On Friday 29 and Saturday 30 October, around 30 volunteers gave their time and talent to working on the building at the Pre-school and Nursery. Altogether around 180 hours were volunteered!
Author: Laura Thomas
Message from Simon
Throughout the pandemic we have produced pastoral/worship packs for around 80 -100 people who are either not in a life group or who don’t have online access. Each pack contains a letter from one of the leadership team. This time it’s the turn of Simon, and he has lots of news to share…
Greetings from St Michael’s Church! This message comes with my blessings and prayers as we head into the autumn season.
I have been reading this Bible verse; “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43 verse 19)
Despite the impact of the pandemic and the effects it has had, God is still doing a new thing. This verse suggests that it is God’s responsibility to do the new thing. We are simply called to perceive it and follow Him. Out of the wasteland, streams will flow. At our Newcomers Lunch recently, we welcomed 64 people! 48 of these were brand new to St Michael’s during lockdown. Jesus is alive and His Church is growing.
It has been so lovely to begin to reconnect as a Church community. The Over-65s Sunday afternoon tea on Sunday 3 October was a particular highlight. So delightful to connect together with old friends and meet new ones whilst enjoying a cream tea! Julie then led a wonderful service of Evensong in Church.
We have also restarted our midweek communion service in Church. The next service is Wednesday 20 October at 10am in the Church building. Please come and be my guest at this simple service. Vicky will be leading us.
Friday Film Club has also restarted. The next one is on Friday 22 October at 2pm in the church centre, a bargain at £2 with tea and biscuits are included.
Finally, we will be having a wonderful All Saints on Monday 1 November at 7.30pm in Church. This simple service enables those who have experienced the loss of someone they love, to give thanks and remember their loved ones before God. If you have been bereaved in the recent or distant past or maybe know someone who is still struggling with ‘loss’, why not invite them to come along? An invitation is included with this letter.
May the Lord make a ‘way’ in the wilderness for you.
God Bless
Letter from Julie – August 2021
One of the things I think we have all had to learn to do during these last challenging 18 months is to hold onto things lightly. Whether it’s been the opportunity to see family and friends, join together in much-loved activities, go away on holiday or whatever else, I’m sure we will all have had disappointments along the way that we have had to face and try to move beyond.
Last month we were able to welcome our little granddaughter Robyn-Jane, born in July last year just as we were coming out of the first lockdown, into our home for the first time. We were absolutely thrilled that we got to witness her first independent steps whilst she was with us. But at the end of the weekend, she developed a cough and tested positive for Covid. Thankfully she was fine, but of course we all had to self-isolate for 10 days, which meant we missed the first 5 days of our long-awaited holiday. Such is the roller-coaster ride that we have all been riding through Covid…! I know that I have certainly learned some valuable lessons around holding things lightly – and also around seeing God at work in some surprising and beautiful ways in the midst of the tough stuff that’s going on.
And whilst it’s true to say that we have had to learn to hold things lightly, alongside that many of us will have perhaps learned something about who, and what, we can hold onto tightly – and that is, of course, Jesus and the hope we have in him. Jesus, who rides the roller coaster ride with us; Jesus the one who is always with us, always faithful.
One of the highlights of my summer has been the discovery of ‘The Chosen’, a beautiful dramatization of Jesus’ life, which can be found on YouTube or downloaded as an App.
In it the characters and stories we read about in the gospels are brought to life in such an imaginative, yet completely believable, way. There are two seasons currently released, with a third in the making. I really commend it to you; it’s made a deep impression on me.
Another joy the summer has brought has been the opportunity to sing together when we gather to worship on Sundays – that’s certainly something I have really missed through these Covid months! All our Sunday services and celebrations are back meeting in person – the weekly 9am and monthly 5pm services in church, and the weekly 10.30 and 6.30 celebrations in the centre. As of now, there is no longer any need to book your place – just come along; it would be wonderful to see you. (Please note that face coverings are still expected and recommended to be worn). And in the coming weeks we hope to be able to see more and more of our ‘normal’ church activities starting up again; we’ll keep you posted! In the meantime, let me leave you with these words from Hebrews 10v23:
‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful’.
May God bless you and keep you in His love and care.
A Letter from Julie Hobbs
Recently, our family enjoyed a wonderful day at the ‘Hidden Valley’ in Cornwall. It’s a place full of puzzle trails and a maze to get lost in. As I watched our four grandchildren working things out with such enjoyment written on their faces, for a fleeting moment, I wished I could freeze them in that happy place and keep them from everything they will have to face up ahead.
Of course, in reality, time does not stand still, and we live in a world that is constantly changing. Most recently, all of us have gone through so many changes because of the Covid pandemic. We have all suffered in one way or another and we long for all restrictions to be lifted and life to become ‘normal’ again.
But as I pondered the future for my grandchildren during this lovely day out, I was reminded yet again by God that whatever changes around us, he never changes. He is the same as He was yesterday, as He is today, and as He will be tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). In a world of changing situations and changing people, God’s perfect character and nature will always be the same. He has a perfect love for each one of us. While change brings uncertainty and can be scary, remember God is not surprised by any of this. He will always remain in control. Biblical prophecies about the future remain unchanged and true. We can wholeheartedly trust Him through all the things that happen up ahead.
God is not like us; we change with the wind, but He never changes. He will fulfil his promises because He is the never-changing God. We have included some resources with this letter that we hope will give you a sense of encouragement and a reassurance that, while the world may change around us, God is the constant foundation we can hold on to.
May God bless each one of you and keep you in his love and care.
Julie Hobbs
Licensed Lay Minister and Pastoral Care Assistant