Children and Young People

This is a page especially for our young friends at St Michael's!

 

We welcome children as full members of our Church, and there are many opportunities for children and young people to be involved in the life of the Church.  See the links at the bottom of the page for more info.

Grown ups: The YouTube/Vimeo links will always be carefully checked, with E-safety in mind, and are designed to be a shared experience as a family, not for children on their own.  You might wish to check out the videos before your children view them.
 

Mothering Sunday

 

Each year on the fourth Sunday of Lent, many countries celebrate Mothering Sunday.  This typically involves lavishing Mums with gifts and attention and celebrating the women who have nurtured us throughout our lives.  This year it's Sunday, 10th March.

Many traditions have shaped Mothering Sunday into the celebration recognised today.  For example: from the 16th Century (500 years ago) people would make a journey to their ‘mother’ church once a year; also those working in the fields on wealthy farms and estates in England would be allowed to have the day off (which was more family focussed).
On Mothering Sunday, churches around the country will be sharing their own traditions, celebrating and giving thanks to the huge impact mothers have on each of our lives.  We recognise that the day may be difficult for some people and so we include prayers for those who don’t find the day particularly easy.
Why not make this bookmark and offer it as a gift to somebody?  It doesn't have to be just on Mothering Sunday! 
Mothering Sunday bookmark
You might like to print this bookmark onto lightweight card, colour it in then cut it out and give it as a gift to somebody to show that you care about them.

Lent

Lent is a time when we repent (say sorry) for the bad things we have done or said or thought, and get closer to Jesus.  It starts about 40 days before Easter which reminds us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert on his own, facing temptations (things that would have been wrong to do).
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, this year that's 14th February.   Usually, in a service, we use ashes from burned palm crosses from last year and the Vicar makes the sign of the cross on our forehead with them, as a sign of REPENTENCE, HUMILITY and MORTALITY.  That's why he says the words:
"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" and "Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ".
This year we have some activities you might like to do at home to remind you of Jesus in these 40 days.

"Lent in Three Minutes”
Older children might want to watch this video from Busted Halo.  (Busted Halo is a Catholic YouTube channel, but most of what’s included in this video is what we'd do at St Michael's too).

Here's a great song for Lent
Listen to the lyrics of this song 'Alive' from the brilliant band Hillsong and see how they fit into the Lent story.  In fact, it's a lyric video so you can sing along too!

Think about this artwork
 
Wilderness Journey⇔ Click to enlarge
One of our young people, Mimi Broughton, painted this wonderful artwork to help us think about Lent and Jesus' time in the wilderness.  Mimi says, "It symbolises that you must follow this path if you believe in God.  Sometimes it can get a bit bumpy and sometimes a whole chunk can fall off. However you must keep on going and not fall into the sea of Satan because it is hard to get back up to God".
Why not use the picture with your families.  Spend some time looking closely at it.
What do you see?
What does it make you think of?
How do you feel?
How would you imagine Jesus in the wilderness?
Why not finish with a prayer, either on your own or with your family ... perhaps a thank you, a sorry, or a please prayer.
 
Colour a Lenten calendar
Click on the picture on the right to print a large version ⇒Concentric Circles Lent 2021
Choose a word to think about or a person to pray for.  Write the word or name in the space and draw around it.
Let the word or name speak to you.  If words come to you as you draw, pray them.  If not, just continue to draw, stay quiet, and let the word or name burrow into your mind and heart.
The aim of the doodling and drawing is not to make a beautiful work of art, but to create a visual prayer.
Really young children might like to simply colour the shape whilst their grown-ups say a prayer.
 
Watch this cartoon, 'Jesus in the Desert'
Using wonderful pictures "40" by Si Smith (an artist from Leeds), and the song "How he loves" by John Mark McMillan this YouTuber created a great video, 'Jesus in the Desert' which you can enjoy with your families as a quiet time of worship.

 
Try a Lectio Divina (divine reading) for Lent - something for those in Y7 upwards
Info
Never heard of it?  Click on the image for some info, which will tell you a little bit more about a simple form of Lectio Divina and will help get you started.  Why not give it a whirl!
This more simple form is based on focussing on one word in a phrase from Scripture.  Each week in Lent we'll share the Sunday Gospel reading for you to think about:
Palm Sunday: Mark 11. 1-11

Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. They came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of his followers. He said to them, “Go to the town you see there. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. If anyone asks you why you are doing this, tell him, ‘The Master needs the colt. He will send it back soon.’”  The followers went into the town. They found a colt tied in the street near the door of a house, and they untied it. Some people were standing there and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?” The followers answered the way Jesus told them to answer. And the people let them take the colt.  The followers brought the colt to Jesus. They put their coats on the colt, and Jesus sat on it. Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches in the fields and spread the branches on the road. Some of the people were walking ahead of Jesus. Others were following him. All of them were shouting, “Praise God! God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord!  God bless the kingdom of our father David!  That kingdom is coming!  Praise to God in heaven!”  Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. When he had looked at everything, and since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the 12 apostles.

Come to church and receive a Palm Cross on Palm Sunday!
In the Bible we hear how Jesus came to Jerusalem and people broke off palm branches and went out to meet him waving their palms, cheering 'Hosanna!'  At our 10am service on Palm Sunday, 24th March, we'll be sharing in a procession around the church, receiving our Palm Cross, then learning more in our Godly Play session.

Holy Week and Easter
EasterColoring
In the week leading up to Easter, Christians think about those last important few days before Jesus died on the cross.  It starts with a special service on Maundy Thursday.  Then the church is open all day on Good Friday and 10am-1pm Easter Eve and there's special 'Young Person's space' with artwork, poetry, prayer corner, our own special display and more.

