From the Curate

Mission – then and now

Over the next four Sundays we will be looking at Jesus’ teaching in Luke 10. Jesus offers a masterclass in mission – he is the one who equips and enables his followers to share in God’s mission. He shows us how we can all be involved in bringing God’s good news to those around us: our family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues.

God delights to use us to bring his saving message to others, and God calls us all to be his hands and feet in the world, sharing his love. May we be encouraged, emboldened, and equipped to partner with God in reaching out to others. And as part of this focus on mission, look out for faith sharing interviews at services, everyday faith sharing workshops in May, and a range of resources to help you in sharing Jesus in word and deed.

Revd Simon Oatridge

From the Youth Minister

It's House Party week! We are taking away 39 young people to Carlton Lodge in Thirsk for a few days of worship teaching and activities. Our teaching focus will be on identity and also the Armour of God.

Please pray that we will have a safe and fun time, that the young people will take forward steps in faith and that new and deepened friendships are made.

I look forward to sharing stories with you all on our return service.

Cam Catto
Youth Minister

From the Wardens

Sunday 7th April is the Sheffield Half Marathon and once again volunteers from All Saints Church are running Water Stations 1 and 4 on Ecclesall Road. It is privilege for Church to be involved with this enjoyable event in supporting our local community and beyond.

The theme of ‘running the race’ pervades the Bible where “race” is actually about our Christian life, and we are reminded that it is more of a marathon rather than a sprint. We are encouraged to stay the course, remaining faithful to the end.

Hebrews 12:1 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Richard, on behalf of Sue, Robert and Lynne (the wardens)

From the Vicar - Easter Sunday

Dear Friends,

Spring forward Fall back!

Happy Easter – Christ is Risen.

May our daily hope in our Risen Lord inspire all our work at All Saints. Today is the day which gives meaning to all other days. By raising Christ to life from the seeming defeat of death on a cross God has held out for everyone a love which will never let anyone go. The challenge of course is to look to the one God signposts to receive his love, namely Jesus. Even the seasonal change of time gives us a clue as to how we should be during this Easter season. Spring forward! Spring forward with hope and expectation.

There is much to look forward to and work towards, hopefully with an Easter spring in our stride. Our young people enjoying a focussed time of fellowship and teaching, our gathering together as a church family to consider its prime missionary calling (at our annual meeting on Wednesday 22nd May), some focussed training and encouragement events to mobilise our caring and sharing parts of the work we do. The interviews for our longed for musical director during mid-April. Please see our revised schedule of dates with many things for you to engage with so that our Easter faith can be enlivened and shared with others.

On behalf of the PCC and staff team can I thank you most warmly for your support and partnership in our Risen Lord.

The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Vicar

The Vicar’s Lent Letter 2024

‘Seek the Lord and serve His Church’

Dear Friends,

The sleeping giant might be waking up!

All Saint's church has had a far reach beyond its Parish for a number of years and I am glad the PCC and many others recognise this and are supportive. You will recall the sentiment of the prophecy recalled by me at last year's APCM "All Saints is a bit like a sleeping giant”.

Some current activities make me wonder whether the giant is slowly waking! Here are some snippets of news to encourage you, and initiatives for you to join in with. Do make a note of them and use the period of pause and reflection in Lent to pray over them. Human endeavour by itself can never see the Lord’s work done but, with the help and movement of His Spirit, much can be accomplished.

Encouraging prayer meetings
The best yet led by the PCC recently, make a note of future dates and come along with others.

Numbers at Alpha
Well done Roland, Simon and their teams. This is such an encouragement.

Visitors at Going Deeper
Thank you to Godfrey and his team.

Team work for PCC and halls group
Thank you to Rob Coleman and his team for organising our PCC morning away on Saturday 17th February to focus on ‘Vision and strategy for All Saints into the future’

Thank you to Richard Blyth, Julia Newton and their teams for the real progress made by the halls group.

Buildings that are blessings
Thank you to Steph and her team (and your financial resources) for seeing our lovely windows repaired.

Innovative local outreach
Thank you to the Monday Morning Drop-In team, our Thursday Open Door Team and those who support our Friendly Stop events.

Relational times to share Christ
I shall be inviting a number of people to ‘trial’ or ‘test’ for us all, a series of hospitality events at which Christ is shared. Do pray these are a success. Please come along eagerly if you are invited!

Mobilising the whole people of God Prayer triplets leading to Mission Triplets. Sign up after the APCM on Wednesday 22nd May at 7:30pm.

Young peoples work
We thank God for Cam and his team supporting our young peoples work. Housepaty sees ten leaders helping him and much encouragement from weekly work at Silverdale.

