Saint Michael’s Church

Serving God and Bishop’s Stortford

 

 Parish Diary

27th January - 5th February 2012

Morning Prayer 8:30am every day Monday to Friday         

 

Friday              6:00pm          Choir Rehearsal

 

Saturday         9:30am           Prayers for the Life of our Parish

                       9:30am           Interviews for Banns, Baptisms and

                                             Weddings (by appointment)

                       5:30pm           Evening Prayer

 

Sunday            8:00am          Holy Communion

                       10:00am         Parish Communion

                        6:00pm         Deanery Evening Service, All Saints

                        7:30pm         Youth Home Group, Cowell House  

 

Monday           8:00pm           Fabric Committee meeting, WCC1

 

Tuesday           7:00pm           Seedlings Home Group, WCC1

 

Wednesday       10:00am        Holy Communion

                         10:45am        Tiny Tots

                         6:00pm           ‘Team’ Evening Prayer, All Saints

                       

Thursday          12 noon         Thanksgiving service for Joyce Mortimer

                                                Refreshments after service, WCC CH

 

Friday              9:30am           Holy Communion (BCP)

                        6:00pm           Choir Rehearsal

 

Saturday          9:30am           Prayers for the Life of our Parish

                        9:30am           Interviews for Banns, Baptisms and

                                                Weddings (by appointment)

                        2:30pm           Christingle Preparation

                        3:00pm           Set up for dinner, WCC CH

                        5:30pm           Evening Prayer

                        7:30pm           St Michael’s School Governors’ Dinner,

                                                WCC CH and St Joseph’s

                       

Next                 8:00am           Holy Communion

Sunday            10:00am        Parish Praise - Christingle

                        11:15am        Sung Eucharist

                        12:30pm        Thanksgiving service for birth of child

                        1:00pm           Company on Sunday Lunch, WCC CH

 

 

Parish Newsletters

29th January - Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

22nd January - Third Sunday of Epiphany

15th January - Second Sunday of Epiphany

8th January - The Baptism of Christ

1st January - The Naming of Christ 

Parish Rotas

 

Sunday Rotas January - March 2012

Sunday Coffee Rota January - December 2012

Baptism Helper Rota January-December 2012

Psalm Cantor Rota January-April 2012

Welcome Desk Rota November 2011 - April 2012

Courtesy Reminder: If you'd like to make a change to any
Parish Rota, please email or ring the Parish Office.

 Current Affairs Discussions

 

Silhouettes of Discontent

If you wish to write an article or add something to a discussion,
please email
Fr Anthony

 notices

 

 

ST MICHAEL'S EVENTS

Sunday:     

The anthem at the 10am service is Be thou my vision (Chilcott).

The Deanery Evening Service tonight is a Candlemas Carol Service by Candlelight: ‘From the Epiphany to the Presentation’; at All Saints, Hockerill at 6pm.  All warmly welcome.

The Youth Home Group meets at 7:30pm tonight.  This is for those who have expressed an interest in a more serious discussion group.  Tonight’s discussion is ‘Why we are here’.

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Holly Rings – If you bought a Holly Ring at the Holly Fair, please could you return just the wire ring and pine cones to be recycled to help save expenses for the next Holly Fair.  Thank you.

 

Magazine Distributors – Please could any distributors who have not so far handed in their collections, please let Eddie Braybrooke have them as soon as possible.  Many thanks.

 

URGENT REQUEST from Harlow Foodbank – It urgently needs TINNED MEATS so please help if you can by leaving them in the blue crate in the Publicity Area.

 

The New Testament Download or on MP3 – For those of you who asked to receive this offer from The Bible Society, the information has finally come into the office and I have placed the pledge sheets in your pigeonholes.  I am sorry for the huge delay!  More pledge sheets are available in the Publicity Area for anybody else who is interested.  I will need to have these sheets returned to me by the 1st February so that I can place the order.  Katharine Stanley

  

Bumper Open Morning – There will be an Open Morning on Saturday 28th January with a small selection of bric-a-brac and some books; as well as cakes and homemade produce.  We welcome contributions: particularly small cakes and scones, as well as a few items such as paper backs (in a clean, good condition) and unwanted Christmas presents.  Please sign the list in the Publicity Area indicating what you will bring.

