From the Operations Manager

As you will now know, I will be leaving All Saints at the end of November (22nd to be precise), I am sure I will include a few words in the notices closer to the time but I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has made my three years here so wonderful.

Getting the opportunity to work for the Church is something I wish everyone could have the chance to do. I have found it to be a safe space to grow and flourish, surrounded by people who genuinely want the best for you and who want to see you succeed. People who aren’t just interested in your output but also what fills you up and are committed to taking care of you as a whole person.

I couldn’t be leaving to do what I am going to do (Estates Operations Manager for Young Lives V Cancer) if it wasn’t for the multitude of lessons I have learnt here so thank you for the opportunities I have had and connections I have made.

I am very much looking forward to the Church Weekend on the 12th and 13th October as a chance for me to spend some time with the many friends I have made during my stint as All Saints Operations Manager, please don’t forget to book for your events, activities and food before Tuesday!

From the Youth Minister

September marks the start of a new year of youth ministry. It has been wonderful restarting Abide, Encounter groups and our schools work. I look forward to the development and new opportunities on the near horizon.

I would love to specifically draw your attention to our monthly youth services. They are the first 6pm service of the month. It's been great to see our young people take an active part in leadership at these services. We would really value your presence there, supporting our emerging generation of leaders, and a chance to worship God all together.

Cam Catto

From the Associate Vicar

In just a month I will be travelling to northern Tanzania to visit the Diocese of Kilimanjaro (7th – 15th October). Some people may know that I spent a year teaching in a university in central Tanzania in 2011 and also visited projects associated with the sponsorship charity ‘Compassion’ in north-east Tanzania in 2019.

The link with our parish and the Diocese of Kilimanjaro has been a successful one for many years and a number of you will have visited already. It was mediated by the Tearfund charity but around a year ago Tearfund said they would be need to restructure and would not be able to mediate the link for us. They encouraged us to continue the link, and this is something we have been keen to do.

The aim of this visit is to establish a meaningful and ongoing relationship with Christians and projects in the diocese. I will spend time at a training conference for reducing poverty in rural areas, meet the Bishop and his staff, worship on a Sunday and many other things yet to be determined! There is a hope that this might lead to members of the congregation visiting in the near future – for those who are might be interested, look out for evening event I will run on my return. Do pray for Roland on his travels, for the people that he will meet and the ongoing relationship that the parish has in Tanzania.

From the Curate

For many of us, September is a time of new beginnings. Children begin a new year at school, our older youth begin university soon. For some, our regular work or social routines return after pausing briefly over the summer. In our church life together, many of our activities begin again: Monday drop in, Thursday Open Door, our range of small groups, and toddlers - to name but a few.

In our 9.15 and 11am services over the next four weeks, we will hear the remarkable Old Testament story of Ruth, whose own new beginnings involved a new country, new family, and new faith. She, like us, would have known the joys and challenges of new beginnings: the sense of uncertainty, anxiety, and excitement. In her own new beginnings, she declares one of the great affirmations of faith in found Scripture: ‘your people will be my people, and your God my God’ (Ruth 1.16).

As the chapters unfold, God’s steadfast love and providential guiding lead to redemption and blessing not only for Ruth, but for the whole world – including us. If you would like to explore more as our sermon series begins, this is a brilliant 7 minute video produced by the Bible Project Book of Ruth Summary | Watch an Overview Video (bibleproject.com)