Deepen Your Connection with God in 2026: Recommended Bible Reading Plans
As we approach a new year, many of us look for ways to refresh and renew our lives. For Christians, one of the most enriching ways to do this is to deepen our connection with God through Scripture. Engaging with the Bible daily brings spiritual growth, and guides our everyday lives.
If you’re looking for a Bible reading plan for 2026, we’ve pulled together a few options that may help in choosing a plan that’s right for you: Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just starting out, there’s a plan to help you dive deeper into God’s Word.
The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel is an excellent free resource from the team that produces the Alpha Course You can read it directly on the website, listen wherever you access podcasts, download an app, or purchase a book. There are three different plans: Classic, Youth, and Express.
The YouVersion Bible App is also an excellent resource for different lengths of reading plans as well as one-year plans. Many of us have this app already on our phones. The above options have accompanying commentary to help us in our reading. But some of us may prefer to just have the plan without the commentary:
One Story Leads to Jesus is a year Bible plan available from The Bible Project on Youversion or as a printable/downloadable pdf. You can find it here
And there are many more out there.
There is also the option of purchasing a One Year Bible – there are various kinds. Try browsing your favourite online book store
Some tips:
Choose a plan that fits your lifestyle and goals. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.
Be consistent. Even a few minutes of daily reading can make a big difference.
Engage with the text. Ask questions, take notes, and reflect on what you read.
Pray. Ask God to open your heart and mind to His Word.
Consider Reading along with your Life Group. Sharing insights with others can deepen our understanding and enrich our experience.
We encourage everyone to explore the many Bible reading plans available and find one that resonates with you. May 2026 be a year filled with rich blessings and a closer walk with God!
Job Vacancy
Administration and Communications Assistant forSt Michael’s Church and Coffee Shop
We are looking for someone with excellent administrative and communication skills, including social media, who can assist in these areas to support the running of St Michael’s Church Office and The Coffee Shop.
We are flexible about when the 20 hours are worked across the week to suit the right candidate although they will be between Monday and Friday 9am-5pm.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Location: St Michael’s Centre, The Green, Stoke Gifford, Bristol. BS34 8PD
Contract: Fixed-Term for a year (potential for permanent)
Hours: 20 hours per week
Salary:£12.56 per hour
Start: January 2026 but start date is flexible for the right candidate
Benefits: 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays (pro-rata)
Christmas is, at its heart, the celebration of God coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that in Jesus, God entered humanity in a humble and vulnerable way — born in a stable, laid in a manger — to show His immense love for us. Through his birth, Jesus took on our human nature, so that he might live among us, share in our joys and sufferings, and ultimately bring reconciliation between God and people.
More than just a historical event, Christmas points Christians to the hope and forgiveness offered through Jesus. Because of his life, death, and resurrection, believers are offered grace and the possibility of new life; Christmas reminds us that this gift began in that Bethlehem stable.
In short, Christmas is the joyful celebration of “Emmanuel – God with us,” bringing light into our world and renewing hope in dark times.
Curious about Christianity? Come along to an Alpha Course — a friendly place to ask questions and discover more. Details here.
Advent Devotionals
As we enter the Advent season, many people find it helpful to take a few moments each day to pause, reflect, and prepare their hearts for Christmas. Following an Advent devotional can be a meaningful way to slow down amidst the busyness, reconnect with the hope and expectation of the season, and create space for spiritual renewal. If you’re looking for something to guide your reflections this year, there are several wonderful options you might enjoy—here are a few to consider.
Advent Meditations from Practicing The Way – download pdf here sign-up for weekly Advent emails here
Details of our Sunday teaching programme during Advent can be downloaded here
The Bereavement Journey
The Bereavement Journey is a series of films and discussion groups gently guiding people through the most common aspects of grief and bereavement, enabling them to process the implications for themselves and discern next steps.
The Bereavement Journey is for anyone who has been bereaved at any time and in any way.
The course is run over 7 weekly sessions.
We are running two courses starting in January 2026
Why not come along, eat breakfast with others in a relaxed and friendly setting, and listen to an interesting and inspiring talk?
We gather in the auditorium to eat together, and then listen to a talk.
Each month we have a different speaker on a range of topics.
This month our guest speaker is Crawford Telfer. Crawford was our guest speaker back in April 2023, and proved so popular that we invited him back! Crawford brings exciting tales of his career as a Cameraman at the BBC, his Christian faith and his consequent eventful travels world wide making videos for Christian charities!
