From the Operations Manager

Hello all,

I thought I would take this opportunity to update you all on the progress being made with a number of estates (aka buildings) projects we have underway in and around the church.

We are in the process of getting approval from the Diocese for the repair and replacement of new lighting in church so that we can improve the lumens on some of the gloomier areas in the building.

We are also working on how we repair the damage to the plaque on the side of the tower, we haven’t been able to progress this during the winter months as the materials needed would not have worked well in wet weather, this will be a spring/summer job.

The water damaged plaster in church has been removed and we are now beginning a series of tests to establish the best plaster to use to replace it once all of the salts have dried.

We have just installed two new notice boards on the Ringinglow Road and Ecclesall Road South entrances so we can display posters and share the good news of the work we are doing here at All Saints.

There is always a lot to manage at All Saints but it is encouraging to see progress in so many different areas. If you have any questions about any of the above, or anything to do with the building or operations of All Saints, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the office.

Many thanks

Stephanie Osman

From the Vicar

Dear Friends,

This month sees the conclusion of Allie and I being welcomed and settled in the Vicarage for just over two years! Thank you for all your love, support and prayers! A full two years with the negotiating of covid rules (remember them), the changes to the ministry and administration teams (some 20 comings and goings of staff), the gradual, paced re-entry and re-gathering of life after covid (if life can ever be normal in a church!). I am delighted to see small steps for increasing lay ministry and gifts being used. So now, as Lent begins, so too does our Friendly Stop and very important Connections evenings (full details of both can be found on the Notices Page). Numbers are never the main thing, yet a small but significant increase in our electoral roll and gathering confidence in our four Sunday services, thanks to the new emerging leadership teams, is encouraging. We thank God for these and other blessings, for being part of a welcoming and caring Christian Church family.

Alongside these blessings, I am conscious that this month has seen a significant shift and change in the church’s official teaching and prayers for homosexual partnerships. The possible direction of travel is a cause of serious concern for wider issues of Church unity. There is still much to be clarified and indeed fully authorised (nothing has yet been changed or agreed). I have briefed the PCC as fully as possible and with their encouragement, once more details from the National church have been revealed this summer / autumn, we will have further discussions. I simply wanted you to know I am fully aware of all the details and complexities of the debate and if you would value a conversation, I would be most happy to oblige.

I sense and feel sure that All Saints would wish to continue to be a welcoming and friendly community to everyone in Christ's name. Do please pray for the wider church and its guidance given to Parish Churches like ours. We will update you as and when we can.

With my prayers for your own Lenten journey.

Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Wardens

It doesn’t seem two minutes since Christmas and here we are hurtling towards Lent and the wonderful time of Easter. It is good to see increasing numbers at our Sunday services and there are lots of other good things to look forward to. The three Connections events (on 1st March, 15th March and 29th March) will bring guest speakers to All Saints, focusing on various aspects of our faith. A great way to gain new perspectives. Partly overlapping with these will be 3 lunchtime organ recitals, featuring two of our ASE organists. We hope you will come along, bring a friend, enjoy the music and a time of fellowship afterwards.

There will of course be a full programme of services across Easter itself, as we celebrate our resurrected Lord.

There are many ways to engage with life at All Saints and we encourage you to join us. You'll get a warm welcome, whatever the event.

Alison, Richard and Sue.

From the Parish Safeguarding Officer

I wonder if like me you were able to join the youth-led service last Sunday evening. It was such a joy to join in worship led by our young people and learn from them, how they have used different approaches to develop their prayer life. Likewise, it is such a joy at the 11am service to see an increasing number of children join Rosie to learn about Jesus’ love for them through different activities. As a church we are blessed by Rosie and Cam’s dedication and enthusiasm for sharing the gospel with the children and young people in our church family. We are also blessed by their commitment to safeguarding our children and young people. As well as completing safeguarding leadership training themselves, I work with them to ensure that all our volunteers who help out with children and youth activities have also completed safeguarding training and have a clear DBS check. This means that we are well placed to create a welcoming and safe environment for all our children and young people.

