Author: Laura Thomas

Supporting Ukraine

Posted on by Laura Thomas

Information on the Bristol response to Ukrainian Refugees – click here

Information on volunteering with Love Bristol helping refugees with the visa process – click here

We are currently in discussions with Bristol City Council and South Glos Council about becoming a Welcome Hub for providing support and space for Ukrainians to access. One of the requirements of a Welcome Hub is that they have a Welcome Hub Leader – if you feel that this is an area of Ministry that you would like to be involved in please get in touch.

If you are interested in hosting a refugee please go to the Gov website to register your interest.

 

Donate items via Barnabus Fund Food Gives Appeal

Thank you to all those who have bought items in and those who have taken them to the Swindon collection point for the Ukraine Barnabus Fund appeal. We have taken lots of full car loads of essential items so far which is fantastic! 

The current need is for the following:

Food  tinned food with pull lids, energy bars and food you can eat on the run.

 

Donate Financially

Donating financially is one of the quickest ways to practically help. Below are four different ways.

Donate to the UK Disaster Emergency Committee Fund Click here

DEC charities are in Ukraine and neighbouring countries meeting the needs of all refugees and displaced people: By donating to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, you’ll help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.

  • £30 could provide essential hygiene supplies for three people for one month
  • £50 could provide blankets for four families
  • £100 could provide emergency food for two families for one month

Donate to Moldovan Mission

Moldovan Mission’s CEO, Mark McCormick, is the founder and former leader of Gotesti Baptist Church. He works closely with St Michael’s Mission Partner Ruslan Telpiz and other Pastors throughout Moldova.  Click here

Message from Mark: “We are at this moment supporting our Pastor Partners, as they help those who are fleeing the Ukraine. They are meeting the refugees on the border and giving food and accommodation. If they wish to go to Romania then they are transporting them. All this they are doing at their own expense. So we are trying to raise funds for them. If you would like to help please use our donations page and mark your donation Refugees. Thank you“.

Donate to Epaphras Trust

Epaphras Trust works in four countries: Kenya, India, Nepal and Ukraine and is a Mission Partner of St Michael’s Church. Trustee and church member Ken Hart has been to Ukraine around 20 times in the last 18 years. More info and details on how to give: Click here

Donate to the #HelpUkraine Emergency Appeal. Click here

This campaign is being organised by a community partnership of Ukrainian churches and organisations in Great Britain,  and the funds raised will provide accredited and registered Ukrainian charities with medicine, food and vital services. Donations can also pay for blankets, hygiene packs and trauma counselling.
  • The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London
  • Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Great Britain
  • Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB)
  • Association of Ukrainian Women (AUW)
  • Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM)
  • Plast Ukrainian Scouts in Great Britain
  • Association of Ukrainian Teachers (AUT)
 

Prayer

  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.

Mothering Sunday Message from Vicky

Posted on by Laura Thomas

As I write the sun is shining – long may it last!

At this time of year, I love seeing the daffodils coming out (there’s a patch just outside our kitchen window) – the yellowness of them always brings such joy and hope of new life. This is also a time when we are looking forward to Mothering Sunday. Mothers’ Day comes with all sorts of emotions, so let’s take care of one another as we enjoy celebrations, as well as holding some of the difficult things. Let’s take the chance to celebrate all the women in our lives, both past and present; all that they are or have been, and how much of an amazing impact they have, and have had, on us and those around them.

The lovely daffodils also remind us that it’s not long until Easter. The Easter story is such good news for all of us. There are lots of religions out there, all describing different ways to reach God. The brilliant thing about Christianity is that God has already done the reaching, as he came to live among us in the person of Jesus. Jesus didn’t only come and live with us; he has shown that he is stronger than death itself by dying and coming alive again, which is what we celebrate at Easter. He did this so that we can get to know God for ourselves. If you don’t yet know God for yourself (or even if you do!), why not come and join in one of our Easter services and find out more? We have reflections on Good Friday and services and celebrations on Easter Sunday. All the details can be found here

As we continue to hear about all that is going on in Ukraine and Russia, it is sometimes hard to know what to pray. A good place to start is for ourselves not to give up.  We know God is with us, as well as with those facing violence and fear in Ukraine, so let’s pray for hope and for peace, and until that happens let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to bring strength not to give up.

It feels that, 2 years after our first lockdown, things are beginning to return to normalI hope this makes you feel glad, but for those of you for whom this makes you feel anxious, please be assured of our prayers.

God bless and love to you all

Covid-19 Guidance

Posted on by Laura Thomas

Updated 23 May 2022

There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The government suggests that you continue to wear a face-covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet. 

 Social distancing in a place of worship is now a personal choice.

In all our buildings we still welcome the wearing of face coverings.

 

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Updated 1 March 2022

There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.

Social distancing in a place of worship is now a personal choice.

From Thursday 3 March:

  • In our Church building (and whilst singing) we recommend the wearing of face coverings.
  • In St Michael’s Centre (and whilst singing) we still welcome the wearing of face coverin

Updated 25 February 2022

Despite the lifting of Government restrictions around Covid-19, we are still currently advising the wearing of face-coverings at all our services and celebrations. The leadership team will review this going forward.

Updated 26 January 2022

The Current Situation…

For places of worship, it is up to individual churches to decide the precautions they wish to take – based on their own risk assessment – to protect others and themselves.

Within the Church we believe that everyone is known and loved individually by God, and that as many members within one body we are called to be responsible to and for one another, respecting the more vulnerable whose suffering is our suffering (1 Cor 12:12-27)

At St Michael’s…

From Thursday 27 January:

  • In our Church building (and whilst singing) we strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings.
  • In St Michael’s Centre (and whilst singing) we recommend the wearing of face coverings.