Please sign-up in advance if you can, so that we can order and make enough food. If you can no longer make it, please let us know Suggested donation £5 per adult (£1 per child). You can donate by card when you sign-up, or on the day via cash or card
Baptisms
On Sunday 11 January 2026 , we are having full-immersion Baptisms during our Six-Thirty celebration.
If you are part of St Michael’s, have recently come to faith in Jesus, or you’ve never been baptised, but you’re a Christian, why not prayerfully consider this opportunity to be baptised?
Please complete the form here, or talk to one of the team.
We will be having a preparation session ahead of the Baptism service, which you will need to attend. The time of this is to be confirmed
If you are looking for a baptism service for your child, please head here
Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group
Our next course is for men-only
Sign-up to express an interest in attending the course – click here
How is your emotional wellbeing?
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 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 : Honesty, anxiety, depression, perfectionism, shame and anger.
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.
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!”
Sunday Sermon Series
Sunday teaching is a key part of St Michael’s. We aim to have a series of engaging and thought-provoking topics to deepen our understanding of the Bible and its relevance in our lives today.
From exploring foundational biblical principles, to addressing pressing contemporary issues, our aim is to equip and inspire each member of our communities to live out their faith with purpose and conviction. Join us as we seek to grow together in knowledge, wisdom, and love.
Create a spacious modern meeting place in the centre of the community
Restore our historic church building for generations to come
Upgrade our existing community rooms
Fund outreach and anti-poverty projects locally, nationally and internationally
These refurbishments come under the second of these ambitions.
Church Refurbishment Update: 4 December
Work on the church refurbishment continues to progress well. The floor has now been fully levelled, as shown in the photos below.
During the excavation, historic burial remains dating from the 1700s were discovered, along with several coffins in a crypt beneath the former location of the communion table. Following the guidance of the archaeologist, and in consultation with the Diocese, the remains were respectfully reburied beneath the ledger stone that will be placed in the chancel.
Simon and Tom led a short service to mark the reburial and to honour the legacy of the Lawford family, whose name appears on the stone above where the remains were found. The coffins within the crypt area were left undisturbed.
We are still on target for completion of the project in the spring.
Update: 2 October 2025
The contractors will be on site from Monday, 13 October 2025. The work is expected to take around 26 weeks with an anticipated completion date at the end of April 2026.
During this time, all services normally held in the church building will be relocated as follows:
The Nine o’clock Location: Lower Hall, St Michael’s Centre (next to the Coffee Shop) Time: 8:45am (slightly earlier than usual) Note: This service will not be live-streamed during the relocation
Evensong Frequency: Monthly Location: Seminar Room 3, St Michael’s Centre
Midweek Communion Frequency: Monthly Location: Room in St Michael’s Centre (specific room will be advised monthly)
Thank you for your patience and understanding during the building work.
Loving God, We give thanks for our church and the life it brings to our community. As our building is renewed, bless the hands at work and the hearts of all who gather. May this time of change remind us that your Spirit is not confined to walls, but lives in our worship, our fellowship, and our love for one another. Fill us with hope, joy, and anticipation for the new ways we will grow together. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Those wishing to support the project financially may do on this donations page: Click here (PLEASE CHOOSE FUND “CHURCH REFURBISHMENT” FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU)
Update: 19 September 2025
Following our recent pre-contract meeting with the building contractor, we are pleased to announce that refurbishment works at St Michael’s will commence on Monday 13 October 2025. The programme of works is expected to continue for several months.
Arrangements are being made for the relocation of the Nine o’clock and Evensong services during this period. Further details will be communicated in due course.
The refurbishment will include the installation of toilets, the relocation of the vestry, and the levelling of floors. These improvements are intended to ensure that our church building remains both welcoming and functional for generations to come.
Those wishing to support the project financially may do on this donations page: Click here (PLEASE CHOOSE FUND “CHURCH REFURBISHMENT” FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU)
12 September 2025
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has approved the appointment of a contractor to undertake the refurbishment of our church building. A pre-contract meeting will take place in the coming weeks, after which we will be able to provide a clearer indication of when the works will commence. We anticipate that this will be within the next couple of months.
As part of the refurbishment, we are considering the future of the existing church pews. While a company has expressed interest in purchasing them at £100 per pew, we would like to offer members of the church family the opportunity to acquire one first.
