From the Vicar

Dear Friends

This is not "Yes Minister" but yes to ministry!

Today we are providing information on our Staff Ministry Team for 2026 via a leaflet (available at the back of church, or via online notices) . This is timed to be prior to our annual stewardship appeal next Sunday. It also allows me to share my deep appreciation and thanksgiving to God for the ministry exercised by many in the All Saints family. There are so many acts of prayer, neighbourliness and supportive fellowship that go un-noticed and under the radar, but we are unmistakably a church that takes seriously every member ministry.

I am so encouraged by all who share their God given gifts. I mention just a few hoping not to embarrass them, but rejoice in Michael Gordon’s training for Reader ministry, Sue Blaby’s distinguished pastoral ministry over many years, Chris Medd's engaging and enriching preaching style enjoyed at the 6pm service; the list could go on. If you sense a ministry you wish to develop or one of the Ministry Team tap you on the shoulder please don’t run away, it could lead somewhere!

I thank God for our staff ministry team all of whom value your support and prayer. We each have different roles and gifts and as I sit with them all each week, I can testify they are eager to be known, to serve and to encourage you to work with them. The worker deserves his/her hire (so says the Scriptures). How funding works in the Church of England can be difficult to understand but if you would like to know more, do have a word with Julia or myself. We want to be clear and helpful. We are deeply grateful to God for your generosity and responsibility which enables our team to serve God with you.

Thanks be to God for those called to minister.

From the Associate Vicar

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. - John 1:16

As Christians, we are invited to know and reflect the heart of a great and generous God. In the weeks leading up to Stewardship Sunday, we want to give space to think about what generosity looks like in our everyday lives.

Generosity is much more than just about what we are asked to consider to give financially to church on a particular Sunday of the year. It is a way of life, shaped by Christ, that touches every part of who we are - our time, our relationships, our hospitality, and all our resources. To help us reflect, we’re recommending a short booklet: On Generosity by Richard Briggs (Grove Books). It’s only 20-pages long but full of thoughtful insights and some questions we have added to guide reflection.

If you’re in a small group, your leaders will share a couple of copies with you. Extra copies will also be available at the back of church for anyone not currently in a small group.

From the Wardens

THE JOY OF BEING A WARDEN

One of the joys of being part of a church family is the opportunity to volunteer and serve in so many ways, contributing to the life of the church and supporting the wide range of activities that take place. The church simply couldn’t function without the time and skills that so many already contribute and we thank God for providing willing helpers to further our ministry. As part of this we ask each of you to prayerfully consider joining the team of wardens. Currently we are only firing on two cylinders and new wardens are urgently required. The role is enjoyable and a privilege and neither as daunting or time consuming as many perceive. Do give this serious consideration and ask Alan Storey or myself for further information if you want to understand the role better.

You may have noticed that the service team has changed over recent weeks as part of streamlining the time demands on the warden team. This has evolved from the previous team of a warden, a steward and one or two welcomers to either a warden or steward (now known as a service coordinator) supported by one or two welcomers. We are very grateful to all those stewards who have agreed to take on additional responsibilities and markedly reduce the demands on wardens to cover multiple services.

Please pray for all who give of their time and talents within the church and reflect on the following verse: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace - 1 Peter 4:10

Rob Coleman - Warden

From the Treasurer

As we head to Stewardship Sunday on 19th October, I am introducing this year’s conversation and our theme “with great blessings come great responsibility”. As we come to faith and know the love of Christ for ourselves, we begin to understand how great are God’s blessings.

As Treasurer I have a particular responsibility to be clear on how we use the money we are blessed with at All Saints. I am always happy to answer questions! Our staff (ministry and operations) are the single biggest expenditure and as part of this year’s conversation we will provide information, starting this Sunday with the Operations Team. On 5th October we will be offering a short booklet on God centred giving for small groups and individuals to consider over the autumn. Thank you to all who give financially. We hope for many to prayerfully engage in this year’s appeal at a time of challenges and exciting opportunities.

PCC holds certain formal responsibilities, but I was reflecting with the members of the stewardship group that as part of being welcomed into the All Saints church family in 2017, after a period of settling in, I was asked to consider 3 things and I think we all are:

Join the Electoral Roll: Why? To be able to vote at the APCM and to be able to volunteer for certain activities such as being on the welcome team.

Join the Pledging Giving scheme: Why? It was explained to me that we don’t pass the plate at services at All Saints because most church family give regularly through Standing Order.

