Forthcoming Events 

See the Church Calendar for information about services and events.  Below is further information about some of these events and information about other events that we have been asked to publicise.

SUNDAY WORSHIP
 
SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY
8am Holy Communion for Epiphany 4, in Church (booklets in church)
   10am Service of the Word for Candlemasin Church and via Zoom (service sheets available here)
Our 10am service is followed by Tea/Coffee in the Windhill Churches Centre - all welcome
 
SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY
No service at 8am
   10am Parish Communion, in Church (booklets in church)
Our 10am service is followed by Tea/Coffee in the Windhill Churches Centre - all welcome
 
SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY
8am Holy Communion, in Church (booklets in church)
   10am Service of the Wordin Church and via Zoom (service sheets available here in due course)
Our 10am service is followed by Tea/Coffee in the Windhill Churches Centre - all welcome

 
Zoom
When you are signed in you can ‘Join a Meeting’ (See newsletter for ID and Passcode).
Alternatively you can phone in (
Call 0131 460 1196 then follow instructions, entering Meeting ID and Meeting Passcode, followed by hash (#), as instructed).

Please note that you will need to print your own order of service if you are coming to church.
 
Whether or not you might like to do this, let’s be aware of the prayerful communion in God’s Spirit that we all share, wherever we are, whether or not we are able to see one another.
I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will, I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Romans 1.9-11.
 
Godly Play logoWe’re delighted to share a short session for children and young people during our Sunday 10am service, EVERY WEEK!
We invite them, with their adults, to come into the Lady Chapel during the sermon and prayers, and share in a short Godly Play (a visual storytelling of scriptures, with wondering questions to share together).  There's a new breakout session for older children at the same time, same place now too, on the Second and Fourth Sunday of every month!

Individual personal prayer, early morning to mid afternoon each day
The church is generally open from early morning to mid afternoon every day.  Please do publicise this amongst those you know: there must be many people who would value an opportunity to spend some comforting time in prayer, peace and reflection in these times.  May our church’s light shine in the darkness.
 
Prayers for our Community, 9:30am, every Saturday, in church
We meet each Saturday for a half hour session of informal prayer for those within our community and issues which affect our town and community.  All welcome.

Bereavement Journey Course, Saturday mornings, 17th January - 21st February
For anyone bereaved at any time; with films and discussion groups. It's the chance to explore grief in a safe space.  If you are interested and would value a preliminary conversation regarding future course, please contact Alison Jordan via the Parish Office.

TLC poster
A4 YP Poster
 
FREE hot food at Thirst Youth Café for secondary school children (11-18's), Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3.30pm
This is part of the “Warm Spaces” initiative.  Food available whilst stocks last.  Menu changes weekly.”
 
St Michael's 'Tiny Tots', Thursday 29th January, then 5th and 12th February, starting at 12:30pm
Held weekly in the Windhill Churches Centre, Tiny Tots is for parents/carers and babies/preschoolers during term time, plus older children / siblings are very welcome during inset days and these half term school holidays.  It is around 1.5 - 2 hours starting with playtime and tea/coffee, then songs, stories, activities and a prayer.  The Windhill Churches Centre (CM23 2PE) has easy buggy access and baby change facilities.   You're welcome to bring a packed lunch too!  It is also ok to be late, we understand!  We look forward to welcoming you soon!    If anyone has any puzzles with larger pieces, or games that don't have small parts, such as Buckaroo, draughts, chess and are looking to give them a new home please think of Tiny Tots. We would really appreciate them to keep the slightly older children busy. Thank you so much, Shell.  
Tiny Tots

Forthcoming 8am services
We'll celebrate Holy Communion next at 8am on Sunday 1st February, then 15th February, 1st, 15th and 29th March (Palm Sunday).

Christingle Service with St Michael’s School, Sunday 1st February, 10am
Please come and share in our worship!  This is the one occasion when all members of St Michael’s School family are formally invited to join us in worship at church and it would be lovely to see many members of our own church family here to welcome them!

TLC Tuesdays, next meeting on Tuesday 3rd February in the WCC, 2:15pm for 2:30pm
Join tea and talk and a regular short presentation on wide-ranging interests.  This month we are delighted to welcome Jane Ridler who is a master beekeeper.
 
Holy Communion, Wednesday 4th and 11th February, 10am
A service of Holy Communion, in church.  Refreshments after the service are held in the WCC.
 
