B E N E F I C E M A G A Z I N E SEPTEMBER 2021 ALL SAINTS Grove Road, Fishponds, Bristol www.allsaintsfishponds.co.uk “Come Gather, Come Worship, Come As You Are” ST. MARY’S Manor Road, Fishponds, Bristol Holding Together In Hope www.stmarysfishponds.org.uk 70p
All Saints Church Fishponds DONATE* Please help us to keep the Church, Hall and Grounds safe for safe for this and future use. You can donate in the following way TEXT HQJB01 to 70331 to give £3 HQJB01 to 70970 to give £5 HQJB01 to 70191 to give £10 OR GO TO http://easydonate.org/HQJB01 *Your donation will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme, operating DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106). In addition to any text donation, you will incur your standard network message charge (based on your service provider rates). *For Terms and Conditions, see www.easydonate.org St. Mary’s Church Fishponds Giving Our church is funded almost entirely by donations and fund raising. We provide several different ways of giving to enable people to give in a way that they are happy with. Some do standing orders and the envelope scheme. For those who don’t carry cash anymore, or who have forgotten their wallet we have a card reader in church which can take card payments including contactless, apple pay and google pay. We are also able to take card payments over the phone. Or you can go to our Website and to the donation page and click on our PayPal link to make a donation. Beavers Monday’s 6.15pm Tel: 0117 958 4164 Contacts for Scouting Groups Cubs Thursday’s 6.45pm East Bristol Partnership Office Co-ordinator Amy Donaldson Tel: 0117 958 6412 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.ebpbristol.org.uk 2 Scouts Thursday’s 8.00pm Tel: 078 5452 0595 www.13thbristolscouts.uk You can scan this code bar to take you to the donate site
CONTACTS for the BENEFICE of ALL SAINTS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH Vicar Revd. Lizzie Kesteven - Tel: 0117 965 0856 Curates Revd. Janey Hiller - Tel: 0117 239 0625 Revd. Diane Simms - Tel: 0117 951 8419 Licensed Lay Reader Mark Simms - Tel: 0117 951 8419 Licensed Lay Reader & Permission to Officiate Graham Biddlecombe - Tel: T.B.A. Church Warden Church Warden PCC Secretary PCC Treasurer Baptisms Weddings/Funerals Contacts for All Saints Church Elaine Seretny Nigel Heath Chris Whitehead Tam Pearce Helen Whitehead Anita Lavis Safeguarding Officer Helen Whitehead - Tel: 0117 965 4697 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Contacts for St. Mary’s Church Church Warden Mary Ewing Church Warden PCC Secretary PCC Treasurer Baptisms Mary Ewing Tel: 0117 382 6324 Pete Walker Matt Timms Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Hannah Gazeley Email:[email protected] Email: [email protected] Weddings/Funerals Amy Donaldson Email: [email protected] Safeguarding Officers Kate Hancocks & Clare Munoz 3 Email: [email protected] Tel: 0117 902 5257 Tel: 0117 965 2893 Tel: 0117 965 4697 Tel: 078 0098 7672 Tel: 0117 965 4697 Tel: 0117 307 9117
CELEBRATING Serving the community for St Mary’s Church Manor Road Saturday 11th September, 10am - 5pm Exhibits of St. Mary’s History, St. Mary’s Players and Colouring Competition based on the stained glass windows in the Church, held in conjunction with Fishponds Academy Refreshments 10.00am to 4.30pm Cream Teas from 3.00pm Guided tours of Church and Grounds on the hour from 10.00am Music recitals from 3.00pm - 4.30pm Sunday 12th September, 12noon - 4.30pm Church open for Refreshments and Exhibitions All welcome to join us for our Sunday Celebration Services 10.00am Festival Eucharist 5.00pm Choral Festival Evensong 4
Thanking God for our blessings Our winter barley ripened quickly this year, and soon the combine harvesters were rolling here on the Northumberland / Scottish Border. As the first trailer load of grain came into the shed, I ran my hands through the golden grains, offering a short prayer of thankfulness as I savoured the smell of fresh cut barley. It was a good harvest. I’ve often reflected on the Old Testament festival of the Firstfruits, where the Israelites offered the very first sheaf of the spring harvest to God (Leviticus 23:9-14). I think this act required great faith, as they trusted God for a fruitful harvest to come, something that was far from certain, given their utter dependence on the weather. I’m not sure about you, but I’m always up for giving thanks after