Children's work
At our recent volunteer thank you tea Rosie saw nearly 40 people come along. Do pray for our 11am service, Messy Church and for the Lord to send us young families, as we us to be sent to them. Our schools work continues to support Clifford All Saints, Ecclesall Primary and Dobcroft.

Strengthening the core
Leaders, or active initiative taking volunteers, are needed to support Home Groups, Music Ministry and Stewardship. Pray the Lord of Harvest would send us workers. Do let any of the staff team know if you have an interest.

I am well aware that a single letter cannot communicate all that is going on so please receive this as a flavour and stimulus to be read alongside other recently produced leaflets (Lent Holy week and Easter and “Seek the Lord and serve His Church “ where you will find dates details and leaders to contact for more information).

And finally, Lent is a time for pause and reflection so do please come along to any of these below if it would assist in prayer or fellowship within the spirit and discipline of Lent;

1. Silence and Soup - Silence, prayer and scripture at the Vicarage for an hour on Monday 4th March at noon. I only have room for 20 so sign up with Elaine please.

2. Silence and Stroll! – Meet at the Vicarage with outdoor walking attire. Fellowship, conversation, silence and exercise. Thursday March 14th meet at 10:00am – an hour and a half to two hour walk.

To those who have been given much, much will be expected so our Lord says. Our spiritual history and favoured location in South West Sheffield means we can resource and aid many others. Sometimes on waking, it can take a while to begin the day. I am praying that this waking up process, to the many things that are happening, will be an encouragement to you for your engagement, commitment and support.

Thank you for being part of All Saints, I pray that you fully find your part and are able to contribute. As we give so the Lord gives to us. May we anticipate together his renewed blessings in all we do, to seek Him and serve His Church.

The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Associate Vicar

The season of Lent is almost upon us with Ash Wednesday this coming Wednesday. As it falls this year on Valentines Day, I’m sure many will mark the occasion with flowers and chocolates as a sign of love for family members.  But once we are passed this moment, how will we be setting our hearts to a season of preparation?

Lent can seem long and perhaps it is, but it is an opportunity to prepare ourselves for the full joy of Easter. The death of death and the resurrection of Jesus in our own lives! So Lent gives us a challenge each year. How will we utilise this time to get the most out of the joy of Easter? Will you commit to praying in a certain way each day? Will you commit to reading a certain amount of scripture (for example, a chapter a day in Mark and Johns gospel would take 37 days).

There are many different ways of preparing your heart for Easter and my encouragement to us all is not to miss the chance to do it this year.

Revd Roland Slade
Associate Vicar

From the Treasurer

January, a time to look forward to what the Lord might have in store for us in the year ahead?  As Church Treasurer, however, I had to “look backwards” as I started to prepare the church’s statutory accounts for 2023!

The full position, after the audit,  will need to wait for my presentation to the APCM in May, but I thought I would share a few provisional figures.  The biggest expenditure, around £287k (or £5,500 per week), was on our staff. The ministry team support our church life in very visible ways particularly on a Sunday but other staff do so in equally important, but often unseen, ways during the week.    The second biggest  spend  in 2023 was £88k on our church building. Nearly half went on regular costs such as utility and insurance bills (around £900 per week) and the rest on major repairs including £22k on the stained glass windows on the south nave.

If you have not yet looked at the finance poster by the digital giving machine in church this will give you a more extensive overview of our expenditure.  It would be great to get feedback as to whether you think it is helpful and informative, including for visitors.

Regular giving was at £399k, so we didn’t quite make it beyond the £400k, as we had hoped.  Please do join me in praying that this time next year I will be able to report that we went well beyond £400k in 2024.  This would hugely help to support the Lord’s work in this place and beyond, including the specific areas of youth and music ministry that we set out in the stewardship letter. 

Thank you again to all who were able to respond  positively and generously to the stewardship appeal either with regular or one off gifts. 

Finally, as cessations in giving happen throughout the year, please don’t wait for the next appeal to join the pledged giving scheme or make a donation, if you now find yourself able to do so.

Julia Newton

From the Wardens

A new year brings with it a feeling of optimism with longer days and a sense of positive change, and at All Saints there is much to look forward to. Following on from the success of the men’s groups, there will be a series of women’s events starting soon organised by a team led by Ruth Totterdell, the search for a new Music Minister is underway, and the Lent Lectures begin in February.

Many volunteers help out in so many different ways at church in order to allow it to function smoothly, and as a churchwarden it is a privilege, and at the same time very humbling to be part of this group. The role of a churchwarden is multifaceted, with aspects that are sometimes challenging but others that are highly rewarding spiritually. Being part of the wardens team gives a wonderful insight to the workings of church life and it is great to be able to serve in this way.

“For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:” ( Proverbs 2).

Richard, on behalf of Sue, Rob and Lynne (the Wardens)