From the Children's Minister

With Lent beginning this week the Children’s Ministry department is as busy as ever.  As well as our usual groups and school’s work, we have been preparing for Lent.  We have sent out a pack to all those families who have signed up to receive post from us, containing creative Lent activities to do and one of the ‘Live Lent Embracing Justice For Kids’ booklets (If you have children and haven’t received a pack by Wednesday then do get in touch with Rosie).  

We’ve got our drop-in pancake party on Monday 28th February at 4:15pm – 6:15pm for all those under eleven years old and their families. 

On Wednesday Rosie will be leading an Ash Wednesday service for children from Clifford All Saints, on Palm Sunday we have the return of the donkeys and on Good Friday we will be creating Easter Gardens. 

Rosie is hugely grateful to all those who volunteer and support our children’s ministry and to those who pray for her and all the work we do.   

if you would like to get involved with any of our children’s work then please do get in touch with the office on 0114 2687574.

From the Church Office

It’s been another busy week in the Church Office and once again there have been many times for us to be thankful for our church family and volunteers.

Over the last few weeks most of us have had a chance to visit the Monday morning coffee and cake run by Stella Berry and her fantastic team. The atmosphere and welcome in the church have been wonderful and we are grateful to Stella and all of those involved for making this happen. They will be returning to church on 21 February after the half term break so please do visit if you happen to be free on a Monday morning.

We have also felt very blessed this week by the support we have received from members of the audio visuals teams. We know that the coordinators of these teams would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining them to support sound, visuals or livestreaming at services.

Please do contact us in the office if you are interested in finding out more and we can put you in touch.

From the Vicarage

Prayer – The Christians vital breath

I recall mentioning that the words PCC really should stand for the Prayer Centre of the Church. So may I give you some updates after a good and wide ranging discussion last evening about how prayer might go forward at All Saints. I am very well aware that many of you gather in groups or enjoy WhatsApp exchanges to share particular needs. It will have come as no surprise that I am always on the look out too for those who can lead public intercessions at our Church service (always happy to hear from you!!).

This news gives my view after a conversation at PCC about night prayer and our prayer meetings. Night Prayer will be broadcast on three Thursdays each month but at an early time of 7pm. Our first online service will take place on Thursday 10th February at 7pm.

Night Prayer will now be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. The best way to access it is to go to our YouTube channel at 7pm. The video will then also be available to watch at a later date, so you do not have to be around at that time to join in. There is a good cohort of faithful prayers each month at our regular prayer meeting on Thursday which will still start at 7:30pm – we will pray in a guided way for an hour but we will not conclude with the Night Prayer Service. I specifically want to encourage all those in leadership positions to consider making these times a priority:

Thursday 24th February at 7:30pm
Thursday 24th March at 7:30pm

We also have the following times available to join us in prayer:

Mondays at 8:45am in church. Staff prayers.
Wednesday at 8:45am in church. Open to all.
Men’s Prayer Breakfast - 8am in church on the first Tuesday of each month.

There is much to look forward to and be positive about with a small trickle of new members joining us, some specials and regular fixtures to look forward too as Lent Holy week and Easter draws near.

Our vitality in Church life depends upon the prayers of God’s people. Those of us working hard at a round of recruitment have certainly valued these things and I simply wanted to say thank you for your prayers and to inform you of the importance that we continue to meet together and pray.

We will know and sense the Lord’s work in our midst even more.

Yours in Christ,

The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Operations Manager

I am almost into my second month at All Saints and it has been an action packed few weeks to say the least! As you will know, we have had some heating challenges at the Halls which are, thankfully, now resolved and I was blown away by the speed and generosity of the church family in providing heaters at such short notice. Much of my first month has been focused on meeting with people, getting to know members of both the paid and volunteers teams and getting to grips with the governance, finance, HR and estates aspects of the Operations team.

As an Ops Team, we are starting 2022 with a refreshed focus on the Halls promotion and income generation while also thinking strategically about the future of the space, we are also liaising with architects to arrange a number of Quinquennial Inspections on church property so we can continue to be good custodians of the estates we are responsible for. I have really enjoyed chatting with everyone and I am starting to learn a bit more about how All Saints ‘ticks’. If I haven’t had the chance to meet with you yet and you would like to say hi please feel free to pop into the Halls during church office hours.

Thank you to everyone who has made me feel so welcome in this first few weeks, I am really looking forward to working with you all here at All Saints.

Stephanie Osman
Operations Manager

From the Church Office

We are now well into 2022 and 2021 already seems very far behind us!

Over the last few weeks we have been reflecting on how wonderfully we were supported by volunteers from our church family over Advent and Christmas, and once again this week we have been blessed by the response of the church family to a number of unexpected things, especially the heating crisis in the church hall! Thank you to everyone who has brought in heaters. These things remind us how fortunate and well supported we are all year round.