the event. I’ll sing ‘Come ye thankful people come’ and rejoice that “all is safely gathered in”, but am I able to trust with anticipation for what is yet to come? The festival of the Firstfruits reminded God’s people that everything they had came from Him. I am reminded that I must learn (and relearn) to trust in God, who has proven His faithfulness to me, over and over again. Perhaps right now as a church community or an individual you’re waiting for a certain event, standing on the cusp of a new initiative, praying for a certain outcome or anticipating a long-held vision becoming reality. Let’s all keep trusting that whatever the challenge, however things turn out, irrespective of what we anticipate, God is going before us and has secured the Firstfruits of an even greater harvest through Jesus, as He rose from the dead. Just as the grain offering to God in the Old Testament anticipated a harvest to come, Paul reminds us that Jesus’ victory anticipates an even greater bodily resurrection and eternal peace (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). As we continue our journey with Jesus through the challenges of each day, let’s do so with a deepening faith and trust. In the meantime, bring on the harvest – I’ll see you on the other side! (This comes from a blog by Alistair Birkett, director of Rural Ministries for Scotland and Northern England taken from Parish Pump website. You can read more at: https://www.ruralministries.org.uk/blog/anticipatingtheharvest? 5
SEPTEMBER READINGS for ALL SAINTS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH 5th Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Isaiah 35: 4 - 7; James 2: 1 - 10, 14 - 17: Mark 7: 24 - end. Evening Exodus 14: 5 - end; Matthew 6: 1 - 18. 12th Fifteen Sunday after Trinity Isaiah 50: 4 - 9; James 3: 1 - 12; Mark 8: 27 - end. 19th Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Jeremiah 11: 18 - 20; James 3: 13 - 4: 3, 7 - 8; Mark 9: 30 - 37. Evening Exodus 19: 10 - end; Matthew 8: 23 - end. 26th Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity Numbers 11: 4 - 6, 10 - 16, 24 -29; James 5: 13 - end; Mark 9: 38 - end. 3rd October Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Genesis 2: 18 - 24; Hebrews 1: 1 - 4, 2: 5 - 12; Mark 10: 2 - 16. Evening Joshua 3: 7 - end; Matthew 10: 1 - 22. (The above readings are taken from the Lectionary for Sundays for the 8.00am & 10.30am services at All Saints and 10.00am & 6.30pm services at St. Marys. Note! Some Sundays readings may change). Thanksgiving Prayer Lord, thank you for walking with us through the seasons of our lives. 10.30am Sunday 5th Children from 4years upwards are welcome to come and listen to stories, sing, pray, plus some activities, while parents can have some time to worship. For the winter, when we are held safe in your arms through the darkness. For the hope of spring, as we are filled with new promise and life. For summer time, full of warmth and colour. And for autumn days as leaves fall to seed new growth. You are always with us. Amen. 6
SEPTEMBER PRAYERS ✤ We pray for the people of Afghanistan, Lord. Grant them peace and security. ✤ We remember the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake. Enable international agencies to really make a difference as they help that country to become more resilient. ✤ We remember all countries without the vaccines, infrastructure and ability to deal with the Covid pandemic. Move the hearts of those in power in the richer nations to provide the support required to keep people safe all over the world. ✤ In our own country, we pray for success with the continued roll-out of the vaccine to younger people, and that there would be a good turn-out to receive it. ✤ Help us all to remember that the pandemic is not ended and to continue to be vigilant. ✤ We pray for all who mourn, that they would be comforted. ✤ We give thanks for the harvest, especially at this time of the year. Help us to be better stewards of creation, and to do what we can at this time, following the UN Code Red Climate Emergency, and the floods and searing heat across Europe recently. Enable the COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow this autumn, be a time when words and actions match each other. ✤ We pray for our benefice, especially as we plan our services from October onwards, that it will meet our needs, and would enable us to encounter God together. ✤ We pray for all children and young adults, especially those who will be starting schools, colleges and universities for the first time. ✤ We pray for ourselves, living and witnessing in a complicated world, that God would strengthen us with His Holy Spirit, that we would be full of love for one another, and full too with discernment. 7
