Category: St Michael’s Church

Alpha

Sign-up to come to our next taster session on Wednesday 4 October at 7pm – click here

We’ve been running Alpha at St Michael’s for many years, and hundreds of people have enjoyed the space to ask the big questions of life in a relaxed and open environment.

Alpha is a place where no subject is off-limits, and no question is too silly, too difficult, or too controversial (really!). It’s a place to find out what Christians believe, to see whether any of it adds up in practice, to decide what you think and – if you’re up for it – to give some of it a go.

We’d love you to join our next Alpha. For more info email Alpha@stmichaelsbristol.org

Sign-up to come to our next taster session on Wednesday 4 October at 7pm – click here

How Alpha works:

We meet once a week, for 8 weeks. There is a Saturday together in the middle for a slightly longer time of food and discussion.

  • Alpha always starts with food; tea, coffee and cake in the morning, or a meal in the evening.
  • There’s usually some live music.
  • Then there’s a 30-minute presentation on different aspects of faith and Christianity, covering topics like, Who is Jesus? How and why should I pray? How does God guide us?
  • We then get to respond to what we’ve heard, share our own thoughts and experiences, and chew over any questions raised. These discussions are often the best part of the session, and we get to hear from others as well as contribute our own perspective – if we’re up for that.
  • The evening finishes at 9.30pm

Online Option

We are also running an online Alpha course. If you can’t get to our in-person course because you live too far away, or you can’t get out of an evening (perhaps child care duties or health issues). Or perhaps you can’t make Wednesday evenings, or ust feel ‘safer’ joining from a distance, then we do have the option of our online course via Zoom, St Michael’s Online Alpha starting at 8pm on Tuesdays from 3 October. Click here to sign-up

Please get in touch

To find out more about Alpha, or to sign up for the next course, please contact us!

alpha-logo

#financialquestions

Why do we have two gift days a year?

St Michael’s is made up of two charities and we hold a Gift Day for each:

1: St Michael’s Church Centre (SMCC) – Gift Day for Buildings and Resources

2: St Michael’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) – Gift Day for Mission and Ministry

Click here for info on how to give

Don’t we get any money from the Church of England?

All ministry at St Michael’s is resourced by us.

Click here for info on how to give

We amazing buildings, don’t we have lots of money?

The short answer is no. We still have daily running costs on our buildings, and we have loans of nearly £700,000 which still need to be repaid.

Why is there a gap in our finances?

This year we have planned for a deficit budget, but we know that we can’t sustain it.

Gift Day November 2022 -click here

Environment

Eco church

We are thrilled to have achieved our Bronze Eco Church accreditation with A Rocha

Eco Group

St Michael’s Eco Group meet roughly every 6 weeks and are currently working on the following areas:

  • Repair Cafe – these now happen monthly
  • Sunday Refreshments –  We no longer have any disposable mugs left and so it is very important that you remember to bring your reusable mug to church. We have new St Michael’s reusable mugs that will be on sale after the 9am, 10:30am and 6:30pm services at £4 each. 
  • Toilet Twinning  – We have applied for 16 toilet twinning certificates which are being displayed in the toilets around the church centre
  • Sustainable Travel – We had a great response to our sustainable travel survey, and have updated our travel page
  • Clothes Swap – Update coming soon

We are also phasing out normal A4 paper in the centre and using ECO friendly paper which uses less wood to make and comes with less packaging. Also, all of our toilet paper in the centre is now 100% recycled paper.

It is hoped that by all of us making small changes we can help to influence the culture at St Michael’s to help us look after our Environment. If you would like any more information on the Eco Group please contact Andy Mead on opsdirector@stmichaelsbristol.org

 

Prayer for Climate Change

You spoke into the silence
Light suffusing darkness.
You spoke into the silence
Blowing clean life giving air into the space
You spoke into the silence
Warmth and cold infusing the air
You spoke into the silence
Solid ground formed out of gushing water.
You spoke voice carrying over the sound
People, plants and animals came to life.
You spoke each creation balanced against the next so life would be abundant and sustainable.
You saw everything you had made and declared it to be very good.
You spoke choosing to give us humans stewardship over all that You had made.
We speak and act
Darkness of pollution limits light levels and damages the air we breathe.
We speak and act
Ground poisoned, burnt, stripped bare.
We speak and act
Spoiling, limiting, destroying quality of life and life itself.
We speak and act
Without hearing Your call over the noise of the world to be good stewards.
You speak. You create. You want us to be stewards of Your creation.
We come to You to re-learn how to care for the earth and people you have made.

