From the Vicarage

Perhaps this should be from the Vicar soon to be (!). The marker of the licensing date does provide an opportunity to look back a few months and express my thanks to God and His people for the way His hand has been with us. Let me also venture to look forward and using one of the three important “S’s” mentioned at the last APCM, namely “what do you see that God wants to do in the future”.

Looking back. We thank God for the people who have prayed, flexed and advised through many staff changes, limbering up out of covid restrictions and those seeking prayerfully to try out some new ways of community outreach. The wardens and finance team have been my closest confidants along with some new emerging music making teams for Sunday worship. I am especially thrilled to see new lay people having a go at leading and preaching at our services and re engaging in leading church groups and activities. Whilst numbers are not everything I note with interest six new members of PCC three last time and three this time. It gives me hope that when there is a tap on the shoulder or a shout out from the front the Lord’s people will respond. So to….

Looking forward (!) Friendly fellowship in Christ might be one. People come to church for many reasons but they stay for only one – they make friends. All Saints has an enormous capacity in this regard and an impressive track record so let us pray it continues. Every member ministry. Each person does have a part to play – some are perhaps too confident others not confident enough and all this needs encouragement and praying with boldness and sensitivity into so that each person in Christ discovers their calling and vocation. What is often missed and poorly articulated is the sense that using our gifts is not so much about our volunteering or doing jobs or even helping out but simply that allowing our gifts to be used. Churches work well when gifts are used and shared. Their members find in doing this renewal and spiritual vitality. We are members one of another so our gifts will be better used when other peoples are. I am praying that there will be a cascade of gifts and their respected us in our midst in the months and years ahead.

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers and the privileged in Christ of being your Vicar !

Yours in Christ,

Mark Brown

From the Staff Team - ASE

As a staff team, we want to say a big thank you to Rosie for her incredible work to make holiday club such a great success. Her dedication, leadership, enthusiasm and love for the children is an inspiration and example to us all. We are grateful for all her work in the days, weeks, and months before holiday club in preparation for the week. We are thankful too for her continued work with the children of our church, and those in our partner schools, even as the effects of the pandemic continue to have an impact.

Rosie’s perseverance and commitment is a reflection of the Lord’s loving faithfulness that is an ever present reality in our lives as the people of God. It was wonderful to have holiday club in person for the first time since before the pandemic, and a joy to see so many from the church family serving Christ and the children of this community, using their varied gifts and skills to work together.

As we rejoice in the blessings of holiday club, and many children and families returning for the 11am service last Sunday, let us all join together in praying that the seeds of the gospel sown during the week will lead to new life for many, that the Lord may bring many families to know him in the coming days.

Yours in His service together,

The Staff Team

From the Curate

Rosie and the amazing team of helpers have just finished a truly fantastic holiday club. 83 children had great fun discovering more of the wonder of God’s world and the wonder of his love. Thank you to all those who worked so hard to make the week a great success, and for everyone’s prayers. A special welcome today to all the children from holiday club who have come along with their families to the 11am service – it is great to see you!

Every Sunday, there are new faces and people to meet at church, and the Heritage Open Days on Saturday 10th September and Monday 12th September provides another occasion for All Saints to open its doors to the wider community, and our network of relationships. It is an opportunity to showcase the church’s remarkable history, architecture, grounds, and specially commissioned embroidery. Thank you to all those who are giving of their time and expertise to make these Heritage Open Days possible. Let’s all consider who we would like to invite, and for more information see the full schedule in the notices.

With thanks

Simon Oatridge

From the Children's Minister

We are so excited for the start of our Holiday Club this week!

Over the course of the week, there will be 78 children, 8 youth and 42 adults coming together to think about God's wonderful world and learning about Jesus. Allie and Mark have also kindly offered their garden on Wednesday afternoon so we can invite the families of the children coming to Holiday Club for a picnic.

Please do be praying for this as well as the week itself, as we long to help the children and their families encounter the risen Christ. Please pray too for the practicalities of the week, for safety, protection, agreeable weather, good energy levels and God's provision for all our needs. We look forward to sharing some of the answers to your prayers at our 11am service next week!

If you are at the 11am or 6pm services this Sunday and are able to help inflate some balloons or move some chairs, we would be very grateful.

With thanks,

Rosie

From the Youth Minister

Hello,

My name is Cam and I am very excited about starting, meeting everyone and getting stuck in with everything at All Saints Ecclesall.

My first and greatest passion is sharing the love of Jesus, especially with young people. I have been doing many different forms of youth ministry over the last few years and have received confirmations that this is what God is calling me to at this stage of my life. I have recently finished studying at Cliff College for a degree in Mission and Ministry focusing on youth work and also love to take every opportunity to lead people in sung worship with my guitar!

I also enjoy sports, basketball being my favourite, music and, for me, nothing beats a day surfing or paddle boarding at the beach! 

Cam

From the Associate Vicar

Dear Friends

New Youth Minister

It is a pleasure to announce that Cameron Catto will joining as Youth Minister in the parish from 8th August.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for the discernment process for a new leader of our youth ministries.  Do continue to pray for Cameron and the young people in our parish over the coming months.  We would love to see lots of young people finding and nurturing faith in our community.  A special thanks goes to the families who have kept youth activities going over the months while we have been discerning this important appointment.

Jesus spoke to his disciples and prayed on behalf of all who would believe through the disciples teaching saying ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,  that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21). 

This is our prayer for the young people in our church that they would know God at work in their lives through the encouragement and example of our church family.

Thanks,

Roland

From the Assistant Minister

Dear Friends,

It was a pleasure to meet part of the church family last Sunday, first at the 11.00am service and then at the picnic. This was a lovely way for Helen and I to begin our life at All Saints. New to you all but not new to Sheffield, as we have lived here all our married life.

As some of you will know, I am joining the ministry team as a part-time self-supporting Minister. This is with a number of particular roles in mind, including working with and in ministry to older members of the congregation and offering support in various areas of ministry including, preaching, Bible study, Christian discipleship generally and the pastoral care offered by All Saints.

Thank you for making us both welcome already and we look forward to getting to know more and more of the fellowship as we engage with the life of the Parish.'

The Revd Godfrey Smallman

From the Vicarage

Dear Friends

All Saints Church family news

Towards the end of this month, we will be saying farewell to Olivia Redfearn as her time for University study and life beckons. In addition to assisting regularly and faithfully with the Toddlers groups run at ASE by Rosie and her team, Olivia has pioneered and adapted to a range of roles across the staff team; starting by organising young people to working on the sound desk, being the Vicar’s camera man and editor for various “on location” mini-sermons, to the depth and breadth of a digital graveyard mapping project.

These many and varied experiences have been distinguished with humour and very knowledgeable insight. Olivia has especially earned respect and admiration for holding the service rotas together between the many staff changes. Simply put, what has happened on Sundays would not have taken place so smoothly without her knowledge and willingness to serve the Church. Thank you.

This also means that there is now a vacancy for a gap year student in the office. Please get in touch if you or someone you know might be interested in joining our team next year.

The church choir has grown and adapted magnificently under the leadership of Sue Blaby, Roger Watkins and Eric Philips during the re-emergence of church life after Covid. Many of us with other music makers enjoyed a summer evening of fellowship at the Vicarage recently.

Thank you for coming and thank you for your faithful hard work over recent months. With my full permission, the choir will take a break over August and you will find the ranks of chairs within the congregation filled with their energetic and tuneful singing rather than from the front.

Do join me in praying for new members and for good plans as Roland and I with the team reflect upon the best way to build the musical life of our church family.

Yours in the service of Christ
Mark