Our latest teaching programme for Sundays can be seen below.
Sunday Sermon Series
Author: Laura Thomas
Stoke Gifford Community Library
Community libraries are run by local voluntary groups with the support of South Gloucestershire Council who provide stock and advice.
They are linked to the library network which means you can use the South Gloucestershire library membership card to access these services.
A community library is situated on the mezzanine above the Old School Rooms Coffee Shop, and is open on alternative Tuesdays and Thursdays
What’s available?
A changing collection of adults and children’s books, large print, spoken word and DVDs.
Full reservation and collection facilities are available – so if there’s something you’d like to read that isn’t in stock, then you can order it in!
Bible Reading Plans for 2022
As we approach the start of a new year, many of us are looking at starting a new Bible reading plan.
Perhaps some of us are even looking to read the Bible in One Year?
We’ve pulled together a few options that may help in choosing a plan that’s right for you:
Bible in One Year is an excellent free resource from the team that produce the Alpha Course (Nicky and Pippa Gumbel). You can read it directly on the website, or download an app, where you can listen to it as audio. There is also a printed book for those who prefer.
The Bible in One Year from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel is also available as a reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App. Many of us have this app already on our phones, and there are other one year plans on the app as well.
The above have accompanying commentary to help us in our reading. But some of us may prefer to just have the plan without the commentary.
The Bible Project have available a downloadable and printable one year reading plan. You can find that here
Blue Letter Bible have downloadable chronological plan here
And there are many more out there.
Mission Partner Focus for January
Alpha Course
Alpha is a series of 8 sessions with food and conversation about faith and life and God.
We’ve been running the course at St Michael’s for many years, and hundreds of people have enjoyed the course here.
We meet once a week for 8 weeks, share food together, listen to a talk and then split into small groups for open, honest discussion.
Alpha is a place where no subject is off limits, and no question is too silly, too difficult or too controversial.
There’s no pressure, no charge, just good food and lots to talk about.
The next taster session is on Tuesday 18 January at 7pm in St Michael’s Centre.
Click here to sign up, or email alpha@stmichaelsbristol.org
At the heart of Christmas
We all love a good story right? I was given a birthday gift of a poster that contained a ‘bucket list’ of a hundred films that simply must be seen before departing this life!
From James Bond to the marvel universe, movies convey stories of hope, rescue, love and redemption.
And right at the heart of a good story is the hero. Batman, Spiderman, Ironman, Captain Marvel and Black widow. All captivate us with their flawed natures and flowing capes.
At the heart of Christmas is another hero. A hero unlike any other. A hero with no flaws or failings. A hero who gave His name to the festival. A hero who would lay down His life for his friends. A hero who could not be defeated by death.
This Christmas I am praying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, may I find space in the middle of this busy, chaotic, celebratory Christmas season to make You my hero once more.”
Have a lovely Christmas and a restful new year,
God bless,
Revd Canon Simon Jones
Click here for all the info you need about our Christmas services.
Coffee Shop General Assistant Vacancy
Are you energetic, dedicated, enthusiastic and customer focused?
Ever wanted to serve in a community based Coffee Shop?
We currently have a vacancy for a General Assistant
ROLE OVERVIEW
Location – Stoke Gifford, Bristol
Base – St Michael’s Old School Rooms Coffee Shop
Term – Initially a contract of 6 months
Hours – 20 hours per week
Salary – £8.91 per hour
Start – 31 January 2022
Benefits – 25 days holiday (pro-rata and excl. Bank Holidays)
Closing Date- Friday 21 January 5pm
Role Description – click here
Application form – click here
Saturday Breakfast
Saturday 8 January
The team are back to cook a delicious cooked breakfast for us, now cooked in the new kitchen in St Michael’s Centre.
We will be gathering in the auditorium to eat together, followed by a talk. Each month we will have a different speaker on a range of topics.
This month our guest speaker is is Billy Burns.
Billy was shot at point blank range in the mouth by an armed bank robber but he went on to forgive the man who shot him. What happened next to both men is remarkable…
Sign-up is necessary, so that we can order and make enough food.
If you can no longer make it, please let us know
Suggested donation £4 per adult (£1 per child). You can donate by card when you sign-up, or on the day via cash or card.
Click here to book
Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups
Two new groups are starting at St Michael’s in January 2022
Online on Zoom – Starting Monday 17 January. Click here for more info
In-person in St Michael’s Centre – Starting Wednesday 19 January. Click here for more info
How is your emotional wellbeing?
After the last couple of years it may well have taken a bit of a battering! Maybe you are struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, grief or stress or maybe you are supporting someone dealing with these issues…
They are all very normal emotions; so please know that you are not alone!
Why not consider joining a 12 week wellbeing programme being run by St Michael’s Church, Stoke Gifford?
It’s called Kintsugi Hope and is based on the belief that there can be treasure found in the scars of life.
Each week, in a small, safe and supportive group, we will look at subjects rarely talked about in depth such as Anxiety, Perfectionism, Self Acceptance, Disappointment and Loss etc.
The aim of this shared journey is to gain support, understanding and tools that will enable us to become more resilient.
Kintsugi groups are suitable both for people of faith and for those with none.
Online on Zoom – Starting Monday 17 January. Click here for more info
In-person in St Michael’s Centre – Starting Wednesday 19 January. Click here for more info
Who is it For?
The stress and demands of modern living can take their toll on our mental health and wellbeing.
Many of us may feel the effect but not fully understand the cause. There has been a tendency in our society to not talk about our struggles yet ….” healing starts the moment we are heard!”
So the vision of Kintsugi Hope is to provide a place where people can experience :
- Safety and support where there is no shame and embarrassment in struggling
- An increase in self worth, confidence and wellbeing
- A deeper understanding of the reality of Gods love for them.
- Clear pathways to receive additional support if needed
What it’s not….
It is not therapy – there are no leaders or experts.
For this reason it would not be suitable for those with a more serious diagnosed mental illness.
If you feel this might be for you and you’d like to find out more or would like to sign up for a group please email kintsugi@stmichaelsbristol.org
Comments from previous participants:
“ I looked and listened to others in the room who I presumed had their lives sorted and realised that it wasn’t just me , that I wasn’t alone in my struggles”
“ The materials and resources covered have provided me with a metaphorical tool box to refer to on difficult days”
“ I’ve learnt about myself, what God wants for me and that there’s a better way, a better life in Him, as He intended”
“ I wish there had been something like this years ago! I needn’t have struggled for so long in silence”
“ I’ve realised ‘it’s OK not to be OK’ and that this was the first step to me acknowledging where I was at, having the desire to make changes, seek further and move forwards”
“The Kintsugi Hope Group allowed me to be honest with myself amongst a group of people where there was no judgement and who I could trust. It helped me to understand myself in a better way”
One final comment …. “ We HAVE to do this …it’s the heart of the gospel!”
Welcome Lunch
Are you new to St Michael’s, or joined us within the last 6 months or so?
If so, please join us for a Welcome Lunch at 12.30pm on Sunday 23 January in St Michael’s Centre
It’s a great chance for us to get to know one another over a meal, and to find out a bit more about what goes on at St Michael’s.
Click here to sign-up to say you’re coming along