However we do want to take this opportunity to mention one person in particular. As many of you will know Sue Blaby used to be Church Administrator and since autumn has been volunteering her time and expertise to support the staff in the church office. It has been invaluable and we would like to thank Sue publicly.

Thank you so much Sue from all of us in the office.

From the Vicarage - 14/01/2022

Dear Friends,

I commend to your prayers and reception our new teaching series starting on Sunday mornings and evenings at All Saints Church. I know of no better way for Churches and Christians to be healthy and happy than by depending on and learning from God’s word – this of course is always our creed for day to day living and the bed rock of all neighbourly and Christian service to the community. In this era I felt it particularly pertinent to focus on Practical Christian Living – how our faith affects our day to day living which of course in COVID times has become so disrupted. We will therefore be considering the epistle of James at morning services. In the evening we will allow the Spirit to refresh us with some “good news words” from Mark’s gospel. Do please pray for regular members of the preaching team and others I am seeking to deploy for them to be inspired.

As the new year gets underway I have been most encouraged to see so many still feeling safe to gather, encourage and learn. This of course inspires all those who teach and preach – thank you. May we all be those who seek to apply the faith we hold to daily life and hold out the good news of Christ to others. If you are unable to attend do note that sermons are recorded or livestreamed.

With prayers and good wishes,
Mark

From the Vicarage

As a New Year starts there is no better way to do this than with prayer. Whilst the prayer is longer than most (God it seems to me should not be short changed!) it is valuable in its scope, sincerity and simplicity of faith. I commend it to you that we seek to be the Lord’s followers together in this place for the sake of our local community, many networks and city.

A New Year Prayer 

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. 

So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need.

May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world.

We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

And our greatly valued public servants in the NHS who we especially remember with thanksgiving.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and centre of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith.

This I ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

Amen

I shall be gathering teams to see we develop in the following areas, if you have an interest and would like to let me know then please drop me an email at mark.brown@allsaintsecclesall.org.uk

1. Our digital marketing footprint
2. Our pastoral care and seeking to re connect with members who we have lost touch with
3. Our forthcoming Lent course
4. Our work with young families
5. Our strategic and evangelistic outreach
6. Welcoming publications and packs (DTP and friendly writing skills needed)

Yours in Christ,

The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Vicarage - December 2021

Christmas future

Here is one thoughtful reflection upon the timeless gift given by our God and Father at Christmas time. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The words to be still and steadfast surely connect with us during these busy, anxious days. The pandemic once again is slowing down our walk as communities and churches. We pray for ourselves and all once again disrupted and disturbed by the new virulent variant.

May we also be invigorated by that sense that Mary Oliver captures well with her words “love deeply and without patience.” The spirit of God is not hindered by any restrictions and can create within us and those for whom we pray gratitude for the gift that has been given.

I am so grateful to be sharing my first Christmas with you at All Saints. I pray we may all find steadfastness during this unprecedented season to “give thanks to God for his indescribable gift.” Jesus, the word made flesh.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9: 15

The Gift

Be still, my soul, and steadfast.
Earth and heaven both are still watching
though time is draining from the clock
and your walk, that was confident and quick,
has become slow.

So, be slow if you must, but let
the heart still play its true part.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.

By Mary Oliver

We have all heard of Christmas past but what to do when Christmas is over and the New Year beckons ?

Here are some thoughts with some actions for you if you feel so inclined and prompted by the Lord to respond.

1. At the heart of Christmas – these simple but attractive booklets will be offered at many of our Christmas gatherings. Do avail yourself of one and use them for your own reflection everyday over Christmas and more importantly as the days roll over into the new year. They are also good gifts for those who might value some Christian reflection and prayer in a neighbourly way. Christmas sees many visitors despite Covid anxieties and this simple tool which I commend is a low key but important way that God’s people can witness to Christ’s birth on into the New Year.

2. A Rule of Life – I hope you have booked the date! We have had one good meeting and we are looking forward to a repeat showing on Tuesday 25th January at 7:30pm with Hannah Sandoval. I shall be opening our doors to other churches so they can share in the blessing. Something to look forward to and if it is done well as many would want it to be, the impulse to grow spiritually will extend beyond Christmas into the future. If you would like to attend then please sign up here.

3. Watch this space – “New Year New Teams” – look out for news of these and sign up with any capacity and willingness that you have once we have enjoyed Christmas celebrations and resolved to make the most of all that the New Year will bring. (News to follow in our 2nd January news sheet).

I wish you a happy, healthy and Merry Christmas.

The Revd Canon Mark Brown