Dear All Saints and St Marys
It has been a week where I have very much appreciated the ordinary. A return to a more ordinary routine. A return to a time in the church called “Ordinary” time. The thing about the word ordinary is that it can be heard as “boring”. I would suggest that there is nothing boring about something that is settled and rhythmic.
It is this time in the ordinary cycle of the church that we are given a little space to settle into a familiar rhythm. At this moment in our time as human beings, that in itself feels necessary as well as comforting. It is a season of summer fayres and Benefice picnics and of enjoying the outdoors. Perhaps it is in the ordinary times, when rhythms and structures remain settled that God gives us the space to notice the things of life that sometime can go unnoticed in a blur of feasts and festivities.
I encourage you to enjoy this season from now until November when we start to turn our faces again towards feasts. A time of blessing to take note of life and perhaps what God is doing in you and around you.
This Sunday in this ordinary time – we have an opportunity to celebrate something occurred back in Advent 2020 which was possible but not as far as we had originally envisaged. Revd Janey will have ministered to us in this Benefice for over a year now, both as a Deacon and a Priest. Late last year her Ordination to the Priesthood took place at All Saints, a historic first for that parish and for us as a benefice. However, we wanted to be able too celebrate that more fully with cake and song.
So this Sunday’s service at St Marys will particularly focus on ministry and the gifts that EVERYONE brings to being the Body of Christ. It is a delight that Janey has specifically invited our benefice Licenced Lay Minister Mr Mark Simms to use his gift of preaching at this service – a clear message that we are all called to the Priesthood of All Believers. A return of a couple of altar servers which will feel like a real blessings and there will also be refreshments after the service reintroduced for the first time since March 2020. So a celebration of many ministries this Sunday.
This week Sunday 13th June
8.00am – All Saints – 13th June– Holy Communion. Revd Lizzie - Live Stream - 13th June
10.00am – St Marys – 13th June – Holy Communion – Revd Janey to celebrate and Mr Mark Simms to preach . Revd Lizzie to lead..
Here are the Roots at Home and Activity sheets
The weekly notice sheets, summer picnic and fayre posters are at the bottom of this message.
And in the week ahead…
Monday 14th June
8.15am Morning Prayer (on zoom), hosted by Carla. Please email stanneseastville@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the circulation list for the link.
Wednesday 16th June May
9am Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints church
Thursday 17th June
10am Holy Communion at St Mary’s with Revd Lizzie
NEXT Sunday 20th June, we have:
10.30am Holy Communion at All Saints with the return of JUNIOR CHURCH!!
6.30pm Holy Communion at St Mary’s
May you know the blessing of your call to be part of the Body of Christ this week – may that show forth in your calling to be a member of his body here on earth. May you know the extraordinary in the ordinary of the day in Jesus Christs name.
We look forward to celebrating this weekend with you.
Lizzie
Revd Lizzie Kesteven
Vicar of All Saints Church and St Marys Church, Fishponds
Interim Co Area Dean of Bristol City Deanery
Advisor for Spirituality and Spiritual Direction for Bristol Diocese
0117 9650856
07973917720
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