SATURDAY LUNCHES @ St. Marys Church Saturdays, 11th & 25th September, 12noon - 2pm Serving free light lunches of soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee, and biscuits All welcome SUMMER FAIRS AT THE BENEFICE CHURCHES Back at the end of June, All Saints were lucky to be able to hold the Summer Fayre outside in sunshine. We had fewer stalls than usual but we raised a total of £468.05. Thanks to everyone who came along. St. Mary’s held their Summer Fair at the end of July and raised a grand total of £680.00. Half for the Church and the other half divided between ‘Incredible Kids’ and ‘Help the Homeless’. Thank you. CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION This year the Benifice would like to send out a joint Christmas Card to their Parishes with a design drawn by a young person. The competition is open to all young people up to the age of 13. It can be full colour, partly coloured or a coloured pencil drawn design showing it as a Christmas Card. The chose of design is up to them, as long as it has a Christmas theme to it. The picture must be able to fit on a card that is this size 6” x 4” / 15.24cm x 10.16cm Please hand the design into All Saints or St. Mary’s with name, telephone number and age on the back by SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER GOOD LUCK 8
Praying for others - intercession. I'm writing this on the afternoon of Café Church in August in which the focus was intercession - praying for others in need. During our ordination service in July, Bishop Viv reminded us of the different facets of a deacon's role. At one point she declared: deacons are to 'bring the needs of the world before the Church in intercession'. Intercession was described by a former archbishop as 'coming before God with people on your heart'. I like this little phrase, because no matter how huge a problem seems, how ill a friend is, or how complicated someone's situation has turned out, it reminds us that we can simply place needs before God without giving him exact instructions on how to solve them. A friend who has a distinct calling to pray for others once told me she prays for someone 'with or without information'. Our heavenly Father knows our needs. So why bother praying, since God knows our needs? Richard Foster, author of 'Celebrating Discipline', explains that prayer changes us. He says: 'Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us'. The more we pray, the more we gradually adjust what we ask God for. When we are open to the working of the Holy Spirit in us, our will becomes aligned to God's will in prayer. I wonder if you too have discovered this? Jesus's example prayer - the Lord's Prayer - contains two of the most vital requests in prayer: 1) Give us today our daily bread and 2) Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. 1) changes all who have more bread than they need by inviting them to share it. In 2) 'as we forgive' invites us to let go of past grievances and this transforms our relationships and brings us peace of heart. At Café Church, led by Mark and Chris, conversations emerged aound the tables about our own experiences of intercession. We acknowledged the need to be honest before God in prayer - which might mean expressing difficult feelings - such as anger over a desperate situation. As Mark reminded us, a read through 9
the Psalms will show just that - people venting all sorts of feelings and thoughts - yet addressing them to God. Pete Greig, in 'How to Pray', encourages us to 'get indignant' like Moses and Job and many of those angry voices in the Psalms. Getting angry about injustice stirs us to work with God to do something to change things. At Café Church one suggestion was to hold prayer vigils in church focusing on justice themes: two topics that came up were Creation Care and Disabled Lives Matter. Though small in number at Café Church we remarked to one another how enriching the time together had been. The conversations are always framed within a regular service pattern, which includes confession, creed, a talk and intercessions. In October the topic will be 