Dear All Saints and St Marys
I have been contemplating the challenge of balance in the last few days. How do we balance things in our lives? What sort of balance does God want for us so that we might live life in its fullness?
I am mediocre at balancing. I have watched tight rope artists balance so carefully (and necessarily) as they walk across thin pieces of wire, as if walking in air, and I am amazed – such poise! Such courage! They make it look easy. I personally am that person who clings to the edge of the window sill and shuffles myself along. Or I think of small children who seem to effortlessly master the “beam” in gym classes and then do backward flips as if they were practising on a piece of soft grass rather than 4 foot above the solid ground. It is remarkable the balance that some people can achieve. Yet I now that it takes practice.
When we get out of balance, out of kilter, when the scales are weighed heavy on one side life can feel gruelling and heavy. Lop sided – Ever felt lopsided?
This week at St Marys worship is at 10am with full Sung Holy Communion. The gospel invites conversation about the great challenge put by Jesus to the rich young man – a man who thought that he had got it all right when he first met Jesus. I wonder what balances he had in his life?
At All Saints at 10.30am we have a brand new service of Muddy and Messy Church (Check out the poster!) – beginning outside in the grounds – we will be practicing our balancing and with story, songs, games and hot chocolate. I am so looking forward to it – bring your wellies and wrap up warm!
SUNDAY 10th OCTOBER – WORSHIP
8am – HOLY COMMUNION – ALL SAINTS CHURCH
10am – SUNG HOLY COMMUNION – ST MARYS CHURCH
10.30am – MUDDY MESSY CHURCH – ALL SAINTS CHURCH
4.45pm – GENERATIONS 11+ LAZER QUEST – FIRE STATION
NEXT WEEK
Wednesday 13th
09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church Thursday 14th
10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church Sunday 17th
10.00 – Mini Ethical Workshop Worship at St Mary’s Church
10.30 – Holy Communion at All Saints
18.30 – Choral/Sung Holy Communion at St Mary’s Here are some posters for events and the Roots activity sheets.
This week we have seen the feast of St Francis celebrated – a saint who as it says on the school board in the link room – “Gave away his belongings and spoke to the birds and the animals”. He was a Saint who has inspired hundreds of thousands of Christians with a complete re balance of his life. He was the author of the following prayer – one that has become more known through song – so I leave it for your reflection and contemplation
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love with all my soul. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Blessings 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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