From the Youth Minister

I am writing this from the midst of House Party 2023!

We have taken 39 young people away to Edale for 5 days to study the Lord's prayer and grow deeper in our discipleship to Jesus through exploring some spiritual disciplines. We have also done a bunch of workshops looking at prominent issues in today's culture as well as joining together in lots of sung worship.

There have of course been many games and activities throughout the week as well!

Please be praying that House Party 2023 will have a substantial and long-lasting impact on our young people and that it leads many of them into new faith, deepened faith or confirmation. I do also want to thank everyone who has supported this year's House Party, the helpers, kitchen team, bakers and prayer warriors!

Cam Catto

From the Vicar

Happy Easter!!!

Alleluia Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed Alleluia!

I trust you have a great Easter with family and friends. The importance of rest, public holidays and cherishing people and places that are important to you can never be stressed too much. Neither too, can the realities of the Christian faith. The resurrection of Christ effects everyone and everything, it is not just a private set of opinions that govern a particular set of people that happen to form in club like ways around a church building. The Christian faith that is celebrated at Easter time is timeless truth, a public truth and an all-encompassing truth. The defeat of death means not just that the end of the road is fixed, but that all journeys along all roads of life are transformed with divine life. Only in that sense can Easter be said to be happy. We celebrate the life that Christ has for us each day not just at the end of our days.

One of the saddest things that was said to me recently in a Christian meeting was by someone who had travelled and interviewed a number of people working in churches. They discerned that most people had felt they had wasted their time! Such a depressing outlook on life might be the result of a long, tiring slog or little or no rewards or returns, but it also evidences a facing and a living of the realities of the Christian faith. If Christ has been raised, and we work with him and for him, then nothing can ever be in vain or a waste of time. We don’t just have light at the end of the tunnel we have a light to lighten our paths.

Christ is Risen is not just a hymn, chorus, song or creed - it is a fact which should and can permutate every aspect of life. You can tell when it is present and sadly when not! May we be those who are able to say Happy Easter because this is our experience. Christ is Risen and He is Risen for you!


Yours in Him,
The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Children's Minister

As we celebrate Palm Sunday with donkeys coming to church, I am struck again of the difference a few days makes. From the celebratory cries of people recognising Jesus as their long awaited king to the cruel cries to kill Him such a short time later.  

As we start Holy Week, I wonder who Jesus is to you and who He is to your friends, your family, your colleagues, your neighbours?  

This week we have many church services, events and opportunities to help people meet with and know Jesus. I wonder who you could you invite and who you could be praying for to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour this Eastertime?  

Rosie Blackett

From the Curate

My first acquaintance with All Saints Ecclesall was during the Sheffield half marathon in 2016. I still remember appreciating the water station and kind volunteers who kept me going during the race. On Sunday, 5000 runners will pass our church. Each runner will be thankful for the encouraging support of spectators, and the refreshment provided by those in the church family who give out water.

The Christian life is often described as a race, one which involves dedication and focus. Hebrews 12.1-2 urges us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’ Along the journey of faith, the encouragement of others, and refreshment of the Spirit’s living water helps each of us to fix our eyes on Jesus. As we continue through Lent, and head towards Easter, may we focus on Jesus, knowing he has gone before us and encourages us each step of the way. May each of us find ways to encourage, and refresh, others we know in our wonderful church family.

And if you are watching, or helping, with the half marathon on Sunday, look out for 11 members of our church family who are running: Matt Daft and Jess Williams, Pete, Alice, and Sam Evans, Will and Clare Hague, Edward Hattersley, Simon and Rebecca Oatridge, and Sarah Wittams-Howarth.  I’m sure we would appreciate your support… and some water!

Simon Oatridge

From the Vicar

Sheffield is a large village, so I am often told and frequently, and happily, experience with various networks of friendly contacts.

“It’s a small world” too and one often on our minds thanks to ease of travel and rapid communication access. This past week for me has seen connections with Nazareth, Kenya, Mexico, Bulgaria, Lesotho, Nepal and Lanzarote! I could extend the range even further when we consider the mission partners that we support. Whilst the world might be a smaller and more well connected place – anyone who notices a change in weather should, I think, be minded to think of the global climate emergency. It is also, for some, a lonely and disconnected world where community and healthy relationships matter even more.

I am thrilled to notice an increase in activities amongst our church family away from Sunday, occasions for meeting up during the week and the sense in which our All Saints family could be a place of community for many in our local area.

Thank you for supporting our Friendly Stop initiative, our Alpha course, the start of Dad’s breakfast and we hope the Coronation Lunch on Sunday May 7th (after the 11am service ) to name but a few. I am planning now a presentation for our Annual meeting (on the evening of Wednesday May 24th – do come!) to enable the many open doors that we have at All Saints to be used effectively to share God’s love.

The All Saints staff team join me in wishing you every blessing as you prepare to celebrate Easter with us. May the Risen Lord bless your travels and local connections in His name

Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Associate Vicar

This Lent has taken on a new and special meaning for Caroline and myself as we await our first child. Each of our morning readings on Sunday mornings have had a question like, ‘How long, O Lord?’ or a statement like, ‘As the watchmen wait for the morning, so I wait for you’. The theme of waiting for God’s timing is implicit in the Psalms. There is the assumption that there are good things for those who put their trust in God.  But also, that we can’t know when God will bless us. This is true for Lent, and waiting for a baby.  Waiting can still be a good thing!

Hopefully our little baby girl won’t be many days away – we look forward to introducing her to you all over the coming weeks.

With love,
Revd Roland Slade

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