Dear Friends,
Prayer: How important this is for a healthy and happy church. So please note these two fixtures below which are, amongst many, stimulating the life of prayer across the Parish. If you cannot make it please don’t panic or worry but offer some prayers in the name of the Lord for what we are seeking to do. I am so glad many of you have found the so-called rule of life helpful and the daily thoughts from Deuteronomy. So good to see increasing numbers at our early morning Wednesday 8:45am meeting. Rosie, Steph and I also meet in church on Monday at 8:45am – the offer is there!
Healing service
The next one is next Sunday 15th May and then again on 17th July. The format, which I will unpack in detail on the evening, is to provide a comfortable and secure place for ourselves and visitors to be prayed for with the anointing of oil. There will be at least 5 or more stations around the church and then, to a background of quiet music, requests for prayer can be made at the stations for yourselves or others. I have found that there is great value in receiving prayer and this is especially appreciated by those who might not be part of our membership. The publicity is through you and your own thoughtful invitation to them by word of mouth.
Church prayer meeting
Our next one is on the 16th of June at 7:30. Numbers have varied but there is normally a very good turnout for teaching, fellowship, sharing of church family news and of course prayer. The format differs but it is a chance to hear first hand what is happening at ASE and intercede for the Lord’s work. I have been encouraged to see new faces; you are of course always welcome. These termly gatherings are going to be a regular features and will, in my view, undergird all we seek to do. Those in any form of leadership should see this as essential part of their involvement.
Thank you for your prayers and support for the team with its many changes. It is really appreciated but may I say formally, I am always happy to meet and pray with you for any particular personal concern.
Yours in His service
Mark Brown
From the Vicarage
Easter faith and for living and sharing
Dear friends,
Before we look forward to the many occasions to be prompted to share and live our Easter faith that the family of All Saints is providing for its members and local community in the future, let me pause and look back to the wonderful time of celebrations enjoyed by many to celebrate our Easter faith. Buns, Bonfires, Beasts of burden (the donkey), blessings through connections and meditations, bring and share eucharists, bouquets of flowers, bumper choirs, service sheets and video clips - the list of brilliant teams and volunteers goes on. Simply and sincerely to say thank you to the many who worked so hard. Christ is Risen and always will be and we are so grateful that many of our members worked hard with their various teams. On behalf of the staff team and PCC can I say thank you!
Fall forward is one of my favourite phrases. ‘So, if things don’t go well and we need to fall forward, is the message clear?’ If we have been given much, then going forward with Easter joy and conviction will surely give us even greater momentum going into the future. So please don’t miss out. Pray, think, invite, share, and join with these many goodies for us and our community and friends to come to. Raise a hand and let us know if you would like to help but of course please pray for the teams working on these things.
Going forward these post Easter events are for you and others to share and be encouraged to live out our Easter faith. In addition to the informal socials being hosted in the Vicarage garden and the signature events in the boxes below, I am always open to attend any informal garden parties or happenings you are privately hosting either just be present as your Vicar or to commend Christ in word and prayer. ( I really like doing these sorts of things so the offer is there!! )
Yours in His service
The Revd Canon Mark Brown
Upcoming Signature Events
ASCENSION DAY SERVICE, 7:30pm Thursday 26 May
Mark is leading a service of Praise which Alistair is speaking at with members of St Gabriel’s joining us to pray together for our local community and mission partnership.
EVENSONG FOR OUR QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE, 6pm on Sunday 5 June
HEALING SERVICE at 6pm on 15 May and 17 July A safe space to receive prayer with the anointing of oil – a reflective time which Mark is leading with a trusted team to pray for yourself and any invited guests. More details to follow verbally in the church notices about the relaxed, informal format of these services so you can feel safe to invite others along too.
REVD ROLAND SLADE LICENSING SERVICE You are invited to the Licensing Service of our new Associate Vicar Revd Roland Slade on Wednesday 29 June at 7:30pm in Church. If you are planning on attending please sign up via the featured events page of the website or by calling the office to book your place
From the Operations Manager
A lot has happened since my last ‘from the’ and I am delighted to now be able to share the news of some new team members!
Firstly, Tani Ogbe joined us this week as Elaine’s maternity leave cover. Tani will be with us for 13 months supporting Mark and the office team and is currently working with Elaine to hand over the role before Elaine leaves us at the end of the month.
Secondly, Catherine Abbott will join the team from Monday as our new Church Administrator and will be working Monday-Friday in the Church office.
Please pray for our new team members as they settle in to their roles and for Elaine as she prepares for the arrival of her baby.
Welcome to Catherine and Tani!
From the Vicarage
Happy Easter to our church family and local community. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who have supported services and events during Lent and Easter this year. As always we are grateful for your time and efforts.
FROM SALLY IN THE CHURCH OFFICE
I have now left my role in the church office as Church Administrator.