'Unanswered Prayer'. We all agreed that we have been finding 'How to Pray' by Pete Greig a very inspiring yet practical book in helping us to pray. If you haven't read it yet you might like to get hold of a copy in print or on Kindle. Or you can check out Pete Greig's Prayer Course online, which follows the same themes as the book. You can find the link here: Prayer Course Another useful question that emerged at Café Church was about who we think we are praying to when we pray to God. Do we visualise God as a (albeit divine!) person to whom we pray? Or do we simply feel/sense the presence of God beyond the need for images? Or do we find other pictures for God's presence helpful? This varies depending on our personalities. Someone beautifully described the presence of God like a soft cardigan wrapped around us as we pray. Or perhaps you like to imagine yourself in a gospel scene sitting with Jesus on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, in the calm after the storm while he listens to your fears? Or do you imagine walking and talking with your God as your friend in a garden at the close of the day, like Adam and Eve in Eden, or the disciples sharing their sorrow and perplexity with Jesus walking together along the Emmaus Road? May you and those you pray for be blessed by the prayer of intercession this week, so that God's kingdom comes nearer and his will is done better in our lives. Revd Diane - 15th August 2021 10
‘COLUMBUS’ at your service For all those jobs that you haven’t the time to do!! Window Cleaning Painting ~ Plumbing Carpentry Gardening ~ Decorating Ring for a FREE quote Tel: 0117 939 0529 Mobile: 07954 161 210 For young people from year 7 and upwards. To meet, to talk, learn, pray and have fun together. 1st Sunday of the Month 7.15pm For information contact Nigel on 0117 965 2893 or Revd. Lizzie Need accounts prepared for your business? Need a Self Assessment Tax Return completed? WE CAN HELP! H & F ACCOUNTANCY For all your tax and accountancy needs. We do payroll and VAT too! Sarah Hendy 0117 951 7615 Reasonable rates. Telephone 11 Frank FitzGibbon 0117 932 9321
COFFEE BREAK TIME (Answers on page 26) Clues Across 1. ‘Through [Christ] we have gained …. by faith into this grace’ (Romans 5:2) (6) 4. Deprives of sight (Deuteronomy 16:19) (6) 8. The words of a hymn do this (mostly) (5) 9. Faithful allegiance (1 Chronicles 12:33) (7) 10. Belgium’s chief port (7) 11. Where John was baptizing ‘because there was plenty of water’ (John 3:23) (5) 12. Imposing height (Psalm 48:2) (9) 17. Jesus’ tempter in the wilderness (Mark 1:13) (5) 19. Comes between Amos and Jonah (7) 21. ‘Your will be done’ … as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10) (2,5) 22. Gale (Matthew 8:24) (5) 23. Axle, eh? (anag.) (6) 24. ‘Out of the… I cry to you, O Lord’ (Psalm 130:1) 12
Down 1. Popular Christian author and humorist, Plass (6) 2. Transparent ice-like mineral (Revelation 4:6) (7) 3. Method of compelling surrender by surrounding target of attack (2 Chronicles 32:1) (5) 5. Expose (Isaiah 52:10) (3,4) 6. Lonny (anag.) (5) 7. Utterance (1 Timothy 1:15) (6) 9. Husband of Deborah, the prophetess (Judges 4:4) (9) 13. Burial service (Jeremiah 34:5) (7) 14.What Christ threatened to do to the lukewarm church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:16) (4,3) 15. Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net (John 21:11) (6) 16. His response to Jesus’ decision to return to Judea was ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him’ (John 11:16) (6) 18. There will be weeping and gnashing of … (Matthew 8:12) (5) 20. Walkway between rows of pews in a church (5) SMILE LINES In a catholic school it is lunchtime and a nun has placed a notice in front of a large plate of juicy eating apples that says Only take one - God is watching you! Further on is a plate of cakes and one little boy fishes his own note to put by these which says: Take all you want of these, God is watching the apples! EASY SUDOKU PUZZLES (Answers on page 26) MEDIUM 13
