Week. And it marks an interjection in the midst between the two.  A day of remembering, retelling, taking part in the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. A day which marks the beginning but also draws us to the ending . A week which sees processions, fickle crowds, rowdy temples, unjust trials, eating, sleeping, praying, dying and rising. It is the story which for Christians holds profound truth about who God is and how God acts. May we all be invited into this Holiest of weeks together.

This Sunday our worship allows us to open the palms of our own hands to receive God with the palm branches as we re discover again this life giving story.

PALM SUNDAY – Sunday 13th April

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Palm Sunday Holy Communion Service- St Marys

10.30 – Palm Procession Service – All Saints

7.15 – Generations Youth Group – All Saints

The week ahead

Tuesday 15th

11am – Pat Jones Funeral – All Saints

6.30pm – Holy Communion – All Saints

Wednesday 16th

9am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

6.30pm – Taize – All Saints

Thursday 17th

10.30 – Chrism Mass – Bristol Cathedral

6.30pm – Agape – All Saints

7.30pm – Maundy Thursday Holy Communion – St Marys

Friday 18th

10.30 – Good Friday Children’s Activities – All Saints

1.30pm – Liturgy of Good Friday – St Marys

2pm – Last Hour – All Saints

Saturday 19th

12-1.30pm – Sat Lunches

 7.30pm – Easter Eve Holy Fire, Vigil and First Communion of Easter – St Marys

Sunday 20th

10am – Easter Sunday Holy Communion – St Marys

10.30am – Easter Sunday Holy Communion – All Saints

6.30pm – Easter Choral Evensong – St Marys.

Oh….and a interesting poem I discovered this week to ponder about a Donkey by GK Chesterton ( because…why not on Palm Sunday)

When fishes flew and forests walked
   And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
   Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
   And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
   On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
   Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
   I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
   One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
   And palms before my feet.

God Bless

Revd Lizzie