Lunchtime Recitals begin on Thursday 5th February, then 12th and 26th February and 5th March, 1:30pmCollege Recitals
We are delighted to welcome back students from Bishop’s Stortford College to St Michael’s for a series of free half hour/forty-minute recitals.  Retiring collection.

Our craft group meets on alternate Mondays in the WCC, 10am - 12noon.  Next on Monday 9th February
All welcome!  We might bring along our own current crafting hobby and sometimes one of the group shares a craft.  We usually prepare items for sale at the annual St Michael’s Church Holly Fair. Click here to read about our knitting workshop for the Travelling Crib.

Follow up Holly Fair meeting, Sunday 15th February
Those involved in 2025 Holly Fair may like to feed back at a short meeting after the service on Sunday 15th February upstairs in WCC. We'll discuss improvements for next year and things that worked well. We raised over £4000 for the charities so thank you to everyone who worked hard and helped to make this possible.

Ash Wednesday, 18th February
We will offer Holy Communion with optional imposition of ashes, at 10am and 7:30 pm.  There will be hymns and music at both services.

Healing Prayers
are offered in the Lady Chapel after worship on fourth Sundays each month, next on Sunday 22nd February.

Lent Reflections, Tuesdays from 24th February, 12-12:30pm in the Lady Chapel
All are warmly invited to join these sessions during Lent, with a reading, reflection, hymn and prayer.  Each session will be followed by a frugal lunch at 12:30pm in the WCC, in aid of the two charities supported by our Charities Support Group Lent Appeal this year.  See our Lent page for more information; there are a few hard copies in the Publicity Area too.

TLC Tuesdays, meeting in March on Tuesday 3rd March in the WCC, 2:15pm for 2:30pm
Join tea and talk and a regular short presentation on wide-ranging interests.  This month we are delighted to welcome our own Rev’d June Knight with her talk, Called and Collared.

Spring Coffee Morning: Saturday, 7th March at 10amSpring Coffee Morning
All welcome!  Fresh coffee/tea and cakes ... plus a cake stall, toy stall, jigsaws, raffle and good as new/unwanted gift stall.  Come and join us for a cuppa!  Any helpers and cake bakers most appreciated (please contact Gill).

Tower Tours, Saturday 22nd March, 1-3pm
Our next tower tours are happening soon!
Adults £5, children free - no booking required: visitors can call in at any time and there will be ringers in the tower to talk to them and show them around.
Contact bells@saintmichaelweb.org.uk / 07773 572135 for more information.

Dominic Downs 2026St Michael's Recital, Sunday 22nd March, 3pm
Dominic Downs (Piano)

Free admission, retiring collection, tea and homemade cakes afterwards.
A plea for help – We’ll be serving tea and cake in the WCC afterwards.  In order to manage two venues, we would love some volunteers to help with catering, either to bake a cake or to help in the kitchen on the day. Please email stmichaelsbsdom@gmail.com if interested. Many thanks, Nathan.

Quiet Days in Albury, next on Thursday 26th March
Days of reflection and contemplation in June’s home.  We’ll be taking a break for a few months, hopefully meeting next on Thursday 26th March. We desperately need drivers, please contact the Parish Office if you think you could help.

The Charities Support Group would welcome new members, Next meeting 9th April
If you’re interested in helping support charities through events, talks and distributing the funds at St Michael's Church then get do in touch with CSG or Derwyn. Specifically we would like someone to work alongside the current treasurer with a view to taking over at some point. Equally if someone could regularly do minutes at our meetings (4 per year) this would also be appreciated. Our next meeting is 9th April at 7.30pm in the WCC.   Val Ashwood (Chair).

Next St Albans Cursillo Weekend, 24th-26th April
We would love to welcome more people from St Michael's to experience a Cursillo Weekend. Cursillo is a short course focusing on growing in your Christian faith through Prayer, Study and Action. It includes talks, discussion and regular worship. The weekend is a joyful experience and takes place at Pleshey Retreat Centre, Friday evening until Sunday. Please see the blue leaflets in the welcome area. Forms to apply are available from people below or can be downloaded from the website.  More information from Mike or Val Ashwood, John or Viv Emmett, Miriam Watson, Alison Jordan, Liz Puller or anyone else you know who has done the course.