From the Vicar

A happy new year to you all. Thank you so much for supporting our wonderful Christmas services and outreach, the feedback has been very much appreciated.

I rejoice in seeking to lead and serve a church family that has demonstrated great generosity and creativity in recent days. I recall well a striking phrase from the Parish Profile that drew me to apply for the post of Vicar five-years-ago now: “We work in teams” - So can I keep this legacy alive by commending to your prayers all of the many teams that together make up the rich life at All Saints, some of which are highlighted below. All of them are active and prayerful and if you sense a desire to know more about their work or mission do let me know and I will happily make a link. Whilst there might be a sense that there is a lot going on I am always happy to give permission to teamwork that shares Christ with others and enables us to grow in Him - my door is open for your leading.

The Wardens team – Don’t Rob and Alan do a great job? They are looking to grow their team.

The music ministry team – George rejoices in having many other leaders and musicians to work with. If you have a musical talent you would like to share, please let him know.

The pastoral team – Roland leads a large team that meet regularly to ensure pastoral needs are responded to appropriately. I engage with many in this regard. He and I are always keen to connect with people who you feel the church might have forgotten.

The operations team – Whilst we might not see all of them on Sunday they work very hard and welcome volunteers to help in our busy office – do let us know if you want to be part of this happy gang!

The finance team – The new financial year and preparation of the 2025 accounts means a particularly busy time and with Roger taking a break to recover from his surgery, Julia and I are always happy to chat if you have financial skills and could help support the stewardship of our finances.

The Monday “Drop in” and Thursday “Open Door” teams - How marvellous that our warm and well-kept building is used not just on Sundays.

The graft team – Yes we will miss them, though do remember they are not going far, so connections and shared mission work for the sake of others will still be possible to enjoy.

This year can we see new members added to our number and especially those that enjoy serving in teams? Something for us all to work and pray towards.

With pledge of my support and prayers for your own lives and ministries through 2026,

Mark

From the Vicar

A very Happy Christmas and New Year to you all!

May we all use this prayer in the few days before the big day:

God our redeemer,

who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary

to be the mother of your Son:

grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,

so we may be ready to greet him

when he comes again as our judge;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Some dates to enter into your diary, to pray for and to support. My comments I hope will give a steer, focus and priority for us all as we seek the blessing of God on our new year.

6pm, Sunday 4th January: I shall be preaching on the verse for the year, Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house those who work do so in vain." Together, relying upon the Lord, the days ahead will never be in vain in the Lord's good purposes for us. I shall share some spiritual convictions for our lives together.

7:30pm, Tuesday 6th January: On the evening of the Epiphany, we have our church prayer meeting. A priority for all staff, PCC members and those in leadership roles in our church as we intercede for the life of our parish, diocese and mission partners. The year ahead has many exciting opportunities to see God at work in our midst.

7:00pm, Monday 19th January: Licensing service for Simon Oatridge at St Oswalds. I shall be leading this service in my role as Area Dean, a chance for you to experience some of the wider ministry of the Church of England without having to travel too far. Simon and his family would value our prayers. For our part, we should rejoice that alongside our support for mission partners, Whirlow and St Gabriels, we are again being used by God to bless others. How encouraging! We thank God.

Yours in Christ's service,

Mark Brown

From the Youth Minister

God is doing something new in our generation of youth ministry! Join me in giving thanks to God for the many young people coming to our Christian unions at Highstorrs and Silverdale and to Abide on Sunday evenings as well. Openess and curiosity is on the rise and questions of proof have given way to questions about how to begin a relationship with Jesus. Let's pray for more of the same!

Cam Catto

From the Assistant Minister

On Advent Sundays this year we are addressing four classic Advent themes: hope, peace, joy and love. Last week we considered the Christian hope, our hope for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We were reassured afresh that Christ’s triumph on the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension provide us with complete confidence in the living out of our own new life in Christ.

This week, we turn to the theme of Peace. As we look at the World around us during this Advent, we see so many places where there is no peace, both within and between the nations. We pray, determinedly, for earthly peace.

Peace between humankind and God, is the special theme for us as Christians. We need to talk about this; nobody else will! How can fallen people ever be able to face our Creator God, marred as we are by human sin and our separation from God, who made us and loves us beyond measure? As we head through Advent, closer and closer to Christmas, we draw nearer to the time when we revel in the truth of the Incarnation - God coming to us, to mend the broken relationship and to make for us a pathway back to Him. It’s incredible and fantastic news – and so many people do not even know it happened and have no idea that they too need to accept the gift of salvation, won and offered by the Saviour, born as a human at Bethlehem so long ago.

It is this Saviour of whom the Apostle Paul wrote, to the Christians at Colossae (Colossians 1:18-20): “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Shalom

Godfrey

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

From the Associate Vicar

Wow - it’s Advent already. Don’t worry, I didn’t say “Christmas”! Every year, Advent gives us the chance to prepare our hearts and invest in our souls. We remember that Christ came to earth - God born as a baby - and we hold equally true that Jesus will come again, calling us home.

Advent keeps these two truths in balance: gratitude for what God has already done, and hope that the God who acted once will act again.

Let’s not miss the opportunity Advent offers us. Choose to remember, with thankfulness, all that God has done for us in Jesus, and choose also to keep your eyes fixed on the future hope that Jesus will come again and draw all things to himself.

Roland Slade

From the Operations Manager

Behind the Scenes: Thank You!

Ever wondered what keeps our church ticking? It’s not just prayer, coffee and cake (though those help!) - it’s an incredible team working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly. From heating and lighting to finances and bookings, they handle so many things most of us won’t have thought about quietly and diligently throughout the year.

As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts… so it is with Christ.” Our Operations Team - and the volunteers who support them - are vital parts of that body. Many of the team you won’t necessarily see on a Sunday but they are still an important part of the All Saints family and have a big impact. They make sure the lights are on, the place kept clean, the halls are ready, and the paperwork is done so we can worship, celebrate, and serve our community together.

Their work includes inspections, safety checks, service sheets, rotas, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and more. It’s a dizzying list, but they do it with dedication and care.

So next time you enjoy a warm, welcoming space or a well-organised service, remember the hands that made it happen. If you see them around, give them a smile and a big thank you - because together, we make the body of Christ work!

Jo Evans

From the Curate

I always find this time of year a little confusing, firstly the clocks go back, then the dark evenings set in, and my body wants to go into hibernation! Yet the pace of life seems to speed up: church events, social events with friends and family, work deadlines, and the pressures and expectations that Christmas brings with it.

In the whirlwind of this busy time of year it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the never-ending list of tasks and responsibilities. The busyness of life can often rob us of the peace we long for. The Bible reminds us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This simple invitation to ‘be still’ stands in stark contrast to the list of demands placed on us. It encourages us to pause, breathe, and turn our focus towards God, trusting that He holds all things together even when our own lives feel chaotic.

Jesus Himself often withdrew from crowds and activity to pray and rest in the Father’s presence (Luke 5:16). His example shows us that finding peace does not mean escaping from our responsibilities, but rather seeking moments of quiet to reconnect with God.

So as we navigate this busy time of year, let us remember to carve out time for stillness, however brief, 'to know that He is God’. Because in Him, we discover a calm that transcends our circumstances and the peace that we all long for.

Steve Holme

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