Try these 'Look' activity sheets!
There's a Bible story, some fun puzzles and a short prayer to say with your grown-ups.
Click on the button to see this month's selection
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© Redemptorist Publications
Here's this week's Godly Story
You might like to watch this week’s Godly Story. Every week there's a fab new video of a Bible story, 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!
Holy Week and Easter
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, video and more. Finally there is a family service (with little Easter Eggs to take away) at 10am on Easter Day.
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 17th 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).
Why not make a Palm Cross for 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!'
This year at St Michael's we’re making our own palm crosses, to remember this event and the fact that Jesus died on the cross. There are palm fronds in the church if you'd like to come and get one. Click on this YouTube link for a helpful tutorial on making palm crosses or click here for a leaflet with diagrams / written instructions. Then why not bring them with you for blessing on Palm Sunday.
Join The Children’s Society this Lent in fighting for hope for children and young people
Are you in KS2 or above?
You might like to read this article and watch the video but make sure you have permission from an adult before you watch the video:
The Children’s Society has a long history of fighting for better lives for children in poverty. Indeed, it’s the reason why they were founded in the first place. In 1881 a young Sunday school teacher in south London, Edward Rudolf, noticed that some of the usual attendees at his class were missing. He went out to look for them and found them begging on the street. Their father had died and their mother was finding it difficult to feed her family. Wanting to save them from the workhouse, Edward Rudolf secured support from the Church to set up a series of small children’s homes to look after orphans and other children who could not stay with their families. This was the origin of the Waifs and Strays Society, now known as The Children’s Society.
Times have changed, but too many children in this country still live in poverty. The recent high-profile campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford around free school meals provision has highlighted the fact that many families are struggling to feed their children and pay bills. Many of these same families also live in inadequate or temporary accommodation. The Children’s Society continues to campaign for adequate support to be given to families living in poverty.
Watch this talk from the Revd Lizzi Green, curate at St Alban’s, Gossops Green, in Crawley, West Sussex, who has personal experience of growing up in poverty. Find the video
here.
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, 14th 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!
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.
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
⇔ 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 ⇒
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Choose a word to think about or a person to pray for. Write the word or name in the space and draw around it.
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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.
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The aim of the doodling and drawing is not to make a beautiful work of art, but to create a visual prayer.
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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
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: John 12. 12-16
The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!' 'Yes! The King of Israel!' Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: 'No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey’s colt.' The disciples didn’t notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.
Can you beat this quiz?
You'll need to have a look around the churchyard and on some other 
pages 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!
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 ⇒
Who is Saint Michael?
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:
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
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.
Bridge Youth Church
This is a BRILLIANT group for young people aged between 11-20. It was set up by the youth teams of three churches, including St Michael's and meets for worship, friendship, exploring key issues, fun activities and trips ... oh, and food!
Click on the picture here to visit their website which has loads more information ⇒
LATEST NEWS FROM AL AT BRIDGE -
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Bridge Zoom Worship - 5:30pm, Sunday 11th April
We’ll be thinking about the Easter story and the resurrection and, in particular, as we seem to be emerging into a new ‘normality’ in society, what that means for new life for us as Christians and in the world. Meeting ID: 884-4536-8888
If you'd like to learn more about, or strengthen your Christian faith, then you might like our other events...
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Virtual Bridge Wednesdays - every Wednesday during term time - 6:30-7:30pm
Now via Zoom due to Covid 19 social distancing restrictions
Due to social distancing policies our Thirst Café meetings are suspended and we'll meet via the Zoom app until further notice. Meeting ID: 833-7505-2782
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Alpha Youth Series for April - 18th and 25th April, 7:30-9pm
Because worship is happening on the 2nd Sunday in April we’ll be holding two back-to-back Youth Alpha sessions on 18th April AND on 25th April to keep us on schedule. Our first session on 18th April will be based around the topic: ‘Telling Others: Why and How Should I Tell Others?’ Meeting ID: 869 9900 8274
If that sounds fun then please feel free to join us and come along to any of the meetings."
Check our Instagram for more info
For all the meeting passcodes, email bridgeyouthchurch@gmail.com
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 ...
Staff and pupils have created some fantastic worship videos which you might like to watch and share together ⇒
Click on these links below to find out about more ways you can be involved -