DUTY TIME All Saints Services and 5th 14th Sunday after Trinity 8.00am Services 10.30am Wardens Readers Prayers Parish Street DUTY TIME 8.00am 1st lesson Holy Communion Revd Lizzie - 10.30am G. Smith / D. Williams A. Lavis M. Simms Small Lane St Mary’s Services 5th 14th Sunday after Trinity 10.00am Services 6.30pm Evensong Revd. Janey & Mark Mondays - 8.15am. Zoom Morning Prayer Log on details please email: [email protected] Wednesdays - 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints All welcome 14 - - 12th 15th Sunday after Trinity Holy Communion Revd. Janey - E. Seretny / S. Cook - J. Waldren D. Willams Snowdon Road 12th 15th Sunday after Trinity Patronal Festival and 200 Years Celebration with Holy Communion Revd. Lizzie & Revd Diane 5.00pm Festival Choral Evensong St. Mary’s Friday’s 7pm New members are welcomed
TIME 8.00am 10.30am 8.00am Duty Rota for September 19th 26th - All Age Harvest Revd Lizzie, Revd Diane, Elisa & Dave - 10.30am N. Heath / D. Williams T.B.A. T.B.A. Spires View TIME 10.00am 6.30pm 19th - N. Heath / S. Cook - S. Cook Revd. J. Hiller Star Lane for September 26th - Holy Communion Revd. Janey & Revd Lizzie Sunday 19th HARVEST at ALL SAINTS 10.30am Donations of tinned or package items would be most welcomed. Information for this service will be shared at a later date. 15 Revd Janey, Revd Lizzie Rainbows, Brownies & Guides - - - - R. Edwards-Mlangwa - Stonebridge Park 3rd October 16th Sunday after Trinity 17th Sunday after Trinity 18th Sunday after Trinity All Age Harvest - - Sunday 26th 10.00am ST. MARY’S HARVEST SERVICE Joining this service will be the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Donations of food items would be most welcomed Holy Communion Revd. Janey & Mark 3rd October 16th Sunday after Trinity 17th Sunday after Trinity 18th Sunday after Trinity -
J. B. LANDSCAPES General Build and Maintenance Nick Tuftnell Counsellor Fully qualified BACP registered and based locally 07988 136267 tangate-counselling.co.uk [email protected] Tel: 0117 939 1316 Mob: 07792 097 234 [email protected] www.jblandscapesbristol.co.uk A family run business. James Bufton Qualified Landscaper kitchens Bathrooms Wetrooms loft conversations From concept to completion for all aspects of home build & renovation [email protected] 07748 397329 local family business 16
ETHICAL BUYING WORKSHOP Saturday 18th September In last month’s magazine, I posed the question, ‘When is chocolate good, and when is it really good?’ and asked you to‘save the date’ of 18th September for an Ethical Buying Workshop. You might be wondering - what’s it all about? What do you think about when you buy something? Is it just about what you can get for your money? What if I said to you, it can be so much more than that? There is power in everything we buy – no purchase is neutral. What that means is that each time we buy something, there is more going on than us spending money on an item. • There may be a hidden cost beyond the money that we pay for it, and • There could be a hidden benefit beyond what we ourselves get from it So buying is not just about getting the things we need, but also about how we steward with care what we have in a way that can aim to bless others through our habits and choices. All Saints and St Mary’s churches value God’s creation and want to take care of and cherish it, and we have made some great moves in terms of recycling and sustainability. We are pleased to host an Ethical Buying Workshop during this year’s Season of Creation in September which aims to help us along that journey - all are very welcome! If you’re curious about what’s behind some of the products you might buy regularly and want to learn about some of the impacts – positive or negative – that certain kinds of products might have, then please come along! 17
This should be a fun, informative and interactive morning exploring some of the ethics of a typical ‘shopping basket’ of items we buy for churches or our homes. We will even have the chance to try some alternative products – including chocolate! – as we learn together about how making some simple changes in our buying habits can not only do less harm, but actually do some real good for the planet and for those we share it with. Please email [email protected] for more information or to let us know you’re coming along. Or just come along on the morning – to All Saints Church, Saturday 18th September, starting at 10am until 12noon. See you there! St. Mary’s Churchyard Gardening Group Meet every Monday from 10am till 12noon A spot of gardening and tidying up the grounds COFFEE MORNING Saturday 4th September 10am - 12noon All Saints Church Second hand Tea & biscuits provided fiction books to buy for adults and children. The all meet on a Tuesday evening at St. Mary’s Church, Manor Road For times and other information please visit the following website https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/register-your-daughter/ For the Guides look for ‘176th Fishponds Methodist (Bristol) And Rainbows and Brownies look for 1st Fromeside Rainbows & 176th (Fishponds) Bristol Brownies 18
