St Michael’s, Stoke Gifford is a lively, growing Anglican church on the northern edge of Bristol. We are a welcoming crowd of everyday people, living to make a difference by being a Christian heart at the centre of our communities. Everyone is welcome at St Michael’s.
We live to make a difference by Learning and Growing in our faith. We do this together. All of the ministries below are a reflection of the desire to learn and grow together. It’s the definition of Discipleship, and it’s central to our work through our small groups and courses, and in our commitment to prayer, care and sharing the resources we’ve been given.
We are called to share our faith in Jesus. The Church exists to spread the good news of Jesus’ love & life. We are committed to achieving this locally. We also make a difference well beyond our parish boundaries. We support and work with teams that fight poverty and spread the good news of Jesus locally, nationally and around the world.
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Our attitude should be the same. Serving our communities is the heartbeat of life at St Michael’s. Our coffee shop, our meeting rooms and our professional pre-school and nursery are used by hundreds of local families, businesses, groups and individuals all year round. And the generosity of all those who volunteer is constantly bringing reality to our vision of living to make a difference by being a Christian heart at the centre of our communities.
We’re taking a Christmas Float to the New Housing Areas of Cheswick, Brooklands Park and Scholars Chase!
Tuesday 5 December Starting at Cheswick Square at 6pm – Father Christmas will be there and we will all sing a couple of festive Christmas Carols before the float sets off! Wednesday 6 December – starting near Crest Nicholson show home Clover Way, at 6pm. Friday 8 December – starting at Stoke Gifford Retirement Village Car Park at 6pm.
We’d love to see your photos of the float – so why not share them on social media and tag us in, or send them to welcome@stmichaelsbristol.org.
Our Christmas theme this year is The Great Invitation. It’s an invitation to last a lifetime: to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring this in short video reflections. We’ll be led weekly in turn by Vicky Wicks, Tom Benyon, Julie Hobbs, and Simon Jones.
Week 2
This week we join Tom for our Advent Reflection as he shares about the role of Joseph in the Christmas story
Week 1
For our first reflection, Vicky Wicks reflects on how Mary must have felt at her own invitation….
Community Carols at Wallscourt Farm Academy – Thursday 7 December 6pm
Carols on The Green – Saturday 9 December 6.15pm (Song sheet here)
Contemporary Carols – Sunday 10 December 6.30pm St Michael’s Centre
Christmas Quiz – Friday 15 December 7.30pm St Michael’s Centre (sign-up here)
Carol Service – Sunday 17 December 6.30pm St Michael’s Centre
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Christmas Eve 9am St Michael’s Church
Christmas Eve 10.30am Crib Service St Michael’s Centre
Christmas Eve Midnight Communion 11.15pm St Michael’s Church
Christmas Day All Age Communion 10am St Michael’s Centre
Advent Reflections
Our Christmas theme this year is The Great Invitation. It’s an invitation to last a lifetime: to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring this in short video reflections. We’ll be led weekly in turn by Vicky Wicks, Tom Benyon, Julie Hobbs, and Simon Jones. Click here.
New Housing Areas Christmas Float
We are taking a Christmas Float to the New Housing Areas of Cheswick, Brooklands Park and Scholars Chase!
Tuesday 5 December Starting at Cheswick Square at 6pm Wednesday 6 December – starting near Crest Nicholson show home Clover Way, at 6pm Friday 8 December – starting at Stoke Gifford Retirement Village Car Park at 6pm
The Great Invitation – A Christmas Message from Revd Canon Simon Jones.
No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
John 1.18
Our Christmas theme this year is At the Heart of Christmas. The theme is an invitation to everyone to discover – or rediscover – the good news of God’s saving love as revealed in the birth of Jesus. It is also a challenge to each of us to ponder in our hearts – as Mary did – what the extraordinary events of the first Christmas might mean for us now and in the years ahead.
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.
We look forward to worshipping Jesus together, in-person and online.
Christmas Services
for themes, readings and speakers for Sundays in December – see here
Christmas Eve
15.00 Crib Service – St Michael’s Centre – in-person only
23.15 Midnight Communion – St Michael’s Church BOOKING ESSENTIAL CLICK HERE TO BOOK
Christmas Day
10.00 All Age Christmas Celebration- St Michael’s Centre – in-person and online
This year’s Christmas Fair is on Saturday 25 November, starting at 11am. Father Christmas has the date in his diary, and the Coffee Shop will be open for yummy refreshments. Our magnificent cake stall will be returning too! We have lots of stalls with handmade gifts to browse and buy, children’s crafts and fun and games for everyone!
See you there!
We seek to promote quality local craftspeople, and aim to limit the number of duplicate stalls to ensure a good breadth of items for sale and to be fair to stallholders. Tables are £15. If you would like a table, or have any questions, please contact us for a booking form.
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 will also soon have leaflets available in Church and St Michael’s Centre.
Tougher import regulations mean no toothpaste, chocolate or sweets as shoebox gifts. Let’s think creatively by adding other fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items that a child will love. More ideas here or download gift suggestions here.
Please drop off your boxes in church or St Michael’s Centre ready for collection by Sunday 13 November.
What are you doing in Advent? Do you have an advent calendar or candle? Perhaps you are reading a book of reflections, or signed up to receive devotional emails from a Christian organisation?
There are lots of different resources and options for us to tap into during this time, and here are just a couple:
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 available in Church and St Michael’s Centre, as well as some flat pack boxes ( first come first served on the boxes)
Tougher import regulations mean no toothpaste, chocolate or sweets as shoebox gifts. Let’s think creatively by adding other fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items that a child will love. You can now include knitted items and 4 suited playing cards. More ideas here
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.
Starting on Wednesday 1 December 2021, take a photo each day until Christmas, using the daily prompts. Share on social media with #StMAdvent2021
How to get involved
Playing along is really simple! Just look at the list each day and take a photo using the prompt as inspiration. So, for example, Day 1 is Light, so all you have to do is take a photo of something that represents light to you. You can then share your photo on either Facebook or Instagram or both! To share on Instagram, just upload with the hashtag #StMAdvent2021 and you’re done (more details below if you need them though), and to share on Facebook, upload to your personal page or head to the special Facebook group and share there.
How to Share on Instagram
Simply upload the photo to Instagram, add a caption (you could mention the day and the prompt in the caption), add the hashtag #StMAdvent2021 and then publish. You can also tag the St Michael’s Instagram page. Check out the #StMAdvent2021 hashtag to see all the other photos. Like them and comment on them, encourage each other and take inspiration.
Join the Facebook Group. Upload the photo in the group and then publish. Alternatively you can just share on your personal page. Check out the photos shared in the group, or amongst your friends. Comment, like and be part of the photo-taking community. Share amongst your friends and tag in St Michael’s page.
How to Share on Twitter
Post your photo and use the Hashtag #StMAdvent2021 , you can also tag us @stMichaelsSG
Print out the list, save it as your screensaver or save it to your camera roll. You can also revisit this webpage.
Disclaimer
We would love to be able to share some of your photos during advent, including on the pre-service visuals. By sharing your photos on the hashtag in Instagram, and/or in the Facebook Group, you are consenting to the possible subsequent sharing of your image on St Michael’s digital media ( website/social media/visuals during services).