I have been blessed over the past 6 years with fantastic support from colleagues and volunteers from the church family. There are too many people to name but I am grateful to everyone who has made my job easier, whether it is by responding to a (often last minute!) call for help, by quietly “getting on with things” or with words of kindness and encouragement. Finally I am thankful for prayers for me throughout the last 6 years and now as I start my new role at the Diocese of Sheffield next week. Thank you all!
FROM THE VICARAGE
I am delighted to share with you some dates and news for next term.
Our Annual Meeting is on Wednesday 25 May at 7.30pm in Church. A time to look forward together with hope and purpose. We hope as many as possible can join us for this very important event for the church family.
Evensong for our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, 6pm on Sunday 5 June.
Wine Tasting Event on Friday 10 June. More details to follow!
Healing Service at 6pm on 15 June. An opportunity for you and anyone that you wish to invite to receive prayer with the anointing of oil.
Our next Lunchtime Concert is on Thursday 14 July. Join us for an organ recital from George Parsons with prayers and reflection from Mark Brown.
May the Risen Christ dwell in our hearts through faith. I shall be delighted to be unpacking more of our wonderful Gospel Message this Sunday. Join us if you can.
With prayers and best wishes for your Easter celebrations.
The Revd Canon Mark Brown
From the Vicarage
Dear Friends,
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” – so writes Paul at the end of a piece of writing reflecting upon God’s generosity. Grace and gift that is overwhelming even rendering one speechless – it is indescribable. So followers of Christ with the necessary time and space to reflect will become aware of God’s grace, goodness and generosity that comes to us undeserved and often unasked for.
As we enter an extended time of reflection on the great historic events of our faith that make up Holy Week may we find many anchor points from the historical acts of God that lead to an awareness of God’s grace in our lives. I am praying for us all that others might see us as a gift to them. That our Church family of All Saints might find out how it can express the gift of its life together as a gift to our local community and many networks. God has come to us in the past in Christ and by the power of His Spirit comes to us in gift and grace today. May others say “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” because of us and our fresh discovery of God’s grace this Easter time.
Yours in His service
Mark
From the Youth Team
In youth we have started using some of the Platinum Jubilee resources designed in partnership with Youth for Christ, YouthScape, Prayer Spaces and various others. We have prayed for Ukraine, enjoyed a variety of socials and had someone from Roundabout Homeless Charity come and speak.
We have done a joint evening with the youth from St Gabriel's Greystone and helped lead the worship and prayers and the readings and dramas at the 6pm.
On Monday nights many of the youth have enjoyed playing football at HSBC and we are very thankful to Stuart and Pete for leading this each week.
As we move forward into the next half term we are looking forward to expanding the worship band and leading the 6pm on a monthly basis. If you have a youth of any ability or skill who would like to join us for this, or want to come on a Sunday evening generally, then please do encourage them to come along. Our youth are a wonderful group and always welcoming to new people or people who haven't been for a while.
As a team we find it so inspiring to see and hear how the youth are living out their faith and would really encourage you to consider whether you would like to join us as part of the team. You don't have to lead anything, just having adults with a DBS and safeguarding training who are willing to come along and chat makes a big difference.
Please do continue to pray for our youth and for us as a team journeying with them.
Thank you,
Youth at All Saints
From the Estates Team
Maintenance and Repair of the Church
We are nearing the end of the works highlighted in the 2017 Quinquennial Inspection, this work has included repairs to roofing, guttering, windows and lighting. The scaffolding has now come down on the North Porch and that roof is now watertight which means we can now start work on the internal plastering repairs, which will require a phase of inspection and drying out over a number of months.
We have also recently completed the first phase of a major upgrade of the church lighting controls which, once fully commissioned and tested, will re-establish full control over the lighting to illuminate the interior of the building and really showcase its beauty once again.
If you have any questions regarding the fabric works taking place in and around the church building, please don’t hesitate to contact our Operations Manager Stephanie Osman on stephanie.osman@allsaintsecclesall.org.uk who will be happy to talk with you.
Supporting Ukraine
Here at All Saints Ecclesall we want to provide information to both our church family and our community about practical ways that you can support Ukrainians fleeing the country at this present time.
Please see below for the different ways that you may be able to provide help and support.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme, launched on 14 March, will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK.
Phase One of the scheme will allow sponsors in the UK to nominate a named Ukrainian or a named Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property.
Bishop Sophie and Bishop Pete are keen to encourage households to consider the possibility of registering in this way, although they recognise the risks and complexities. Those wishing to explore this option seriously may find it useful to visit resetuk.org or its partner Sanctuary Foundation. You can also read more on the CofE website.
If you feel you are in a position to explore supporting a named Ukrainian or named Ukrainian family, Rev Casey Strine, the Bishop’s Advisor for Inter-Faith Affairs, has a connection with an individual in the Ukraine and he has offered to be a point of contact to facilitate this activity, please contact Casey directly.
A member of our church family has also asked us to highlight the work of Innovista International, who assist UK churches to support the church in Ukraine. Please see their website for more information about how to give and pray.
We encourage you to keep Ukraine in your prayers and thank everyone who is able to help in anyway possible.