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 17th MARCH
8am Holy Communion, in Church (booklets in church)
10am Service of the Word, in Church and via Zoom (Order of Service available here).
Please note that you will need to print your own order of service if you are coming to church.

SUNDAY 24th MARCH - Palm Sunday
(NO SERVICE AT 8AM)
10am Parish Communion with Palm Ceremonies, in Church (booklets in church)
6pm Choral Evensong for the start of Holy Week, in Church (booklets in church)
Godly Play for children and young people in the Lady Chapel during the 10am service.
We’re delighted to offer refreshments to enjoy in (or outside) the WCC after the 10am service.
 
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).

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 wonde
ring 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.

Lent & Easter Worship and Events, Ash Wednesday to Easter Day
See our Lent flyer here for more information; there are a few copies in the Publicity Area too.
 
Holy Week and Easter Services

Sunday 24th March is Palm Sunday and we’ll celebrate Holy Communion with Palm Ceremonies at 10am and Choral Evensong at 6pm for the start of Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday 28th March, 7:30pm - Choral Eucharist then stripping of the altar.

Good Friday Churches Together United Service, URC, 10am, followed by a Walk of Witness through the town to the Methodist Church, in groups, holding palm crosses.

Good Friday Devotions at the Cross, 29th March, 1:30-3pm - A simple service with hymns and music for meditation.

On Easter Day, 31st March, we’ll celebrate Holy Communion at 8am and 10am, with an Easter egg hunt after the 10am service.

 
Prayers for our Community, 9:30am, every Saturday, in church
Titika Maragoula and Richard C
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.

Recital, Sunday 17th March at 3pm
You are warmly invited to this Voice and Piano Recital, featuring Titika Maragoula and Richard Carr.  Free admission, (retiring collection) and tea and cake served afterwards.  For some fascinating programme notes, visit the Music Page on our website.
 
Lent Reflections, Tuesday 19th March, 12-12:30pm in the Lady Chapel
All are warmly invited to join this last session during Lent. This year our theme is Lent Reflections on Everyday Objects, with a reading, reflection, hymn and prayer.  The 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.
 
Holy Communion, Wednesday 20th, 27th March and 3rd April at 10am
A service of Holy Communion, with music and a hymn, in church.  Refreshments afterwards will be held in the Windhill Churches Centre.
Tiny Tots relaunch
 
Tiny Tots, Wednesday 20th, 27th March and 3rd April, from 10:45am for 11:15am gathering in the WCC then walking to the Lady Chapel
A 20-minute worship for babies/toddlers and their parents / carers; with a story, singing and instruments for little ones too!  Join us for refreshments, fellowship and a chance for the children to play before/after the service.
 
Bishop's Stortford Hospitality Support, Wednesdays from 11am-2pm in term time
St Michael's is providing space at the WCC for Ukranian guests and their host families to meet together, along with some informal language lessons, once a week.  Our volunteer numbers have grown as have attendee numbers, and we have been joined by some members of St Joseph’s and others.  With the growing numbers, St Joseph’s Hall is also open, with more voluntary support as an additional space for teaching or play.  We are providing coffee/tea and biscuits for adults and children and whatever other support we can.  If you are still considering joining our band of volunteers, please contact the Parish Office
 
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.”
 
Coffee Morning, Saturday 16th March, 10am-12noon
All welcome! Fresh coffee / tea and cakes ... plus a cake stall, a raffle and a good as new / unwanted gift stall.  Come and join us for a cuppa!  Any helpers and cake bakers would be most appreciated.  Please contact Gill.

Quiet Days in Albury, next on Wednesday 27th March
These popular days of reflection and contemplation in June’s home have returned.  Places are limited, please contact the Parish Office for more information.

Easter Monday Pilgrimage, 1st April
Every year hundreds of people from across the diocese and beyond journey together to St Albans Cathedral for an Easter celebration: with picnics on the grass, then an informal service of Holy Communion at 3pm led by Bishop Jane.  Visit the St Albans Diocese website for more information.

Tower Tours, Monday 1st April at 2pm and 3pmTower Tours poster
Enjoy a tour of the bell tower on Easter Monday!  See the newly restored bells and find our more about bellringing.  Get a bird's eye view of the town.  £5 for adults, free for children.  Book at bells@saintmichaelweb.org.uk or 07773 572135.

TLC Tuesday 2nd April, 2:15pm for 2:30pm, WCCTLC GenericAn opportunity to join in with tea and talk and a regular 10/15 minute presentation on wide ranging interests.  Later in the afternoon we welcome families after school for a short while, to share in reading/play and enjoy a biscuit/cake/fruit snack.  Do come along…and tell your friends too!  This coming month we welcome Bill Macdonald as our speaker.

Psallite Concert with Richard Carr,Psallite 2024 Saturday 13th April, 6-7:30pm
A concert in memory of Jacqui Goddard, a long-standing member of this congregation, with an especial love for all forms of music at St Michael’s.  
Psallite women's choir was formed in 1994 by flautist, singer and conductor Nancy Hadden. She has created an impressive and unusual repertoire of early music for women's voices, drawn from music for high voices and also pieces which Nancy has arranged from music originally for mixed choir.
Works by Aichinger, Britten, Cloud, Feroci, Gjielo, Piazolla, Rheinberger and Victoria.  Free Entry, Collection for St Michael’s Church.

Bereavement Journey Course, Thursdays for 6 weeks from 18th April, 10am-12:30pm
For anyone who has been bereaved at any time and in any way. There is a series of films and discussion groups looking at grief, within a safe space. You are welcome to have a preliminary discussion with a team member: June Knight, Vivienne Emmett, Liz Puller, or email Alison Jordan via the Parish Office.

BMS Plant Sale and Coffee Morning, Bishop's Stortford Baptist Church, Saturday 11 May, 10am-12noon
There will be a large number of reasonably priced plants for sale, including: perennials, alpines, shrubs, tomatoes and runner beans! Hand made cards, home-made cakes and jams and turned wood goods and carvings will be on sale. Please bring along your family and friends.

‘Ringing out for Peace’ on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, 6th June at 6:30pm
The 6th of June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces mounted the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever witnessed. In 1944 Operation Overlord saw over 5,000 ships and landing craft set down more than 130,000 troops on five Normandy beaches in an action that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe. 
As part of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers is encouraging ringers to Ring Out for Peace on 6th June at 6.30pm. 
 
HBW 2024
Holiday Bible Week 2024, 5th - 9th August at Windhill21 School
A week-long festival of learning about the Bible with fun, crafts and games for children, put together by the churches of Bishop’s Stortford. 
Sign up now by visiting the HBW website!