    

The Man Born To Be King – This ground-breaking series of twelve short radio plays by Dorothy L Sayers telling the life of Jesus was first performed in 1942 on the BBC.  Now, in 2012, St Michael's is planning to perform five of them during Holy Week (1st-8th April) as an act of worship.  But to do so we need people to take part by reading one or more of the roles (no learning of lines is involved). There are a lot of parts, big and small. This has the potential to be something really special, so if (a) you can read and (b) you are interested in participating or want to know more, please sign the sheet at the back of the church, or contact Toby or John Emmett (659988).

 

Ecumenical Lent Home Groups – This Lent, the ministers of CTBS would like to invite you to join with other churches to reflect and pray together using the York Course ‘Handing on the Torch’.  If this is something you would like to be involved in, either to host (open your home to others), lead (guide the conversation with the help of a book) or join (come along to listen and share), please contact Anthony (asearle76@googlemail.com or 655021) by 14th February. Please give days/times that you’re available, and whether you’d like to host and/or lead and Anthony will arrange the groups. 

 

Mission Action Planning - As part of the process of discerning our vision for the future, Fr Anthony will continue to update a page dedicated to Mission Action Planning.  Please keep an eye on the progress and comment, especially on the results of the PCC 'at home' day!You are invited to review the work done by the PCC on our parish's MAP.  This can be done through the link above to the MAP pages or on paper at the back of church.  Your thoughts and ideas are vital - you are the church and it is our mission - so please do take an active part in this process.  Thank you.

  

St Michael’s Festival – If you can help with stewarding at some time on the festival days (18th, 19th, 20th May); please sign your name on the list in the Publicity Area.  Help is also needed with the art and craft exhibitions: leave your name at the Welcome Desk.

 

Wanted, Photographs – As part of St Michael’s Festival in May, there will be a display in the library showing the various activities of the church, from choir practice to Tiny Tots to Home Groups.  If anybody has photographs which might be suitable for the exhibition, speak to Roger Sudbury or leave your details at the Welcome Desk.

 

Fr Anthony's Ordination and first celebration of the Eucharist - If you were not there or just would like some reminders of the events, please have a look at the photos (click here).  They are downloadable and you can add to them!  Anthony

      

St Michael’s School Recipe Book – Parents, teachers and friends of St Michael’s school have contributed to a cook book, which is available through the Parish Office at a cost of £5.00, with all proceeds going to the school.

 

St Michael’s goes on YouTube – The Outreach Committee have put together a short video of scenes from St Michael's taken during the Palm Sunday and Easter services this year.  In due course they plan to do more of these showing different aspects of Parish life.  Go to St Michael's Church Bishops Stortford Palm Sunday and Easter Services.avi to have a look!

 

Company on Sunday – Our next lunch is on Sunday 5th February.  Sign the list in the Publicity Area after Christmas.

         

LOCAL EVENTS/INFORMATION  

  

KidzKlub – Adult helpers urgently required to assist at KidzKlub on Fridays from 5-6:30pm.  You would not necessarily need to help every week; it could be once a month.  If you would like to know more, please contact Clair Sarles on 507404.

 

Harlow Foodbank – During  January, Localgiving.com will be MATCH FUNDING every donation you make to Harlow Foodbank, which means that whatever you donate it will be increased by 100%. This offer is only available until the £125,000 target has been achieved so please support them and make a donation.  If you would like to make a donation go to www.mrct.org.uk and click the Localgiving.com button and follow the online instructions.

 

Soul Space – You are warmly invited to a Soul Space service at All Saints’ on Sunday 12th February at 6:30pm.  All Saints youth groups take an active part in planning and conducting the service.

  

Shine Jesus Shine service - The next service, designed for people with a learning disability, will be next Sunday 5th February from 3pm-5pm at The Charis Centre, Water Lane.  All welcome.

 

Emerge Open Mic – An event running on the fourth Sunday each month from 7:30-10pm at Bacchus Wine Bar on Anchor Street: to encourage interaction amongst Christians in their 20’s/30’s.  It asks for support in prayer, or for you to come along and help share the Gospel or musicians to perform.  Go to www.emerge.so

  

  

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BISHOP'S STORTFORD (ST MICHAEL)

Charity Registration Number 1130646

 

 

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