We suggest that you keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow or feel ill, please do not attend.

Updated 16 December

We are thankful to still be able to meet in person for our Christmas services and events.

Face coverings are a legal requirement in our buildings (unless you are exempt).

In line with government advice, even if you do not have symptoms, please take a lateral flow test before attending any of our services or events.

If you do test positive with a lateral flow or feel ill, please do not attend.

When available, you can order lateral flow tests online here.

We look forward to worshipping Jesus together, in-person and online.

Updated 10 December

We are thankful to be able to meet in person for our Christmas services and events.

Following the latest government announcement, face coverings are now a legal requirement in our buildings.  This is something we were already strongly recommending.

Please keep your face covering on at all times unless you are exempt

We suggest that you keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow or feel ill, please do not attend.. We look forward to worshipping Jesus together, in-person and online.

Updated 3 December

The arrival of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus, Omicron, has prompted the government to introduce some additional precautionary measures as they assess its potential impact.
 
For places of worship it is still up to individual churches to decide the precautions they wish to take based on their own risk assessment to protect others and themselves.
 
Within the Church we believe that everyone is known and loved individually by God and that as many members within one body we are called to be responsible to and for one another, respecting the more vulnerable whose suffering is our suffering (1 Cor 12:12-27). 
 
The current situation, means we are being asked to take even more personal responsibility, than when we were compelled to adhere to Government restrictions. 
At present, news of the newly emergent omicron variant of the virus is causing concern and uncertainty. It is, however, too early to say what impact this new variant will have on the pandemic in the UK. There is likely to be fuller information within a few weeks and we will have to exercise both patience and caution until then.

At St Michael’s we strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings in both the centre and church buildings, and whilst singing.  We suggest that you keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow or feel ill, please do not attend.

Updated 4 November

We all need to look out for each other. Please keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow, isolate and take a PCR test promptly. 

At present, incidence of the virus is high, though Government statistics tentatively point to it beginning to decrease.

Largely due to the success of the vaccination programme, hospitalisations and deaths remain at a much lower level than at similar points during the pandemic, but the continuation of this will be dependent on a good uptake of booster vaccinations.

However, vaccination cannot be the sole means of containing the spread of the virus: hand and respiratory hygiene, social distancing, face-coverings and good ventilation are also important factors in lessening the spread of the disease. While these are not mandatory, they are still important public health mitigations to help minimise risk.

We  recommend face-coverings in enclosed and crowded spaces, and ask that you remember to wash your hands regularly. 

We will continue with a one-way system for our coffee time after the 10.30 Celebration, and encouraging people to move outside or back to the auditorium after picking up their drinks.

Updated 27 October

As cases of covid-19 continue to be a concern, we are committed to following guidance and reviewing our processes.

The wearing of face-coverings continues to be expected in the Church building. Feel free to wear face-coverings during the 10.30 and Evening Celebrations, as well as whilst moving around  St Michael’s Centre.

From this Sunday, we are introducing a one-way system for our coffee time after the 10.30 Celebration, and encouraging people to move outside or back to the auditorium after picking up their drinks.

Updated  9 September

The core leadership team has come to the decision that mask-wearing in the auditorium and St Michael’s Centre is now optional and down to personal choice.  

As you may know, the centre and especially the auditorium, is very well ventilated and this decision brings us in line with government and Church of England guidance on mask-wearing.

So as of today please feel free to wear or not wear mask at your discretion during worship and whilst moving around the centre. 

Ventilation in the church building is less efficient, so we (strongly) recommend that worshippers continue to wear masks during the 9am and for other services in the building. 

You can find full details on our Sunday Worship here

Our services and celebrations will still be live streamed, and you can find them on our youtube channel

Lent Letter from Julie Hobbs

Posted on by Laura Thomas

This year seems to be flying by – already we are seeing the first shoots of Spring and, in the shops, batter mixes and lemons prominently displayed to herald the coming of pancake day (Shrove Tuesday) on 1 March. The following day, Ash Wednesday, marks the start of Lent, a period of six weeks leading up to Easter.

In Lent, we focus on Jesus going into the desert to fast and pray before beginning his work for God. Jesus went through a desert experience and it’s something we are all familiar with in one way or another isn’t it? The physical desert is a barren, oppressive place, but the spiritual/emotional desert is pretty difficult to cope with too. The landscape of our interiors can have no flowing water, no colour, no fragrance, no softness or beauty, just barrenness and silence.

It’s easy to be disturbed by this. Who finds it easy to come faithfully to sit with emptiness and offer praise to God in this situation? It’s tempting to be scared and self-pitying, turning inward to lick our wounds. But there is hope, great hope. Jesus has been to the desert. He encountered temptations of evil, yet evil was unmasked and defeated by the absolute sovereignty of God. In all our own desert struggles, the desert can be the place of encounter, as it was for Jesus; to learn not only the deceptions of evil, but to experience the presence of God. Far from being a place of barrenness, the desert is discovered as the place of renewal and strength; the place where we can begin again. As we lean into and accept the stillness, then we are able to hear God’s gentle voice calling us to trust in His goodness.

My prayer for us all is that, when we find ourselves in the desert, we will be able to faithfully follow Jesus through it and, out of our experience, to bear great fruit. I am mindful of the words of Isaiah that bring me comfort and hope:             

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”, Isaiah 43:19.

May God bless you and keep you in His love and care during the Holy season of Lent