Safeguarding Sunday

Rev Laura Verrall-Kelly, Associate Vicar, writes:

This Sunday is Safeguarding Sunday and the 10.30 am Sung Eucharist will reflect this theme. We will have slightly different liturgies at certain points, as well as hearing from our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Esther Keller to enable us to engage and prayerfully reflect on the theme. Esther will have the space to share what Safeguarding is and why it’s important to have such a service in church.

Safeguarding can be a sensitive and triggering theme for some and although detailed accounts of vulnerable adults and children will not be shared, if for whatever reason you feel this service isn’t for you, please know it is okay not to attend or attend another one of our services that day.

Esther Keller, our Parish Safeguarding Officer, writes:

God cares about protecting vulnerable people, and so do we. Safeguarding Sunday, an awareness-raising campaign organised by Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight, is taking place this Sunday. St Mary Redcliffe is taking part to highlight the importance of creating safer places for all.

We will be joining thousands of other churches across the UK to share this message and demonstrate unity.

We also want to take this opportunity to thank and pray for those who have stepped up to coordinate safeguarding in our church so we can protect vulnerable people together.

We believe that safeguarding is an outworking of our faith in a loving and just God – the God who calls us to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8).

Justice and hope are at the heart of the Christian message. Or, as we put it at SMR, "singing the song of faith and justice".

Let’s gather and celebrate those who work behind the scenes to protect vulnerable people and make our church a safer place for all.

Please do get in touch with Esther or Laura if you have any questions.

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Sermon on Sunday,10th August 2025

By matthew.buckmaster • August 10, 2025

Preached by the Revd Laura Verrall-Kelly, Associate Vicar

Interregnum Information

By Laura.Verrall-Kelly • August 7, 2025

Keeping You Updated During the Interregnum As I prepare to go on maternity leave at the end of August, I want to share some important updates regarding our Sunday Services and communication during the Interregnum period. We’ve taken time to consider what is sustainable and meaningful in this season of transition, and while some of the changes have been difficult, they are intended to ensure we can continue to worship together well. Service Changes 8am BCP Eucharist We’ve made the difficult decision to pause this service during the vacancy, following a PCC vote (with 3 votes against). This is due to the limited availability of clergy to cover two Eucharist services on a Sunday. We’re grateful that this decision has allowed us to secure strong cover for the other services. If you’re looking for an early service, the Cathedral offers Morning Prayer at 7.40am and BCP Eucharist at 8am. This change to the 8am will happen from the beginning of October. Mattins & Evensong These will continue with support from a growing team of Lay Leaders. If you're interested in helping lead, please speak to Simon Goodman. Please note: bespoke online orders of service will no longer be produced weekly. Instead, we will use a standard booklet and hymn book in church. Online viewers will receive a standard order of service plus a document with Bible readings and hymns. 10.30am Sung Eucharist Some small changes are being made to simplify things for visiting clergy: Notices will be read by a Church Warden, Duty Warden or Church Representative Communion distribution will return to queue formation A Gradual Hymn will replace the Responsorial Psalm - there is simply not the resource to produce a weekly or termly Psalm hand out in church. We’ll use a standard “Eucharist during the Vacancy” order of service (in booklet form), with hymn books provided in church. As with other services, online resources will mirror this setup. These changes to the 10.30am will happen from the 17th August. Christingle Service Due to the scale of this service and the planning it requires, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause it this year. Without full-time clergy to oversee preparations and lead the service, we don’t believe we can deliver it safely or well. We know this will be disappointing, but this service will be back. Ongoing Communication Thanks to Chris Duncan and Sam Love, we will continue to send out a weekly email during the Interregnum. I’m very grateful to both of them for stepping up to support in this way. We know some of these decisions may not affect everyone, while others may feel them more deeply. We don’t expect universal agreement, and that’s okay — your questions and thoughts are welcome and valued. All we ask is that feedback is offered with kindness and respect for those who have worked hard to make these plans in a short space of time. Thank you for being part of this community and for your ongoing support as we navigate this together.