Join the Treasurer’s Group! Why? I was being asked to use specific skills and experience to support the running and work of our church. We have a huge variety of ways we can volunteer our time and different skills. What would be the question posed to you?

Julia Newton

From The Curate

 This Sunday at 3pm and Monday at 7.30pm we have a wonderful opportunity to hear about, and pray for, the church graft to St. Oswald’s. Thank you to all who have already been praying, and to those discerning possible involvement.

 Romans 4:17 reminds us that God “gives life to the dead and calls into being things that are not.” My prayer is that He would revive the faithful but small congregation at St. Oswald’s, raise up a graft team, and bring new life to many in the community.

 May I encourage you to pray that God would revitalise the church at St. Oswald’s - and be open to how God might use you, perhaps even as part of the graft team!

 With thanks for your partnership and prayers,

Simon Oatridge

From The Curate

Growing younger

Nationally the Church of England has three priorities – one is to grow a younger and more diverse congregation. All Saints is blessed with many wonderful children and young people and has many testimonies of God’s faithful work among this age range through the last few decades.

Within there are four schools – two primary (Ecclesall Infants and Clifford All Saints) and two secondary (High Storrs and Silverdale). Between them, they represent around 4000 children and this last week they restarted their new academic year. We have been in touch with them all to say that we are praying for them (please do!) and continue to develop our relationship with them in other ways. Our youth minister, Cam, supports the Christian Union at Silverdale and the clergy are covering assemblies in Clifford All Saints before we appoint a new Children and Families Minister.

One of the most exciting things happening is children and young people working out their faith among their peers in their schools. It is easy to forget to pray for the children and young people from All Saints and other churches as they witness to the love of God in their words and actions at school. Also, please do keep an eye out in church for young people visiting for the first time – there have been some in the last few months. It is a big deal to walk into church for the first time, and how we respond and welcome really matters.

Finally, if you want to find out more about how young people understand and respond to the Christian story, there’s some fascinating research recently out called Translating God read by clicking this link https://www.youthscape.co.uk/research/translating-god/home

Ben Lacey

From the Assistant Minister

In Matthew’s Gospel he records Jesus telling a parable about two men building houses. One built on sand, and his home was washed away. The other built on rock, and so his house survived the storm - the point for us today? All people must choose whether to build their lives on Christ, the bedrock for sure foundations in this life and the next, or to look elsewhere. In the Matthew passage, Jesus makes it clear that it is those who hear His words and do them who stay secure.

How do you keep the foundations of your life in good shape, to withstand the buffeting of the World and all it contains, as it hammers against the doors and windows of your life? How do you keep yourself spiritually strong and healthy as a Christian?

In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read that ”the word of God is living and active”. What thrilling and cheering encouragement for us this is. God speaks today with vitality and energy. And one way we hear Him and so maintain the foundations of our lives, is through our reading and study of the Scriptures. We have an opportunity together this Autumn to engage with the living and active Word of God, as we pick up our Bibles to study together on a Wednesday morning. We begin the term in Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. Our aim will be, with those early church Christians, to hear God’s Word to us and to respond. As Paul puts it “You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him...let your living spill over into thanksgiving.” (The Message Col 2.6-8: Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson).

Godfrey

From the Operations Manager

This Sunday we celebrate a long-awaited upgrade—our brand-new carpet is in, and it’s hole-free at last! I should have reminded you all to bring your slippers… and we’ll see who’s first to christen it with a cup of tea!

The carpet marks the latest milestone in a series of improvements over the past couple of years. After many visits from surveyors, stone specialists, plasterers, decorators, and other skilled folk, we’ve seen good progress. The walls have been freshly plastered and painted, and the stonework carefully cleaned. While a few small areas are still drying and awaiting their final touches, the transformation is already something to celebrate.

These changes are more than just cosmetic—they help create a space that is welcoming, beautiful, and worthy of the worship and community life that happens here.

We’re so thankful to everyone who gives faithfully each week—your generosity makes projects like this possible. The plastering, decorating, and new carpet have cost around £27,500, with the carpet being the largest expense.

With this in mind we’d like to invite you to ‘sponsor a tile!’ There are around 1,640 tiles in total, with each one costing around £7.50 to replace. Whether you sponsor one tile, ten or more, every little helps!

If this is something you’d like to help with, you can donate through the church office or via the donation page on our website. Thank you for your help making the building look lovely again!

With love and blessings

Jo