May 2025 Newsletter
All Saints Church, Earls Barton
May 2025
A Joyful Easter Season By Rev Jenny Bland
Did you know that Easter is far more than a day? In the Church calendar, it’s a whole season, a full 50 days long—that’s ten days longer than Lent! It’s always struck me as beautifully deliberate that we spend more time celebrating Jesus’ resurrection than we do in the solemnity of preparation in Lent. Hope, joy, new life, after all, deserves to be properly celebrated. Lent is often more familiar, forty days of giving something up or taking something on, reflecting, waiting. But Easter? Easter is a season of joy, of new beginnings, of discovering again and again that life conquers death, and that love is stronger than fear. The flowers might be dwindling now and the chocolate eggs coming to an end (or are long gone!), but the message of Easter is still unfolding. This is one of the reasons I love May in the church year. It’s right in the heart of Eastertide. We’re still lighting the Paschal candle each Sunday. We’re still telling the stories of the risen Jesus—meeting his friends on the road, appearing on the beach, quietly breaking bread. They’re deeply human encounters, full of wonder, confusion, and the gradual dawning of belief. I wonder if that’s where some of us are too? Not quite sure what we believe, but drawn to something deeper. If that’s you, I want to say you are most welcome here. Church isn’t just for the certain—it’s for the curious, the questioning, the weary, the wondering and the hopeful. We’re a community learning together, stumbling sometimes, but always held in God’s love and grace. So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering about faith, or if it’s been a while since you last came through our doors, perhaps this Easter season is the perfect time to return—or to come for the first time? You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just come as you are. A prayer you might like to pray: Lord Jesus, in this Easter season, I give you thanks for
…I am hopeful for… something I need your help with is… Lord, help me to trust to you more each day and be open to seeing the signs of your work all around me. Amen.
Our Services this Month
What’s on at All Saints Church?
Every Day
We are open every day 10am - 4pm* for everyone in our parish to enjoy their parish church. So pop in, have a look around, make time to pray, read from the Bible or enjoy a pit stop with your little ones as they play with the toys. We’re open for you. *Subject to occasional offices (weddings, funerals, baptisms) and special events/circumstances.
Midweek Worship
Every Wednesday - 9:30am Holy Communion.
On the first Wednesday of the month there is a short service of Holy Communion in the Church Hall at 3pm followed by refreshments - everyone is welcome, we often have new people joining us.
Sunday Services *HC denotes Holy Communion
4th-9am *HC, 10am All Together, 6pm Evensong
11th-10am *HC with JaM, children’s group
18th-10am Shorter *HC with JaM, followed by APCM(Annual Parochial Church Mtg)
25th-10am *HC with JaM.
Everyone is welcome to join us for our services and we warmly encourage children.
We have an area with books and toys for families and a toilet a short walk away in our Church Hall. Refreshments are served and friendship and fellowship encouraged after every Sunday 10am service in the Church Hall.
Other seasonal services
29th – Ascension Day 7.30pm Holy Communion
Other events in May
The Prayer Course is running in May at All Saints Church, 10:30am on Wednesday from 30th April in Church and starting 1st May on Thursdays at 7:30 at a home in Earls Barton contact thevicar.earlsbarton@outlook.com to know more.
4th – Messy Church @ Methodist Church 2.30pm to 4pm
4th - All Saints Youth Group 7 - 8.30pm, contact Sarah Howes at howes_africa@yahoo.com for location details
10th – Fairtrade Coffee Morning - 10am to 1pm, the Church Hall. 18th - All Saints Youth Group 7 - 8.30pm, contact Sarah Howes.
This Month’s Events
FAIRTRADE CAFÉ & SECONDHAND BOOKSALE on SATURDAY 10th MAY as we’re delighted to be joined by the Guide dogs association, including some of their lovely dogs! So do come & support them as well..
Enjoy chatting, browsing our products & secondhand books, & fresh coffee & yummy homemade cakes… Everyone welcome!
Email: nicky_smithseb@y ahoo.co.uk or phone: 07812 686944
Looking Ahead
ANNUAL PLANT SWAP & SALE
Saturday 14th June 10am- noon
All Saints Church Yard Earls Barton
A great way to share excess plants and gain new ones. Plants can be donated, swapped or just bought!
So start sowing, thinning, cutting, and bring along on the day! (Valuation of plants will be at the organisers discretion) (need more info? – phone 07775 708771)
Musical Evening Events
Saturday June 14th - evening- times TBC Eternal Star of Queen tribute band return for another fantastic concert.
Tuesday June 17th - 7pm (6.30pm for refreshments) Concert by the Animato Singers
Historical Exhibition
Another date for your diaries is week commencing 16th June. There will be a historical exhibition in the church. More details to follow through emails and social media.
Climate & Nature
Our ECO Church team & Wild@AllSaints are delighted to announce that we have a national travelling exhibition about climate coming to All Saints in June. It's organised by 'Zero Hour' who have been campaigning for a while about the Climate & Nature' (CAN) bill, now due for debate in July.
The exhibition is called 'Letters from the Global South' and consists of interesting & accessible scientific information about the changing climate, focusing on various countries of the world & also features letters and drawings from children from many of those countries who are most affected by climate change. Quiz sheets will also be available.
It will be hosted by All Saints church 7th - 11th June 10-4 daily (12 -4 on Sunday) but please check ASEB website as access may be limited at certain times when we have school groups visiting. Alongside the exhibition we have a Wildlife Family Activity Weekend in All Saints churchyard Saturday 7th 10 - 4pm & Sunday 8th 12 - 4pm with refreshments and activities for all ages.
So, Help with Hosting welcomed as we look forward to lots of visitors!
* Could you bake a cake or 2?
* Could you help serve refreshments at the weekend for an hour or 2 or help with running the wildlife activities?
* Could you be in church for an hour or 2 on the weekdays (Mon 9th - Wed 11th) when we continue to have the exhibition open to the public?
Please contact Nicola on 07812 686844 to offer help, for more info or add your name to the help rotas near the church entrance, thanks so much!