Saturday 30th October - 7pm All Saints Community Hall, Grove Road Teams of no more than six, welcome to bring your own drink, tea/coffee/squash available, plus a raffle. Ticket prices to be confirmed next month, but please book them in advance to help with the ordering of the meals. ALL IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 700 years ago, on 13th Sept 1321 that Dante Alighieri, Italian poet, died. Regarded as the most important poet of the Middle Ages. Best known for his Divine Comedy. 125 years ago, on 24th Sept 1896 that F Scott Fitzgerald, American novelist and short story writer, was born. Regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Best known for his novel The Great Gatsby. 100 years ago, on 8th Sept 1921 that Sir Harry Secombe was born. This Welsh comedian, actor, 19 writer, singer and TV presenter was one of the stars of the 1950s radio series The Goon Show. 80 years ago, on 1st Sept 1941 that Nazi Germany ordered all Jews in Germany and its occupied territories to wear a yellow Star of David badge. 75 years ago, from 20th Sept – 5th Oct 1946 that the first Cannes Film Festival was held. 65 years ago, on 16th Sept 1956 that Play-Doh went on sale in the USA. It was originally sold as a wallpaper cleaning compound, but was
then relaunched as a modelling compound when the inventor’s nephew discovered that nursery school children were using it to make Christmas ornaments. 60 years ago, on 11th Sept 1961 that the World Wildlife Fund (now the World Wide Fund for Nature) was founded in Switzerland. 50 years ago, on 15th Sept 1971 that Greenpeace, the international environmental group, was founded in Vancouver. 30 years ago, on 6th Sept 1991 that the Russian city of Leningrad was renamed St Petersburg, restoring its original name. 25 years ago, on 27th Sept 1996, that the Taliban seized control of Kabul, Afghanistan, ousting President Burhanuddin Rabbani, and executing former President Mohammad Najibullah. 20 years ago, on 11th Sept 2001, that the 9/11 terrorist attack on the USA took place. 2,973 people were killed. Children and tea-drinking Put the kettle on. Children should begin to drink tea from the age of four, in order to combat later stress, obesity and heart disease. So says the results of a recent study which appeared in the Nutrition and Food Technology journal. It says that green tea and the more traditional black tea contain compounds which can aid concentration and cognitive function. As one doctor said, “Including three cups of black tea daily as a part of a healthy lifestyle could help to preserve physical and mental health in childhood… and into old age.” Parents could offer tea as a substitute for sweet and sugary drinks for children. (From the editor, what do you make of this? I must admit I gave my children a milky cup of tea at an early age). 20
Living in Love and Faith – or LLF – is a national Church project about human identity, relationships, marriage, and sexuality. Within the Church of England there is a huge diversity of understandings, views, experiences, and traditions about these issues. Unfortunately, over recent years the conversations have become quite polarised towards some of the more strongly held opposing viewpoints, and many of the more ‘middle ground’ and gentler voices have sadly been side-lined, which has at times felt divisive and hurtful. So the idea of LLF is to offer a fresh start. A range of resources have been published to enable people from across the breath of traditions, experience and understandings to come together again – in love and faith – to listen and learn as communities over the course of the rest of 2021 and early 2022. The hope is that the project will create a framework for people to organise local ways of exploring the issues together without judgement and in an environment where all voices can be heard, respected and listened to. Local churches and communities are being encouraged to take part as much as they can. Toward the end of this year and early next year, we will be looking at how we might engage with LLF as a benefice, and we may run a local course ourselves or partner with other parishes. Meanwhile, I would highly recommend exploring some of the LLF resources yourself. • The easiest first step might be to watch the introductory video on the Church of England website www.churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith. The video shows people from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles who have shared their stories about how they are ‘Living in Love and Faith’. 21