August 2025
We are delighted to share that the Faculty application for the church refurbishment has been granted. This is a big step forward in our plans to restore and improve our church building. Further details about contractors and the next stages of the project will be shared in the coming weeks, and we look forward to keeping you updated. Please continue to keep this project in your prayers as we move ahead together.
Information pack and q&a
Click the button below to download our information pack, which includes a helpful Q&A section.
The DAC have previously approved all aspects of the project other than the proposed heating solution. Work on this restarted in 2024 and we have now submitted a faculty application to get final approval. The timing of the the refurbishments works is dependant on a number of factors, including finance. This will be the focus of our next Gift Day.
The scope of the project includes the following aspects:
The levelling of the floor throughout the nave, chancel, vestry and tower and laying porcelain tiles throughout
Remodelling the current vestry to become a toilet and kitchenette. A new external accessible door will be made to gain access to this room and the existing outer door will be blocked off
The vestry will be relocated to be under the tower
The removal of pews and replacement with ecclesiastical chairs
Inclusion of Far Infrared Heating to replace the gas boiler and mix of radiators and heater/blower units
A new 3 phase power supply will be installed for the heating
Previous Updates
July 2023
Over the past year we have discovered that the pillars in the church have historical significance. Therefore there have been significant changes to the original scope of the plan. You can read the latest update here. We are still working towards DAC approval.
May 2022
Following the application being resubmitted, the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) will now consult the amenity societies (Church Buildings Council, Historic England, Georgian Group, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) to seek their views. This is equivalent to applying for Civil Planning Permission, but in an ecclesiastical context.
A finance availability timeline is being drawn up and we now have a potential start date of Autumn 2023.
March 2022
A positive meeting was held with the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) in church on 17 February. A written response has been received, and the DAC are broadly supportive of our aims. They had some comments which the steering group and architect are addressing. We aim to resubmit the application again in April.
November 2021
The Faculty (license to make physical alterations) application has been put to the Diocesan Advisory Committee ( DAC) and a positive response was received. We will be responding to their initial questions and we will then resubmit the application
We have received three tenders, and an initial meeting with the preferred contractor will be arranged for an initial discussion.
Due to the complexities of the application, as well as rising costs, the start date of the refurbishment is now unlikely to be before Autumn 2022
The steering group continues to meet regularly and reports back to the PCC.
September 2021
The project specification has been sent out to tender with a full tender package supporting it.
The preference for flooring and chairs have also been decided on.
If you have any questions regarding these plans please do get in touch.
August 2021
The trial digs earlier in the year were successful and plans have been drawn up. The next step is for the plans to be put out to tender. Once these tenders have been received we can go to the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) for approval of the faculty. We hope to be able to then start works in the New Year.
The steering group (chaired by Simon) and Church Fabric Committee have also chosen the chairs and flooring for post-refurb.
March 2021
We pleased to say that DAC List B permission has now been granted to proceed with the investigatory digs in the floor. After liaising with the contractor and archaeologist for a suitable date this will now take place week commencing 8 March. We’re excited to be moving forward and look forward to the results of the trial digs.
January 2021
Before starting the works, we must get approval from the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). They asked us to appoint an archaeologist to investigate the history of the church building and to oversee a number of trial digs. The digs are to confirm that there are no burials under the existing floor, so we know whether underfloor heating is viable.
We’re pleased to say that the archaeologist has been appointed and has started to research the history of the church. Mogford Prescott Ltd has been appointed to carry out the trial digs. We have applied for a List ‘B’ approval/permission for the archaeological work and trial digs and are awaiting approval from the DAC.
As soon as we’ve received this, our architect will coordinate with the Archaeologist and contractor to start five trial digs.
Operation Christmas Child 2025
Every year we take part in Operation Christmas Child – making up for shoeboxes of gifts for children worldwide. This is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project and is run by Samaritans Purse. It’s a great way to show God’s love in a tangible way to help needy children.
Click here for information on how to pack a shoebox. We also have leaflets/labels available in Church and St Michael’s Centre, or you can download one here
One of the key themes at St Michael’s is Sharing Jesus Together. Through the Mission Support Group, St Michael’s Church has formed partnerships with individuals and organisations reaching out to help and share Jesus with people and communities in the UK and around the world.
Every couple of months we have a gathering on zoom, where we share news from some of our Mission Partners. It’s a great way to keep in touch with what’s going on and to pray for the work they are doing.
