This week we meet at 10.00am for Family Communion in Flax Bourton. Everyone’s welcome and there are usually activities for young children to enjoy during the service if they want to. The service lasts just over an hour and refreshments are served afterwards.
Online [find us here for Long Ashton and here for Barrow & Flax]
If you’re not able to get to church this weekend, there are two opportunities to worship online this Sunday.
Click here to join the 10.00am service from Long Ashton.
Click here to join the 10.00am service from Flax Bourton.
A recording of both services will also be available ‘on demand’ afterwards so you can catch up whenever is convenient.
Continuing our series of “holy habits” for Lent, this week we look at fasting.
On this second Sunday of Lent we meet in Flax Bourton church at 10am for “cafe church”, where we begin with refreshments and a catch-up, seated in small groups around tables. Music and prayers are informal, with the opportunity to talk about life and faith round our tables, and often a creative activity or interactive element – brilliant for those who prefer making or doing to listening. Cafe Church is informal, engaging and inclusive for all ages and stages of faith. Readings are Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 and Mark 8: 31-38.
Each week during Lent, we’ll be exploring some simple ways in which we can put our faith into practice by cultivating some ‘Holy Habits’ which can help make space for God. This week we look at Scripture: how do you engage meaningfully with the texts of the Bible day by day? How does it shape your agenda? We’ll be sharing more in church on Sunday.
Memorial services This week we remember with thanks the lives of Janet Turp and Sue Topalian. This is a reminder that services of thanksgiving for their lives will take place at All Saints, Long Ashton next week as follows:
Janet – Monday 26th Feb at 1.00pm (followed by refreshments at Long Ashton Village Hall)
Sue – Friday 1st March at 2.00pm (followed by refreshments in church)
Breakfast @9 is an informal, friendly cafe-style service, beginning with bacon rolls, pastries, tea/coffee and juice from 8.45am. Music, discussion and prayers are interactive and inclusive – suitable for all ages and stages – as we explore life and faith together. We aim to finish by 9.45am to allow for the rest of the day’s activities.
10.30am Family Communion – at All Saints[find us here]
We gather as a family of God’s people of all ages to meet with God in scripture, song and the sharing of bread and wine at Communion. Everyone’s welcome and there are usually activities for young children to enjoy during the service if they want to. The service lasts just over an hour and refreshments are served afterwards.
Our church services are community-focused and open to all. You don’t need to be a ‘member’ to join in. Everyone is invited and we hope you’ll feel at home at any of our services, however old or young you are, wherever you’re coming from and whatever you bring on your heart or mind.
Revd James Harris writes:
Each week during Lent, we’ll be exploring some simple ways in which we can put our faith into practice by cultivating some ‘Holy Habits’ which can help make space for God. This week we look at prayer – how do you do it? What are your tips? We’ll be sharing more in church on Sunday.
Sue Topalian
Many will have already heard the news that Sue died at the end of last week – peacefully and with her family gathered. Berj and the family are grateful for answered prayers in this respect. Sue was a much-loved member of the Long Ashton church and community, as well as maintaining a wide network of friendship, ministry and influence across Bristol and beyond.
A service of thanksgiving for Sue’s life will be held at All Saints, Long Ashton on Friday 1st March at 2.00pm. All are welcome.
40 days of prayer for the Middle East
Annabel Moule, a member of All Saints and co-leader of our Emerge youth group, has written a Lent book which takes us on a journey of prayer through the Middle East and North Africa, exploring the region’s long Christian heritage and introducing us to Christian believers living there today. Published by Christian broadcaster SAT-7, it’s a perfect accompaniment to our Lent ‘Holy Habits’ and couldn’t be more topical in these troubled times.
Copies of Annabel’s book will be available in church this weekend and cost £5 each (please pay Annabel directly rather than putting money in the plate or using the contactless machine).
Climate justice vigil: 14 – 24 Feb
A vigil is now underway outside Parliament for the next 10 days and nights to pray for environmental and climate justice.
All are welcome to join the vigil in person or from home, to give thanks for the earth and all that is in it, to lament the damage that has been done and the impacts of climate change, to speak out for justice for our global neighbours who have lost homes, livelihoods and loved ones and to seek ways of hope and transformation.
