From the Vicar

Dear Friends

People come to church for many reasons they stay for only one – they make friends.

Of course there are bound to be exceptions to truisms like this but it worth reflecting and giving thanks to God for those who have felt led to join us at All Saints in recent months and years. Welcoming their presence and gifts is an honour and privilege. It brings with it too a relatively easy challenge to respond to in love, in conversation and accommodation to their wishes and welcome input. We might be familiar with people, places and ways of doing things “around here”, they might not be. We might have our friendship groups already filled but of course they might not. There are many signs of encouragement, including: people joining small groups ( - we are praying for more); being honest and asking for practical help (thank you for the growing team who respond); and offering to assist with many emerging outreach events and fixtures (Experience Christmas for example).

May I encourage us all to be on the lookout for visitors and make use of our welcome pack and notice sheets (to pass onto them), to circulate and converse over coffee perhaps in church to liberate space in the welcome area, helping those new to appreciate the variety of ways we can give financially, serve practically (we always need volunteers) and pray widely (for our many mission partners). May we be an increasingly friendly and welcoming church as indeed many sense is already the case – thanks be to God for those he is calling to join us.

Yours in Christ,

Mark

From the Associate Vicar

This Weekend there are three great highlights happening. Firstly, some of our older Youth are in Manchester for the weekend with Dave and Helen our mission partners. Pray for them as they see God at work in the community and in their church. They will do lots across the weekend and we look forward to letting you know how it all went.

Secondly, we are delighted to welcome Avery and Reya-Mai (along with their families) who are being baptised at our 11am service.

Thirdly, this Sunday evening +Pete Wilcox will join us for our confirmation service. Do join us for the celebration as five people will make a public confession of their faith. Do you remember the moment you made a public affirmation of your own faith?  Was it a significant moment for you?

Rev Roland Slade

From the Operations Manager

Hopefully by the time you read this the scaffolding will have come down to reveal our repaired and restored tower plaque monument to Revd George Smith, ‘Assistant Minister of the Parish Church, Sheffield and Curate of this chapel’, and his wife Mary.

The plaque had been pulling away from the tower and causing damage to the surrounding stonework so the team from RM Eaton have spent the past few weeks working diligently to remove, repair and reinstate the plaque to prevent any further movement, make it safe and preserve it for future generations.

You will notice one corner of the plaque is a different colour from the rest, this piece been has carefully chosen and crafted to replace a section that was lost and will, over time, weather to match the rest.  

We have loved having Alice, Katherine and Mark on site, they have been so willing to talk to anyone who has questions and share insights into their highly skilled work, we cannot recommend them enough!

Now this job is done we can focus on the work to upgrade the AV inside Church and preparations for the next Church away day (12th and 13th October, save the date!).

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to chat anything Estates or Church Operations.

Stephanie Osman

From the Mission Support Group

This year for our Mission Weekend we hear from Christians who have gone into our city to bring about the goodness of God to people who really need it.  We want to focus on and support three of these charities this year.

• Snowdrop Project – supports and empowers victims of modern slavery and exploitation across South Yorkshire

• Archer Project – Offers homeless people in Sheffield a pathway from homelessness to a settled life

• Golddigger Trust – Transforms the lives of young people by equipping them with positive wellbeing and the skills to make good life decisions

All money raised from the weekend will go to support the work of these three great charities.  Please give generously!

You can give directly on the website - https://www.allsaintsecclesall.org.uk/mission or in person using the Mission Sunday envelopes which can be collected in church.

 With thanks from the Mission Support Group.

From the Assistant Minister

I imagine that in your diary, last Sunday was called ‘Father’s Day’. In the calendar of the Church this week, we remember the birth of John the Baptist and so we are very much reminded of John's Father, Zechariah. He was puzzled about a baby being born to him and his wife Elizabeth when they were both “advanced in years", despite the announcement of the child to come being given to him by an angel.   But a few days after the baby was born, the puzzlement completely evaporated, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied in words that have come to be called ‘the Benedictus’(Luke1.57-80). These words have been considered so important that you will find them both in the morning service in the Book of Common Prayer and in the Common Worship service book.

OK, but so what, Godfrey, you politely ask. This matters to us now, because these few verses are full of truth, wonder and encouragement for us. Luke records the events around the birth and naming of John as part of his determined drive to show all who will listen, then and now, that with the coming of Jesus into the World, God’s promised redemptive plan of salvation is bursting out into history and into the story of humankind.

 Zechariah first blesses God – not a bad way to begin your prayers. Then he declares the fulfilment of God’s promises, prophecies and covenant with Abraham, in the arrival of God Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom salvation comes “in the forgiveness of... sins”.  Zechariah reminds us that “...because of the tender mercy of our God” He delivers us, that we might “serve him without fear” - we are saved, to serve the God of our salvation.

 John the Baptist is the great announcer of the Lord’s arrival, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, his Father Zechariah gives us a wonderful preface to the Gospel record of the work of Christ in the World.  How about taking this as the theme for your personal devotions this week?

With you in God’s service

Godfrey

From the Vicar

Dear Friends

One of the great privileges of belonging to All Saints church is its young peoples’ work which extends its ministry to us all through regular youth led evening services. Regular members will know that the feature of a quiz or time of congregational participation is much anticipated and looked forward to. It strikes me that there is a wonderful sense of fun and community shared by all who attend during these times. In a large and often dispersed church family these times of community are very precious. Here are some other times to pray, support and participate in. All are times to for others to be invited to and drawn into. A welcoming, fun filled, relaxed and meaningful Christian fellowship is a great advert for the Christian faith to a watching world. Here they are - sign up, come along and bring someone with you! The Mission Support group are holding a Ceilidh on June 28th, Friendly stop with George Parsons is on July 15th at 1pm. And save the date for our ‘Church away at home’ – if you liked last year’s day we hope you will love this year’s whole weekend on 12th & 13th October, with guest speaker The Revd Victoria Lawrence.

From the Youth Minister

House Party is now in the rearview mirrors. We had a wonderful time with so many great highlights from the games and activities as well as the times of Bible study and worship. A huge thank you to all who supported us with their time or finances, we couldn't have done it without you!

Looking forward we have an exciting new development. Joining with other churches across this area of Sheffield, we will be hosting a youth worship evening at All Saints on the 20th of July. Please pray for this event, that many come and are filled with excitement and passion for Jesus!

 Cam Catto

From the Children's Minister

We are excited to share with you the theme of this year’s Holiday Club - Taste and See….                  

Our theme is based on Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.  We pray that all those who come will have a taste of the Lord’s goodness for themselves and that we might welcome many of their families.  Over the five days we will be exploring meals that Jesus had with others and what these meals show us about God.

Taste and See… is running from Monday 12th – Friday 16th August and is for all those aged 4 – 11 years old.  If you have a three year old who attends our church groups who you would like to come then talk to Rosie and she can arrange it.

Thank you to all of those who have signed up to help us - we couldn’t do the week without you!  If you were thinking of volunteering then it’s not too late, contact Rosie and she would be delighted to hear from you.

Bookings are now open. Go to www.allsaintsecclesall.org.uk/holidayclub                                        

Please do be praying for all those who will be attending and continue to pray for the planning and those who are helping.  God has answered so many of our prayers in the past, we look forward to seeing what He is going to do this year! 

Rosie Blackett