Bringing The Light

Dear All Saints and St Marys

There is something about how rituals originate and begin that I find really interesting. This week the Feast of Candlemas (or the Feast of the Presentation) is celebrated by the Church.

Various rituals and ways of marking this feast have been given to us as a church over the years, mainly to do with blessing and light. St Marys will have Choral Evensong connecting us to some of the traditional canticles and music that has been formed over centuries. All Saints has developed its own tradition of encouraging people to bring a candle to our Holy Communion at 10.30, which is then blessed and lit and taken back to our homes and communities as a symbol of God's light in the world. It is a feast that is warmly welcomed particularly at this time of year when many of us are longing for longer daylight hours and warmth.

Rituals often come from a human need, a need to mark an occasion, a moment, a season. They say something, about stopping and noticing. They are often simultaneously solemn, creative and celebratory - things that we all need in balance to continue the creator's formation of us in our daily lives. May we all know the blessing of this feast as we begin February and mark this pivot moment between Christmas and Easter.

Services this weekend - 1^st February

10am - St Marys - Creative Church 

10.30am - All Saints - Candlemas Holy Communion with Hymns and Junior Church

6.30pm - St Marys - Choral Evensong Candlemas

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 2nd Feb

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 3rd Feb

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Wed 4th Feb

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 5th Feb

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Fri 6th Feb

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

Sat 7th Feb

10:00am – Coffee Morning & Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café, All Saints 12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 8th Feb

8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Marys

10:30am – Messy Muddy Church - St. Valentine, All Saints

 7:15pm – Generations, All Saints

Please find attached the weekly sheets for prayers and notices. 

Blessings

Revd Lizzie

Vicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds

01179650856

07973917720

Please be advised that Monday is my day of rest so I do not respond to emails on that day of the week.