The vigil is organised by a group of charities including Christian Aid and A Rocha (one of our mission partners) and it aims to prompt the UK Government to:
1. Make the UK’s biggest polluters pay for climate action.
2. Deliver and build on the UK’s international climate finance pledges and pay into the UN’s Loss and Damage Fund.
3. Ban new UK-based fossil fuel projects. More information is available here.
We gather as a family of God’s people of all ages to meet with God in scripture, song and the sharing of bread and wine at Communion. Everyone’s welcome and there are usually activities for young children to enjoy during the service if they want to. The service lasts just over an hour and refreshments are served afterwards. This weekend’s Bible readings are 2 Cor 4:3-6 and Mark 9:2-9
Wednesday this week is Ash Wednesday and we mark it as the start of the season of Lent, the “forty days” leading up to Easter. This year, we’re holding the service at Flax Bourton church at 7.30 pm. If this time is difficult for you , there is a welcome for you at a similar service in Keedwell church in Long Ashton at 3pm on the same day.
Both services will include the opportunity to receive the sign of the cross in ash on our foreheads as a symbol of God’s loving forgiveness.
Also, please note that Services for 18th Feb will be as follows:
9.00am – Breakfast @9 at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton – informal service with food and discussion.
10.30am – Joint benefice Communion service at All Saints, Long Ashton
NB: this means there will be no service in Flax Bourton or Barrow Gurney next weekend but all are welcome to worship at Long Ashton as we join together as one family of God’s people across our three villages.
As you may know, we support the Sisters of the Church in St Paul’s, Bristol and this year they are asking for donations of easter eggs.
Here is information about the Climate justice vigil: 14 – 24 Feb
Starting on Ash Wednesday people from across the UK will be holding vigil outside Parliament for 10 days and nights to pray for environmental and climate justice.
All are welcome to join the vigil in person or from home, to give thanks for the earth and all that is in it, to lament the damage that has been done and the impacts of climate change, to speak out for justice for our global neighbours who have lost homes, livelihoods and loved ones and to seek ways of hope and transformation.
The vigil is organised by a group of charities including Christian Aid and A Rocha (one of our mission partners) and it aims to prompt the UK Government to:
1. Make the UK’s biggest polluters pay for climate action.
2. Deliver and build on the UK’s international climate finance pledges and pay into the UN’s Loss and Damage Fund.
3. Ban new UK-based fossil fuel projects. More information is available here.
Finally, do not forget our Weekly gatherings
Tuesdays – 9.15am Morning Prayer at Flax Bourton Church and via Zoom. We use an order of service which is available from the Church of England website here.
Thursdays – 6.00pm informal evening prayers via Zoom. No set order of service but a time of open sharing and praying together.
Fridays – 10.30am Holy Communion at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton followed by coffee, cake and chat.
On this second Sunday before the season of Lent begins, we gather as a family of God’s people of all ages to meet with God in scripture, song and the sharing of bread and wine at Communion. Everyone’s welcome and there are usually activities for young children to enjoy during the service if they want to. The service lasts just over an hour and refreshments are served afterwards. Readings are Prov 8:1, 22-31 and John 1:1-14
It is our monthly Souperlunch in Flax Bourton church at 12 noon on Tuesday (6th) when you are welcome to come and share soup, bread and cheese with friends. We are expecting some of the children from Flax Bourton school to join us and also Lyndsay Newman, who is our Village Agent and drops in from time to time to bring us up to date with local services. Also expected to be with us is Annemieke Waite, our North Somerset Councillor who would welcome questions and comments.
Our monthly meditation takes place, also in Flax Bourton church, on Thursday 8th at 11.30am. There is a short introduction followed by a time of silent listening and reflection.
Cafe Church begins with refreshments and chance to chat with friends old and new before we enjoy an informal service together, seated around tables, exploring the Bible and responding with a creative activity suitable for all ages. This month will involve cakes, candles and Smarties as we think about seeking, celebrating and sharing God’s light throughout our lives. The service takes place in the Court Chapel inside Barrow Gurney church and lasts under an hour. Readings are Hebrews 2: 14-18 and Luke 2: 22-40.
On Wednesday 31 January at 9.30am we have our monthly Community Blessing prayers in Barrow Gurney. An opportunity to pray for the life and livelihoods of our village. Contact Jan for details of the venue.
Long Ashton church office
The office telephone number has now been successfully ported across to the new location at Keedwell so 01275 393109 is now reinstated! Please now disregard the temporary number we have been using – and don’t forget to drop into Keedwell (entrance at the rear) to visit the new Office!
Sign up for Alpha
Alpha is a series of discussion sessions introducing the essentials of the Christian faith and providing a space to ask questions and explore how they relate to life and experience. The introductory session takes place at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton this coming Thurs 1st Feb at 7.00pm. Contact James or Jo if you’d like more information, or sign up here.
