Rejoice in the Lord Always
Dear All Saints and St Marys
Happy Gaudete! What a great word to say and reflect on. It is a word that has been set to many a tune, but the one that always springs to my mind is the Steeleye Span 80's version - a gift of an earworm for your weekend!
Here in the middle of Advent the season makes a slight change of step. This Sunday coming has been known as Gaudete Sunday - a word that means "Rejoice". The pink candle on the advent ring is lit. It marks a moment when our eyes can see in the faint distance the manger that we are asked to move towards in order to wonder at the gift of Jesus that God brings us all at Christmas.
"Rejoice" is the word that springs from one of the readings that we are given this Sunday - St Paul in his letter to the Philippians says this
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
It is an encouragement that despite the darkness that enfolds us that in everything by prayer we can bring our needs to God, and to be assured that the Lord is near and to be gentle with each other. Amongst the fever of Christmas preparations, I want to continue to cling to Advent, to stay in that place a little while longer in this season. Yet the call is to keep going, step by step, till we finally arrive prayerfully able to give over all that we need to God who comes to love the world.
We have the joy of being able to welcome the Bishop of Bristol, Bishop Viv, to celebrate holy communion and preach at 10am at St Marys. Our rejoicing continues at All Saints in the afternoon at 4.30pm with our children sharing with us the Nativity. Both services full of the glimpses of hope, love and rejoicing that we are called to be part of. Bring yourselves, your families, your neighbours and friends to rejoice and join in the joy.
Worship Sunday 15th December
8:00am | Holy Communion | All Saints |
10:00am | Sung Holy Communion with Bishop Viv | St Mary's |
10:30am | Rehearsal for Nativity | All Saints |
4:30pm | Nativity Service | All Saints |
THE WEEK AHEAD
Mon 16th | 10:30am | Tiny Tots Christmas Party | All Saints |
7:30pm | Advent Group | Contact for details | |
Weds 18th | 9:00am | Celtic Morning Prayer | All Saints |
12noon | Funeral of David Godfrey | St. Mary's | |
Thurs 19th | 10:00am | Holy Communion | St Mary's |
11:00am | Advent Group | Contact for details | |
Sat 21st | 12noon - 2:00pm | Saturday Lunches | St Mary's |
1:00pm - 6:00pm | D&D fundraiser “Yuletide Ball” | All Saints | |
Sun 22nd | 8:00am | Holy Communion - Book of Common Prayer | All Saints |
10:00am | Holy Communion | St Marys | |
10.30am | Holy Communion | All Saints | |
6:30pm | Carols by Candlelight | St Marys |
Please find attached weekly sheets and an opportunity to bless the All Saints Family Cafe children.
In gentle prayer
Revd Lizzie
Vicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
Interim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
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.
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