October 2025 - E-Magazine
- The Team at Yate Parish
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
Please click below for a printable copy of the magazine:
Flags, flags and more flags
On my return from holiday I was greeted with a hero’s welcome: all these flags run up the lamp posts for my return. Of course, I know they were not for me, they were not a welcome home. No, they were a message that said, ‘You are not welcome – go home’.
I have spent some time thinking about what I am proud of about this nation, as well as those aspects that bring shame and embarrassment. On balance I would say we have more to be proud of than ashamed of.
I am aware that I had no influence over the luck that I was born free in a safe land, a land of prosperity and opportunity, a land with a Christian heritage. And luckiest of all in the world’s greatest city.
These flags do not fill me with national pride! Why? Because those who have put them up have recorded videos using foul and offensive language, their message highlighting that they are intolerant, inhospitable and xenophobic. Some claim it is about patriotism but for the majority it is clearly nationalism. By the blessing of where they were born, they are more entitled than those who did not win the lottery of circumstance. The flags are a distraction from our Christian heritage. The flag is formed from the shadow of the cross. The cross of Christ to which George pledged allegiance when he chose heaven over empire. It is a sign of faith over force, truth over tyranny. The cross on the lamp post is devoid of Christ, it is no longer used as a sign of sacrifice but as a banner of belonging, or more as a sign to let others know that they do not belong. It is no longer a mark of pride but of exclusion.
There is nothing wrong with flags in the right place, at the right time and for the right reasons. But now that they have been hijacked for a cause that Christ would not recognise, they have become divisive and dangerous. They have become symbols of hate rather than love and sacrifice. They are asking you to decide who belongs and who does not.
Jesus said ‘If you want to be my disciple take up your cross and follow me’. He never said ‘take up your flag’. He never said ‘take up your tribe’. He didn’t say ‘take up your nation’. |
The flag is a symbol of barriers between them and us. The cross is a symbol of breaking down barriers for all tribes and nations.
Take up your cross and follow Christ. Show love, care and compassion to those for whom he came. Be a peacemaker, not one who causes division.
I hope this piece has enabled you to reflect on what it means to be a Christian in the world today. May you know God’s peace in your life.
Blessings
Rev Dave Jones |
More improvements at St Nix
The new chairs have arrived at St Nix. This is the next phase of brightening up our worship space—and don’t they look really lovely?
You can see the real colour—cranberry - on the front cover.
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Services throughout the Parish
Sunday 5th October 16th Sunday of Trinity - Green Habakkuk 1.1-4,2.1-4 2 Timothy 1.1-14 Luke 17.5-10
St Mary
10.30am Parish Service— Sue Gent’s Licensing
No other service in the Parish
Sunday 12th October 17th Sunday of Trinity - Green 2 Kings 5.1-3,7-15c 2 Timothy 2.8-15 Luke 17.11-19
St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Harvest Festival Service 6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix 9.30am Harvest Festival Service
St James 11.00am Morning Worship
St Peter 6.30pm Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
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Sunday 19th October 18th Sunday of Trinity - Green Genesis 32.22-31 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5 Luke 18.1-8
St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Morning Worship 6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix 9.30am Communion
St James 11.00am Communion
St Peter 6.30pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 26th October Last Sunday of Trinity - Green Isaiah 45.22-end Romans 15.1-6 Luke 4.16-24
St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Communion 6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix 9.30am Morning Worship
St James 11.00am Morning Worship
St Peter 4.00pm Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
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Mothers’ Union Yate October 2025
Grateful thanks to all who joined us for our Strawberry Tea on 9th August. It was great that so many friends and family turned out, it was a super occasion and much enjoyed. We were pleased to have raised £171.00. This will go towards the various projects that we support which include the creation and delivery of 45 ‘Bags of Love’ that were given out this week to parents of the new Reception children at St Mary’s School.
During the year we also support the Bristol Children’s Hospital families, homeless people, prison visitor families and play for disabled children. We are working to eliminate Domestic Violence through our Rise Up Campaign. More of that next month!
Our October Meeting is on Thursday 16th October at St Nix starting at 2pm. ‘Join us and join in!’ as we chat about and celebrate the special days and memories in our lives:
‘This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!’
Our meetings start with prayers and a Bible reading and finish with tea and biscuits. We have a full programme of speakers and events for the rest of the year, and visitors and guests are always very welcome.
For more information about Mothers’ Union please contact Jacky on 07501 670265 or jackyfredrickson@gmail.com Website: www.muyate.org.uk
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Tree Fest 2025 - update (Previously St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival)
In this tenth year of our Christmas tree festival, we have chosen the theme ‘Christmas Past and Present’. The parish-wide festival will run from Friday 28th November to Saturday 6th December and will feature some new events, participants and locations. Watch out for more details over the coming weeks.
As we continue to work on finalising the programme, we are dedicating this article to our opening night when we’ll be welcoming the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew to perform some of their favourite numbers at St Mary’s Church, Yate. |
The Crew was founded by Ian (Nobby) Dye and Steve (The Rev) Hawkins in February 2022. Nobby has been singing shanties since 1972 and has been singing with Rev since they met and became shipmates in 1985. In 2002 these two incorrigible rogues found themselves unexpectedly marooned but encountered a few more shipwrecked sailors washed up on the shore. These like-minded souls were soon press-ganged into service and so Skipper, Fish, Art, Paddles, Chuffer, Doc, Old Bill and Ash duly joined the crew.
After several voyages across the seven seas, the crew realised that a few new stanchions would help to support the ship and so landlubbers Oggie, Chilli, Muff and Thunderbox Bill were recruited as new deckhands and now serve aboard as full crewmates.
Since starting out together, they have become not just Shanty Crew but a group of friends who simply enjoy each other’s company, singing their hearts out together and dressing up as sailors.
They are a crew of mates who just love to sing traditional working shanties along with more modern maritime songs and Bristol sea shanties. Their mantra is ‘Fun and Friendship, Melody and Mirth’ they sing anything with a nautical theme and a good tune or a good lyric, but their priority is to enjoy themselves and to entertain their audiences. They give their time for free to support festivals or charity fundraising events……all they ask in return is a reasonable donation to support their chosen charity.
100% of the donations received at Tree Fest 2025 will be split 50/50 and go to support the excellent work of the Teenage Cancer Trust and St Mary’s Accessible Toilet Fund.
The evening will commence at 7pm (doors open 6.30pm). During the interval Tree Fest 2025 will be formally opened, with drinks and nibbles available to purchase and a raffle. Tickets (£10 each) will shortly be available via Eventbrite.
Lastly - do you have any photos or memorabilia? A pictorial display of the first nine years of Tree Festival is planned, so if you have any photos, programmes, memorabilia you’re happy to share with us for the display, please contact us at parishoffice@yateparish.org so we can make arrangements to borrow them.
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Readings for Morning and Evening Prayer The Table below has the readings for Morning and Evening prayer. The Facebook prayers will read the Old Testament in the morning but you can chose either reading for morning or evening. Prayer books are available from the Parish Office. |
Weekly at St Mary’s
Thursday Communion at 10.00am
Compline @8pm
Before the lockdown happened, we had recorded the saying of Compline. We ask that each evening at 8pm we light a candle in our window and pray together for our nation using the words of the Compline service - it takes just over 5 minutes.
Visit the parish website and click on the recordings to listen; you will find the words of the service there too.