Finally there is a family service at 10am on Easter Day when we'll decorate our special display and turn it into a beautiful Easter Garden to remind us that Jesus is risen and gives US new life.  After the service we have an Easter Egg hunt in the churchyard, with little Easter Eggs to take away!

Why not try these activities over the Easter break?
Make an 
Easter Card
Create a Colourful Poster like the one with the cross and the heart
Try this 
Wordsearch 
 

Who is Saint Michael?

St Michael, West Window
He's an Archangel (one of the most important of God's angels) and is mentioned a few times in the Bible - why not see if you can find him:20200925 125238
Daniel, Chapter 10 and 12
Jude, Chapter 1
The most famous story is mentioned right at the end of the Bible:
Revelation, Chapter 12, verses 7–9
"Then there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough. He and his angels lost their place in heaven. He was thrown down out of heaven. (The giant dragon is that old snake called the devil or Satan. He leads the whole world the wrong way.) The dragon with his angels was thrown down to the earth."   International Children's Bible
St Michael

Click on this picture of St Michael to print and colour it in ⇒
 
You can find pictures of St Michael in a few places in our church too:  he's one of the four archangels in the West Window and there's a banner of him too.
We celebrate St Michael's special day on 29th September, or the Sunday nearest to it.
 
You might want to think of St Michael whenever you feel lonely, scared, or tempted. 




Tiny Tots is here! Wednesdays at 10:45 for 11:15am
Tiny Tots relaunch
 
Did you come to Tiny Tots when you were really small?  Well it's now here in a new and exciting way so if you have little sisters or brothers, why not ask your grownups if they'd like to come along! Grown-ups, please note that we gather in the Windhill Churches Centre, then head over to the Lady Chapel for worship.  Come along to the Charnley Hall (main hall downstairs) for refreshments and play then we'll go to the church.  Bring your buggies over if little ones are asleep!



 

Godly Play poster
Come along on Sundays at 10am and share A Godly Play

WE'RE HERE EVERY WEEK WITH SOME SPECIAL TIME JUST FOR YOU IN THE SUNDAY SERVICE !!  We invite YOU, with your grownups, to come into the Lady Chapel during the sermon and prayers, and share in A Godly Play (a short story, with things to wonder about together and some fun activities afterwards).   We've also got a session for older children on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
 

Ask for our 'Look' activity sheets!

Look logo

There's a weekly Bible story, some fun puzzles and a short prayer to say with your grown-ups.  Pick up yours at our Sunday Service (or sometime in the week if you can't make it to Church).
© Redemptorist Publications

 
Godly Story

Here's a taster of A Godly Play

You might like to watch A Godly Story.  There's lots of fab videos of Bible stories, made by people from St Albans Diocese (that's the group of churches around us that St Michael's Church is a part of).  It's got questions at the end that you can wonder about and talk about together with your grown-ups afterwards.  Find the video on YouTube HERE!
 

 

 

Crazy Pandas

Crazy Pandas

Crazy Pandas Worship Song
Crazy Pandas feature at the fantastic Christian Festival, Spring Harvest.  Have a listen to their excellent song and bonkers video 'Oh Wow! (Awesome God)' right here ⇒
Crazy Pandas TV Series
Ask your grown-ups if you can watch this fun-filled 11 part series especially for kids, made with the brilliant Cheeky PandasClick here for the series on their YouTube Channel.
 

Quick quiz image

Can you beat this quiz?
You'll need to have a look around the churchyard and on some other question markpages on this website for your answers! Click on the Quick Quiz to pull up a full-size version to print.
Here are the answers ... no peeking! 



Have a look at this Stop Motion Filming!Filmstrip
Our Youth Group created this bit of silliness back in 2013 and it's still fun to watch.  Click on the pic below to find the 'Youth Group Animation' video on our media page ⇒IMGP0067









 

 

St Michael's School
There's lots of information about our wonderful church school of St Michael's on our St Michael's School page (including a link to the school website) but that's mostly a way for us to tell your grown-ups about things.
Here's something that might appeal to you guys and your families ...School Logo
 
Staff and pupils have created some fantastic worship videos which you might like to watch and share together ⇒






A4 YP PosterThirst Youth Cafe
Thirst Youth Café is a safe space, run by Bishops Stortford Youth Project for young people to come, eat, relax, play and enjoy each other’s company whilst also being a place where they can be creative, receive support and advice from experienced youth workers and positive role models.  Their doors are always open to anyone aged 11- 18.  
Sorry NO parents or Grown ups allowed – unless you work or volunteer for us!
FREE hot food at Thirst Youth Café for secondary school children (11-18's), Wednesdays from 3.30pm (and Thursdays from January 2023)  This is part of the “Warm Spaces” initiative.  Food available whilst stocks last.  Menu changes weekly.



HBW logoHoliday Bible Week
Holiday Bible Week is a brilliant event put together by members of churches all over Bishop's Stortford, Thorley and the nearby villages.  It takes place every August (and has done for more than THIRTY YEARS!) in big tents in the grounds of a local school.  There's a central group with members from these churches that meet regularly to plan and organise everything that is needed for each years event.HBW 2024

Save the date for this year! Monday 5th - Friday 9th August 2024

500+ children take part in a whole heap of activities - crafts, silly games, singing, prayers) all centred around Jesus Christ and the Bible.  Find out more and sign up by clicking on the link below.
 



Click on these links below to find out about more ways you can be involved:
 
Junior Church
 
Young Servers, readers, prayers
 
Choir
 
HBW