From the Music Minister

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

The poem ‘For The Fallen’, by Laurence Binyon, will be read and sung on Remembrance Day, which, as I write this, is the next Sunday on the horizon. Binyon’s poem is a testimony not only to the many lives taken in war but also to the power of memory to overrule the power and loss of death in keeping our loved ones before our imaginations. Music has much the same power. At its best, it has the capacity to soothe and console, to stir and remind. That is why it is such a powerful tool in the hands of Christ, and a gift to be used wisely. Week by week our hymns and songs can teach our hearts how to feel towards Him. Our sung worship can keep the power and realities of Christ’s own death and resurrection before our imaginations, those historical events that turn back the horror of death and enable the sun to rise again in new life. May you be encouraged by the gift of music this season, both as a tool of encouragement in the face of human frailty, and a gift to reawaken your love for Christ.

George Parsons

From the Curate

All Saints’ Day

Saturday 1st November, marked All Saints’ Day in the church calendar – a time when we remember our connection with Christians all over the world, and those who have died trusting in Jesus for their salvation. It goes back to the first few centuries of the church’s history, when those who had died for their faith (martyrs) and those who had lived particularly holy lives were celebrated. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, our church bears the name of this feast day – All Saints.

Beliefs around the saints was one of the many theological battlegrounds during the sixteenth century Reformation and many Protestants today have an uneasy relationship when it comes to language concerning saints. But, as a church that bears the name of this feast day, we don’t need to feel queasy about it. Firstly, All Saints’ Day reminds us that those who bear Jesus’ name are all saints (Paul regularly used it to greet the readers of his letters) and that as Christians we are called into a communion of saints – both living and dead (‘I believe in the communion of saints’). Secondly, it is good to remember and seek to emulate those heroes of the faith who have gone before. And thirdly, there are beliefs and practices within other Christian traditions – such from our Catholic and Orthodox sisters and brothers – from which we can learn. So with all that in mind, Happy All Saints’ Day.

Ben Lacey

From the Youth Minister

I am very excited to be leading the Light Party this year with Mark!

Thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers, I am hopeful that it will be an awesome evening of crafts, food, singing and dancing. We will have an overall theme of Jesus being the greatest light the world has ever known.

Click the button below to sign up if you have children or tell someone who does!

Cam Catto

From the Stewardship Team

With great blessings come great responsibility

As Christians we are invited to know and reflect on how great are God’s blessings. Individually and as a church family, we seek to know Christ more and to reflect His generosity and love in our every day lives. As part of our responsibilities, we ask ourselves how do we respond in terms of using our time, our skills and our money to His glory.

These are matters we are encouraged to consider throughout the year but on Stewardship Sunday we are specifically asked to consider our financial giving to support the life, work and mission of All Saints. Mark and Julia will be speaking at all services on Sunday to encourage prayerful discernment.

The Stewardship letter, available in church or via that button below, provides more details on our church finances and how to respond. We are seeking responses by no later than 9th November.

With thanks for your partnership in Christ’s work,

The Financial Stewardship Team

From the Vicar

Dear Friends

This is not "Yes Minister" but yes to ministry!

Today we are providing information on our Staff Ministry Team for 2026 via a leaflet (available at the back of church, or via online notices) . This is timed to be prior to our annual stewardship appeal next Sunday. It also allows me to share my deep appreciation and thanksgiving to God for the ministry exercised by many in the All Saints family. There are so many acts of prayer, neighbourliness and supportive fellowship that go un-noticed and under the radar, but we are unmistakably a church that takes seriously every member ministry.

I am so encouraged by all who share their God given gifts. I mention just a few hoping not to embarrass them, but rejoice in Michael Gordon’s training for Reader ministry, Sue Blaby’s distinguished pastoral ministry over many years, Chris Medd's engaging and enriching preaching style enjoyed at the 6pm service; the list could go on. If you sense a ministry you wish to develop or one of the Ministry Team tap you on the shoulder please don’t run away, it could lead somewhere!

I thank God for our staff ministry team all of whom value your support and prayer. We each have different roles and gifts and as I sit with them all each week, I can testify they are eager to be known, to serve and to encourage you to work with them. The worker deserves his/her hire (so says the Scriptures). How funding works in the Church of England can be difficult to understand but if you would like to know more, do have a word with Julia or myself. We want to be clear and helpful. We are deeply grateful to God for your generosity and responsibility which enables our team to serve God with you.

Thanks be to God for those called to minister.

From the Associate Vicar

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. - John 1:16

As Christians, we are invited to know and reflect the heart of a great and generous God. In the weeks leading up to Stewardship Sunday, we want to give space to think about what generosity looks like in our everyday lives.

Generosity is much more than just about what we are asked to consider to give financially to church on a particular Sunday of the year. It is a way of life, shaped by Christ, that touches every part of who we are - our time, our relationships, our hospitality, and all our resources. To help us reflect, we’re recommending a short booklet: On Generosity by Richard Briggs (Grove Books). It’s only 20-pages long but full of thoughtful insights and some questions we have added to guide reflection.

If you’re in a small group, your leaders will share a couple of copies with you. Extra copies will also be available at the back of church for anyone not currently in a small group.

From the Wardens

THE JOY OF BEING A WARDEN

One of the joys of being part of a church family is the opportunity to volunteer and serve in so many ways, contributing to the life of the church and supporting the wide range of activities that take place. The church simply couldn’t function without the time and skills that so many already contribute and we thank God for providing willing helpers to further our ministry. As part of this we ask each of you to prayerfully consider joining the team of wardens. Currently we are only firing on two cylinders and new wardens are urgently required. The role is enjoyable and a privilege and neither as daunting or time consuming as many perceive. Do give this serious consideration and ask Alan Storey or myself for further information if you want to understand the role better.

You may have noticed that the service team has changed over recent weeks as part of streamlining the time demands on the warden team. This has evolved from the previous team of a warden, a steward and one or two welcomers to either a warden or steward (now known as a service coordinator) supported by one or two welcomers. We are very grateful to all those stewards who have agreed to take on additional responsibilities and markedly reduce the demands on wardens to cover multiple services.

Please pray for all who give of their time and talents within the church and reflect on the following verse: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace - 1 Peter 4:10

Rob Coleman - Warden

From the Treasurer

As we head to Stewardship Sunday on 19th October, I am introducing this year’s conversation and our theme “with great blessings come great responsibility”. As we come to faith and know the love of Christ for ourselves, we begin to understand how great are God’s blessings.

As Treasurer I have a particular responsibility to be clear on how we use the money we are blessed with at All Saints. I am always happy to answer questions! Our staff (ministry and operations) are the single biggest expenditure and as part of this year’s conversation we will provide information, starting this Sunday with the Operations Team. On 5th October we will be offering a short booklet on God centred giving for small groups and individuals to consider over the autumn. Thank you to all who give financially. We hope for many to prayerfully engage in this year’s appeal at a time of challenges and exciting opportunities.

PCC holds certain formal responsibilities, but I was reflecting with the members of the stewardship group that as part of being welcomed into the All Saints church family in 2017, after a period of settling in, I was asked to consider 3 things and I think we all are:

Join the Electoral Roll: Why? To be able to vote at the APCM and to be able to volunteer for certain activities such as being on the welcome team.

Join the Pledging Giving scheme: Why? It was explained to me that we don’t pass the plate at services at All Saints because most church family give regularly through Standing Order.

Join the Treasurer’s Group! Why? I was being asked to use specific skills and experience to support the running and work of our church. We have a huge variety of ways we can volunteer our time and different skills. What would be the question posed to you?

Julia Newton