• Next you might like to sign up to the LLF learning hub, where you can watch more of the videos and explore the learning materials. This is at www.llf.churchofengland.org/ • For a more in depth look at the subjects, you can explore the LLF book – it’s definitely the kind of book that you can ‘explore’ rather than read from cover to cover and has lots of fascinating context and information about the social, biblical and scientific contexts of these topics. You can buy a paperback copy from Church House Publishing, or download for free from https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/ living-love-and-faith/living-love-and-faith-book • Finally, you might like to think about joining with others in the Diocese to pray about LLF. There is a weekly ‘zoom’ prayer meeting on Wednesday lunchtimes. Details can be found on the Diocese of Bristol website www.bristol.anglican.org/ news/living-in-love-and-faith-update.php I am on the LLF Advisory Group for the Diocese, and I’ll share more information about LLF as time goes on, including how we plan to run the courses locally. In the meantime, I’m happy for you to contact me with any questions or concerns. I’ll finish now with the LLF Prayer – please continue to support the project in prayer as we explore what it means to Live in Love and Faith together. God, whose name is Love, whose gift is life, whose word holds all in being; bless ‘Living in Love and Faith’ to your church as we seek to grow together into the truth of our humanity and longings, into communities where all find welcome, into the fullness that is your image in us; through the Word made flesh, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Revd Janey Hiller [email protected] 22
Sarah Eberle’s Psalm 23 Garden – design tips for a calm green space. Bible Society, £6.50 Sarah Eberle, winner of 17 gold medals at Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, has designed the Bible Society’s entry garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this month (September 2021). The theme of the garden is Psalm 23, and this is the fullcolour book of photographs to go with it. Based on the themes of rest and peace, it offers a place of refuge and restoration, which is reflected in the meditations and stories within the book. The book also offers tips from Sarah Eberle on how to create your own peaceful outdoor space. A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues By Martin Hodson and Margot Hodson, BRF, £9.99 Environmental sustainability is a major issue for us all. In this extensively updated edition, Martin and Margot Hodson consider eight of the key current environmental problems, giving the biblical basis for looking after the environment and helping to integrate environmental thinking into the reader’s understanding of Christian faith. This guide includes ethical reflections, Bible studies focusing on a different biblical doctrine for each chapter, and eco-tips to enable practical response. Among the issues covered are climate change, food, biodiversity, and population, together with the relationship between environmental problems and issues relating to world development. 23
WORD SEARCH The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13: 24 - 30) Ever wonder why there is both good and evil allowed in this world? Jesus told a parable that touched on this subject – it is called the Parable of the Weeds. It runs like this: Consider the world as if it were a field where a Farmer has sown good seed. But then an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. So when the wheat came up, so did the weeds. What to do? Instead of destroying the weeds, and thereby risking the wheat, the Farmer tells his reapers to wait and let both wheat and weeds grow together until the harvest. At the harvest he will instruct the reapers to gather up the wheat, but to discard the weeds. So do not despair when evil seems to thrive in this world – there is a reckoning still to come, and justice will be done. Kingdom Heaven Good Seed Field Sleeping Grain Weeds Enemy Servants Master Sow Gather Reap Root 24 Let Grow Together Harvest Bundles Barn Burned