Ash Wednesday
Lent begins in a couple of weeks’ time with special services for Ash Wednesday (14th Feb). This year, we’re offering the same service at two different times to enable more of us to worship on this day which speaks so powerfully into the heart of our faith:
3.00pm – at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton
7.30pm – at Flax Bourton Church
Both services will include the opportunity to receive the sign of the cross in ash on our foreheads as a symbol of God’s loving forgiveness. If you have a palm cross from last year, please drop it into the Church Office to be made into the ash for this year’s services.
We gather as a family of God’s people of all ages to meet with God in scripture, song and the sharing of bread and wine at Communion. Everyone’s welcome and there are usually activities for young children to enjoy during the service if they want to. The service lasts just over an hour and refreshments are served afterwards. This week’s readings are from the book of Revelation chap 19 vv 6-10 and St John’s Gospel chap 2 vv 1-11.
Sign up for Alpha
Alpha is a series of discussion sessions introducing the essentials of the Christian faith and providing a space to ask questions and explore how they relate to life and experience. The introductory session takes place at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton on Thurs 1st Feb at 7.00pm. Contact James or Jo if you’d like more information, or sign up here.
Our worship is not only on Sundays.
Weekly gatherings
Tuesdays – 9.15am Morning Prayer at Flax Bourton Church and via Zoom. We use an order of service which is available from the Church of England website here.
Thursdays – 6.00pm informal evening prayers via Zoom. No set order of service but a time of open sharing and praying together.
Fridays – 10.30am Holy Communion at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton followed by coffee, cake and chat.
Monthly gatherings
Monthly on Wednesdays – 9.30am: Community Blessing prayers in Barrow Gurney. An opportunity to pray for the life and livelihoods of our village. Contact Jan for dates and venues.
2nd Thursday of the month -11.30am: Silent Meditation at Flax Bourton Church. A short introduction followed by a time of silent listening and reflection.
For the second Sunday of Epiphany we are meeting at Barrow Gurney church at 10am for a family Communion service. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Readings are 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 and John 1: 43-51. Our church services are community-focused and opento all. You don’t need to be a ‘member’ to join in. Everyone is invited and we hope you’ll feelat home at any of our services, wherever you’re coming from and whatever you bring on your heart or mind.
Monthly on Wednesdays at 9.30am: we pray community blessings in Barrow Gurney. This is an opportunity to pray for the life and livelihoods of our village. If you feel moved to join us in upholding the village and its occupants in prayer, contact Jan for dates and venues.
Flax Bourton Community Trust
A reminder that this Trust exists to provide small grants to support Flax Bourton residents who find themselves in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, hardship, distress or any other disadvantage. Requests for support are considered in confidence. Please get in touch by email and/or share this information with neighbours who may need support.
This Sunday we have morning worship at Flax Bourton church at 10am. There will be music, readings and prayers to celebrate Epiphany. The wise men will arrive at the crib and the service lasts about an hour. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Readings are from Isaiah 60 verses 1-6 and St Matthew’s Gospel chapter 2 verses 1-12.
Thursday this week (11th Jan) sees the monthly time of meditation in Flax Bourton church at 11.30am. We have a short introduction followed by a time of silent listening and reflection.
Long Aston church office.
Please note the Office has now moved from Church House to its new home at Keedwell Church (junction of Rayens Cross Rd and Keedwell Hill). The entrance for visitors to the office is at the rear of the building and opening hours remain the same: Mon – Thurs 9am – 1pm. However, there is currently a temporary telephone number – 01275 544456 – while we wait for the existing number to be transferred.
A reminder about Alpha
Alpha is a series of discussion sessions introducing the essentials of the Christian faith and providing a space to explore how they relate to life and experience. An introductory session takes place at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton on Thurs 1st Feb at 7.00pm. There’s no obligation to carry on afterwards but we hope this evening will help you understand the content and format of the following sessions so you can make an informed decision about whether to participate. Please contact James or Jo to register your interest or to discuss further.
Flax Bourton Community Trust
This Trust exists to provide small grants to support Flax Bourton residents who find themselves in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, hardship, distress or any other disadvantage. Requests for support are considered in confidence. Please get in touch by email and/or share this information with neighbours who may need support.
See out the old year at our joint service – 10am at All Saints, Long Ashton. This will be a family service, shared with parishioners from Barrow Gurney, Flax Bourton and Long Ashton. Readings are Paul’s letter to the Galatians 4:4-7 and Luke’s Gospel 2:15-21.
This week we have Souperlunch at Flax Bourton church on Tuesday from 12 noon and the usual warm space (now actually warm!) cafe will also be open from 2-4pm on Thursday. Come along and enjoy good company with friends and neighbours.
Radiance 