I'll do that

Dear All Saints and St Marys

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 Marys
10:30am	Holy Communion	All Saints
11:45am	All Saints APCM	All Saints
5:00pm - 7:00pm	Joint Youth and Pilgrimage BBQ	All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 18th	10:30	Tiny Tots	All Saints
Tues 19th	10:30	Music for Toddlers	St Marys
Wed 20th	09:00	Celtic Morning Prayer	All Saints
	14:00	Bible Book Club	St Marys
Thu 21st	10:00	Holy Communion	St Marys
Sat 23rd	12noon	Saturday Lunches	St Marys
Sun 25th	08:00	Holy Communion	All Saints
	10:00	Holy Communion	St Marys
	10:30	Holy Communion	All Saints

Please find the here the weekly email for All Saints and St. Marys.

Blessings

Rev'd 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.

17th May 2026 Email pdf.pdf

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WS 260517.pdf

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