Exploring Christianity is a course to help you grow in discipleship, deepen your faith and explore the Bible. Do you ever wish you knew more about your faith? Have you ever wondered about how we got our Bible? Do you wish you could answer your neighbours questions with more clarity? Do you feel you could be more active in the life of your church if you knew more? If so then this is a course that will help you. Exploring Christianity course is for those interested in finding out more about the Christian faith, and also fulfils the first two years of training for those exploring licensed Lay Ministry. There are six modules covering a breath of areas from Old and New Testament to Christian Ethics, prayer, spirituality and more. Courses are held across the Diocese, there are no age limitations and no previous experience is necessary. The cost of each module is £50, for students who do not complete the assignments, the cost is £25. Students are encouraged to buy the module book, which is generally in the region of £20 or less. It is not essential to buy the book. The six modules are:Exploring the Bible - New Testament Questions of Faith Reshaping the Church Exploring the Bible - Old Testament Challenging Choices - Christian Ethics Groups begin in September, for details of a course near you or to enrol contact [email protected] or Tel: 0117 906 0100 For more information visit www.bristol.anglican.org 25
FROM THE EDITOR As usual time is flying by, the holidays are over (well nearly) and schools, colleges and university will be welcoming new students. A big change for them and their parents. You will have hopefully noticed that I have mentioned “Christmas” It will not be long before we start seeing the Christmas cards in the shops and for All Saints and St. Mary’s we will be sending out a joint card with all our Christmas services on, so please if you have a child get them to design our card for this year. We would like it if at our Monthly Coffee Mornings we could have some volunteers to come along and help do some gardening in our Church grounds. The area is used quite a lot by children playing and dog walkers (please keep your dogs on a lead!), we would greatly appreciate it, if you could spare and hour or two, refreshments will be available, so please pop in and help. Deadline for October issue will be SUNDAY 12th SEPTMEBER, earlier if possible please. Need to get this issue out earlier if possible. Thank you ANSWERS TO THIS MONTHS CROSSWORD & SUDOKU’S 26 E A S Y M E D I U M ACROSS 1 access; 4 blinds; 8 rhyme; 9 loyalty; 10 Antwerp; 11 Aenon; 12 loftiness; 17 Satan; 19 Obadiah; 21 on earth; 22 storm; 23 exhale; 24 depths DOWN 1 Adrian; 2 crystal; 3 siege; 5 lay bare; 6 nylon; 7 saying; 9 Lappidoth; 13 funeral; 14 spit out; 15 ashore; 16 Thomas; 18 teeth; 20 aisle.
Roles & Contacts for All Saints Church Parochial Church Council Members Luci Heath Anita Lavis Tam Pearce Mark Simms Diane Simms John Waldren Alison Wren Elisa Williams Chris Whitehead Dave Williams Deanery Synod Representatives Chris Whitehead Tel: 0117 965 4697 Tiny Tots John Waldren Tel: 0117 956 3208 Gift Aid Chris Whitehead Anita Lavis Mike Lavis Vacant Junior Church Lizzie Kesteven Tel: 0117 965 0856 Electoral Roll Helen Whitehead Tel: 0117 965 4697 Tel: 0117 307 9117 Tel: 0117 965 4697 Magazine Editor / Adverts Tel: 0117 307 9117 Hall Booking Secretary Elisa Williams Tel: 079 7395 3445 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Roles & Contacts for St. Marys Church Parochial Church Council Members Matt Timms Edward Gleed Sam Toogood John Anson General Enquiries Matt Timms [email protected] 27 John Ewing Hannah Gazeley Deanery Synod Representatives Leigh Cooper Director of Music / Choir Tel: 0117 962 2093 Notes / News / Weekly Sheet Sam Toogood [email protected] Bob Bartlett Andrew Cooper
Do you need somewhere to hold a celebration or meeting? ALL SAINTS COMMUNITY HALL Part of the Parish of All Saints Church Could be your answer It can cater for small or medium size function. Has kitchen facilities, plus adequate on site parking Our rates are very competitive. For details please contact Elisa Tel: 0117 9584164 / 07973 953445 Or visit our web site: www.allsaintsfishponds.co.uk You are very welcome to view before booking. 28
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