Dear All Saints and St Marys On Tuesday I had the delight of being able to join Year 3 at Fishponds Academy to lead an Advent Assembly. It is the first in person assembly that we have been able to do for over a year and it was wonderful to be with the staff and children in real time, rather than on zoom. It was good to be able to make the connection with the children between the word “Advent” and “Adventure”. Advent should be an adventure, it can have real moments of wonder and surprise. It can have moments of challenge and struggle. It is an active season, especially spiritually as we journey towards the same place, that of the manger and the good news that the birth of Christ brings. This week of Advent we hear the call of the prophets, those who see the signs of their own times and give us messages of hope and often warning. They are heralds of something to come. They point us towards something or someone who will bring about change. That brings both hope and disruption. Hence advent being a time of both wonder and challenge. As Christians we seek to try to first engage with that message and to also then respond in worship. This week our worship across the benefice allows us to do this in the following services 2nd Sunday of Advent - 5th DECEMEBER 2021 10 AM:
St MARYS – OPEN CHURCH – ADVENT BIBLE STUDY AND DISCUSSION
Revd Lizzie and Mark Simms
10.30AM:
ALL SAINTS – HOLY COMMUNION WITH HYMNS AND JUNIOR CHURCH
Revd Janey and Revd Diane
6.30PM:
ST MARYS – ADVENT CAROL SERVICE
Revd Janey and Revd Lizzie Junior Church will be looking at the Nativity Play in preparation for the Nativity service on December the 19th so if you want your child to be involved please try and attend this Sunday at All Saints January we will have a number of LIVING IN LOVE AND FAITH groups. Please sign up at the back of church to say what times would suit you best and in what format. The following link is a helpful introduction to these groupshttps://youtu.be/sUwaXHOJQMo. Just click the link and it will show the video.
GIVING at CHRISTMAS –
There are lots of different opportunities to give generously to various charities at Christmas. Many of our Christmas Services collections are directed towards a number of different local and national charities. If you would like to “buy” a present for a young person then there are two initiatives. You can physically purchase a present for a child or young person and these are collected at All Saints at the Nativity Service on the 19th December for children for Barnardo's and Bristol Young Carers. Alternatively if you prefer to give money “online” then we are also collecting for our All Saints Family Café Children and that can be done by donating via text message.
In the advent carol service – at the end the choir process to the back of church. At that point a dismissal prayer is sung and it is often a spine tingling moment. One where God seems to speak into the dark candle lit church. The choir sing these words: “O Lord Jesus come at evening time with light, and in the morning with your glory” “To Guide our feet into the way of peace” “He who receives our prayers says - Surely I come quickly” “I am the root and offspring of David, I am the bright and morning star” “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” Beautiful and profound. Simple and True. A Herald. A Cry. A Conversation between the Creator of the World and God’s People. This is what we are signposted to by the prophets. And it is the most glorious of things. Looking forward to worshiping and serving with you this weekend. Blessings Revd 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