So may I extend a big ‘thank you’ to our many volunteers who play such a vital part in our children and youth ministry. Your commitment to safeguarding is a wonderful blessing to our church family.

In Proverbs 31:8, we are encouraged to ‘speak up for those whose voices are not heard’. So I would like to invite anyone who has a question or a concern about safeguarding our children and young people to speak to Rosie, Cam or myself. As a church family, we all have a part to play in ensuring that our church is a safe place for all.

And if you didn’t make last Sunday’s youth service, do think about coming along next month. I think you will be encouraged in your faith as you witness the enthusiasm of our young people leading our worship.

Kate Gerrish, Parish Safeguarding Officer

From the Associate Vicar

Have you ever been to the evening service? Let me tell you about it if you have not been. The aim of the evening service is to give space for worshipping God in a relaxed environment, time to hear the word of God applied to our lives and an atmosphere to grow in Holiness as a community of faith. The evening service is an ideal service for both those who are relatively new to faith and people wanting to deepen their faith and love of God. This service is also ideal for anyone who struggles to get to church on a Sunday morning – whether you do not like mornings, have family sport or other commitments - this service is a great opportunity to spend quality time with God in a busy schedule.

On the first Sunday of the month our Youth Group take the lead of the service – expect a game, upbeat worship and honest leading and praying.

On the fourth Sunday of the month, we will share communion within the service.

Why not give it a try or suggest it to someone who might enjoy coming along!

Revd Roland Slade

From the Youth Minister

Although we are still waiting and praying for an open door into one of the local high schools, there have been many encouragements in our youth ministry.

Abide, our Sunday evening youth fellowship, has been seeing great numbers and great levels of engagement with the teaching and activities. I hope and pray that this continues!

I have also had the joy of starting a few youth growth groups. Each group meets together once a fortnight to study Scripture and pray together.

Football has been as energetic and competitive as always!

Finally, we have many signed up for House Party 2023. It is looking to be a fantastic 5 days filled with games, worship and teaching!

Cam Catto

From the Children's Minister

Whilst sitting eating leftover treats from Christmas and thinking about the new Sunday morning sermon series, being a devoted church, I was reminded of how often food or drink plays a central role in our lives with others and how it was central in Jesus’ life too.  We see Jesus eating with various people, performing miracles, using parties in His parables and much more. 

In our children’s groups each week, we share our news, thanksgivings and prayer requests, as we have a drink and a biscuit.  It’s a time we build relationship and learn how we can support one another in prayer.  This is something I see mirrored at Toddlers too.

Toddlers is currently flourishing, not only in the practical way we are serving our community but spiritually too.  We have seen three families request baptisms and someone sign up to Alpha in the last month alone.  The conversations we have over snack time are invaluable as they give opportunity for us to build relationship, offer support and gain insight as to how to pray for people.  We long to see more of this but need help to do it.

We’re currently short of volunteers to help make and serve the snacks and so aren’t able to make the most of the opportunities for conversations that God is giving us. If you are able to support us by occasionally coming to make teas and coffees and wash up afterwards, then we would really value your help.  If you aren’t able to help then I encourage you to think and pray about who you could show hospitality to instead?  Who could you get to know better, support and pray for by sharing food or a drink with?

Rosie Blackett

From the Operations Manager

After a very welcome Christmas and New Year break the office is (almost) back to full strength!

We have hit the ground running in 2023; supporting the preparations for Alpha, dealing with a number of large scale funerals, undertaking regular maintenance as well as some minor repairs, planning ahead for Lent, Holy Week and Easter, preparing for interviews for the Church Administrator at the end of this month and getting back into the routine of Sundays. In the coming months you will also see activity inside Church as we upgrade the lighting, and outside as we look at additional notice boards to share the great news of our activities in Church and the community.

We are blessed with a large staff and clergy team and, as we start the year with a full complement, we are excited to explore how we can come together to support the flourishing of All Saints Ecclesall.

Stephanie Osman