We will remember them; we will be together again. 

Lockdown 2.0

So, here we go again! It may not be quite the same as earlier this year but it still feels as though things are pressing in on us and that may well leave us with feelings of anxiety and fear. This is only to be expected as these are anxious and fearful times. At moments like this we could do worse than to draw deep from the well of hope and expectation that we find within the pages of scripture and other writings of the Christian faith. Hope for tomorrow as well as for today; the Advent hope of new births, new beginnings and even a new Jerusalem. Expectation that, as Julian of Norwich puts it, "all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well". 

The hope that we have in Christ, the expectation that we have for our future, is named and known in the commandment most frequently quoted in the bible: to Abraham and Hagar, to Moses and Joshua, to Judah and Israel, and to Mary and the women at the tomb ... "Do not be afraid". Above the commandments to do this and not to do that, is the commandment to be not afraid. 

In these few short words is the full acknowledgement of the reality of fear and anxiety, whilst at the same time an equal acknowledgment that we are known and held and loved ... for it is those who know us and hold us and love us who seek to absorb our anxiety and whisper into our lives: Do not be afraid. 

I hope and trust that over these next few weeks each one of us can take those words to heart and lean into the God who knows our needs, hears our cries, feels our pain and heals our wounds. 

Church Opening and Public Worship

As you will know by know, along with places of worship across the land, we have been told to cease public worship for the time being. I want to commend all those who have worked so hard over the last few months to ensure that public worship at SMR has been held safely and sensitively. Like many other clerics, I would like to see the evidence which has led the government to think that places of worship pose too high a risk of transmission and I am aware that strong representation has been made to the highest levels. So we wait and see. Meanwhile, worship is back on line only: so please do join us for our live streamed services at 10.00am on Sundays and don't forget Morning Prayer every day at 9.00am. Alongside this, the restoration work in the Lady Chapel is taking longer than anticipated so the church will remain entirely closed for the whole of next week. 

Remembrance Sunday Services and Activities

8.00 am Children's Church Newsletter

9.00 am Morning Prayer, live streamed

10.00 am Remembrance Service, live streamed

-- Children's Church message and sermon from Kat Campion-Spall 

-- Anthony Everitt will lead the service 

-- Dan Tyndall will lead the Act of Remembrance at 11.00 am. 

-- special order of service here 

-- join the service on SMR Live or Facebook.

4.00 pm Online Youth Church with Becky and Chris

Remembrance Day Hymn Singing

Andrew Kirk and the choir have organised a second hymn sing, this time on the theme of Remembrance. It is happening on Wed 11 Nov, Remembrance Day, at 7.30pm on Zoom. Click here for the Zoom link and here to download the words of the hymns. 

Archbishops' call to prayer

Earlier this week, in response to the news of the lockdown, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote: "Bearing in mind our primary vocation as the Church of Jesus Christ to pray and to serve we call upon the Church of England to make this month of lockdown a month of prayer. More than anything else, whatever the nation thinks, we know that we are in the faithful hands of the risen Christ who knows our weaknesses, tiredness and struggles and whose steadfast love endures for ever." Join the nation in prayer every day of this lockdown for our nation and leaders, for those in key roles and for those who suffer and mourn. A prayer leaflet can be downloaded here and more information can be read here. 

Bishop's Appeal for the clergy of Uganda

Bishop Viv has written about what she has learnt about how Covid-19 is affecting the clergy of the Church of Uganda (our link province in the Anglican Communion) which you can read here and has launched an appeal to which you can donate here. 

Project 450 update

Following a very encouraging meeting with senior officers of the City Council and on the unanimous recommendation of the Project Board, we have submitted a pre-application planning document for our major facilities development project. This project started back in 2008, so this a major milestone and very exciting. You can download the document that we submitted here (it's big, it may take some time!)

Redcliffe Voice

For latest news and views on all things Redcliffe click here and subscribe here. 

North Bristol Foodbank - looking for a new manager

If anyone is interested in this full time job click here for more information. 

SMRT Sixth Former Request

Lily is a year 13 student doing some geography coursework around the (historic) idea to pedestrianize Redcliffe Way. She'd be very grateful if we would fill in her 16 question questionnaire which you can access here. 

And finally, how well do you know SMR staff?

Click here for a quick quiz! 

Dial In Worship - 0117 427 0104

Listen to our live streamed services from Sunday afternoon. 

Contact me

Please forward this email on those who might be interested in SMR and contact me here (rather than using reply please)

With my best wishes

Dan

Canon D F Tyndall

Vicar, St Mary Redcliffe

0776 929 6220New Paragraph