From the Associate Vicar

Wow - it’s Advent already. Don’t worry, I didn’t say “Christmas”! Every year, Advent gives us the chance to prepare our hearts and invest in our souls. We remember that Christ came to earth - God born as a baby - and we hold equally true that Jesus will come again, calling us home.

Advent keeps these two truths in balance: gratitude for what God has already done, and hope that the God who acted once will act again.

Let’s not miss the opportunity Advent offers us. Choose to remember, with thankfulness, all that God has done for us in Jesus, and choose also to keep your eyes fixed on the future hope that Jesus will come again and draw all things to himself.

Roland Slade

From the Operations Manager

Behind the Scenes: Thank You!

Ever wondered what keeps our church ticking? It’s not just prayer, coffee and cake (though those help!) - it’s an incredible team working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly. From heating and lighting to finances and bookings, they handle so many things most of us won’t have thought about quietly and diligently throughout the year.

As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts… so it is with Christ.” Our Operations Team - and the volunteers who support them - are vital parts of that body. Many of the team you won’t necessarily see on a Sunday but they are still an important part of the All Saints family and have a big impact. They make sure the lights are on, the place kept clean, the halls are ready, and the paperwork is done so we can worship, celebrate, and serve our community together.

Their work includes inspections, safety checks, service sheets, rotas, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and more. It’s a dizzying list, but they do it with dedication and care.

So next time you enjoy a warm, welcoming space or a well-organised service, remember the hands that made it happen. If you see them around, give them a smile and a big thank you - because together, we make the body of Christ work!

Jo Evans

From the Curate

I always find this time of year a little confusing, firstly the clocks go back, then the dark evenings set in, and my body wants to go into hibernation! Yet the pace of life seems to speed up: church events, social events with friends and family, work deadlines, and the pressures and expectations that Christmas brings with it.

In the whirlwind of this busy time of year it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the never-ending list of tasks and responsibilities. The busyness of life can often rob us of the peace we long for. The Bible reminds us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This simple invitation to ‘be still’ stands in stark contrast to the list of demands placed on us. It encourages us to pause, breathe, and turn our focus towards God, trusting that He holds all things together even when our own lives feel chaotic.

Jesus Himself often withdrew from crowds and activity to pray and rest in the Father’s presence (Luke 5:16). His example shows us that finding peace does not mean escaping from our responsibilities, but rather seeking moments of quiet to reconnect with God.

So as we navigate this busy time of year, let us remember to carve out time for stillness, however brief, 'to know that He is God’. Because in Him, we discover a calm that transcends our circumstances and the peace that we all long for.

Steve Holme

From the Music Minister

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

The poem ‘For The Fallen’, by Laurence Binyon, will be read and sung on Remembrance Day, which, as I write this, is the next Sunday on the horizon. Binyon’s poem is a testimony not only to the many lives taken in war but also to the power of memory to overrule the power and loss of death in keeping our loved ones before our imaginations. Music has much the same power. At its best, it has the capacity to soothe and console, to stir and remind. That is why it is such a powerful tool in the hands of Christ, and a gift to be used wisely. Week by week our hymns and songs can teach our hearts how to feel towards Him. Our sung worship can keep the power and realities of Christ’s own death and resurrection before our imaginations, those historical events that turn back the horror of death and enable the sun to rise again in new life. May you be encouraged by the gift of music this season, both as a tool of encouragement in the face of human frailty, and a gift to reawaken your love for Christ.

George Parsons

From the Curate

All Saints’ Day

Saturday 1st November, marked All Saints’ Day in the church calendar – a time when we remember our connection with Christians all over the world, and those who have died trusting in Jesus for their salvation. It goes back to the first few centuries of the church’s history, when those who had died for their faith (martyrs) and those who had lived particularly holy lives were celebrated. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, our church bears the name of this feast day – All Saints.

Beliefs around the saints was one of the many theological battlegrounds during the sixteenth century Reformation and many Protestants today have an uneasy relationship when it comes to language concerning saints. But, as a church that bears the name of this feast day, we don’t need to feel queasy about it. Firstly, All Saints’ Day reminds us that those who bear Jesus’ name are all saints (Paul regularly used it to greet the readers of his letters) and that as Christians we are called into a communion of saints – both living and dead (‘I believe in the communion of saints’). Secondly, it is good to remember and seek to emulate those heroes of the faith who have gone before. And thirdly, there are beliefs and practices within other Christian traditions – such from our Catholic and Orthodox sisters and brothers – from which we can learn. So with all that in mind, Happy All Saints’ Day.

Ben Lacey

From the Youth Minister

I am very excited to be leading the Light Party this year with Mark!

Thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers, I am hopeful that it will be an awesome evening of crafts, food, singing and dancing. We will have an overall theme of Jesus being the greatest light the world has ever known.

Click the button below to sign up if you have children or tell someone who does!

Cam Catto

From the Stewardship Team

With great blessings come great responsibility

As Christians we are invited to know and reflect on how great are God’s blessings. Individually and as a church family, we seek to know Christ more and to reflect His generosity and love in our every day lives. As part of our responsibilities, we ask ourselves how do we respond in terms of using our time, our skills and our money to His glory.

These are matters we are encouraged to consider throughout the year but on Stewardship Sunday we are specifically asked to consider our financial giving to support the life, work and mission of All Saints. Mark and Julia will be speaking at all services on Sunday to encourage prayerful discernment.

The Stewardship letter, available in church or via that button below, provides more details on our church finances and how to respond. We are seeking responses by no later than 9th November.

With thanks for your partnership in Christ’s work,

The Financial Stewardship Team

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.