 

Katrina Rowland

Climate Factsheet from Tearfund – download here

Christmas 2021

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

Sunday 26 December

11.00 Walk and Worship.  Meet at 11am on The Green

 

For covid-19 update – click here

Prayer Resources

We wanted to share some resources to help us in our prayer life.

Click here for our weekly prayer diary

The Church of England  has produced a resource for joining in with worship and prayer at home.  Click here to download a printable PDF.

They have now included this in a downloadable booklet, which also includes different prayers.  Click here to download.

Click here to download an easy to follow examen prayer.

Prayer Apps and websites

Daily prayer
Complete services for morning, evening and night prayer from the Church of England

Pray As You Go
This UK based outfit (produced by Jesuit Media initiatives) have been producing material long before the digital age – a daily prayer session combining music, scripture and questions for reflection, based on Ignation
Spirituality.

Lectio 365
This comes recommended by Tom. It’s a UK based daily devotional that helps you pray the Bible every day, writtenby leaders from the 24-7 prayer movement and produced in partnership with CWR. Inspired by Lectio Divina, a way of meditating on the Bible that’s being used by Christians for centuries

Sacred Space

Bible apps

Bible in One Year
Fantastic Bible in a year, with Nicky Gumbel reflections, with audio if required.
You Version
The definitive Bible app, now with built in audio! A staple for many, including our very own rector, Si Jones


Going Deeper – Silence and Stillness

One Minute Pause
 A simple way to connect with God in the middle of this busy time. This app invites you into the simple practise of releasing everything to God, restoring your union with God and inviting him to fill you.

Centering prayer
A well-constructed app that allows you to adjust timings for silent prayer – includes prayers, scriptures and reflections.

Soul Time
Highly recommended by Archbishop  Justin Welby – who also contributes. ‘Christian meditation made simple’ – ‘learn Christian meditation with insightful courses from experts like Danny silk (one of the senior pastors from Bethel Church). It has some really good Bible based meditations on combating anxiety/stress/anger.

Tom’s video sessions on Practising Silence can be found here

 

Electoral Roll

Click here to go straight to the online form

Join the St Michael’s Electoral Roll

Click here to sign up

At St Michael’s we want to live to make a difference, by being a Christian heart at the centre of our communities.  We would love you to be part of our Church family and join in.  If St Michael’s is your home church we would encourage you to join the electoral roll

The electoral roll is the Church of England’s official register of who worships with us here at St Michael’s. If you are not currently on the roll, and you have worshiped regularly with us over the last six months, we would love to encourage you to sign-up.

Why have an Electoral Roll?

It is your parish church register of electors. It is the list of those qualified to attend and to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting where the elections take place for the Parochial Church Council and the parish’s representatives on the Deanery Synod.  Any person entitled to attend the Annual Church Parochial Meeting may raise any question of parochial or general church interest.

How do I join the Electoral Roll?

You can join the electoral roll online by filling in the form below.
Alternatively, you can complete a paper form and return it to the church office.

How do I know if I am resident in the parish?

You can use a Church Near You to determine whether your home address falls within St Michael’s parish boundaries or not.

Click here to use a Church Near You

I still have questions!

If you still have questions or would like some help, you can contact us.

Electoral Roll Form

Click on the button below to go to the online form

Alternatively, you can download a paper copy   and drop it into the Church Office

St Michael’s Electoral Roll Privacy Notice

Baby Groups

 

Saplings

Saplings is for parents and carers to bring babies and preschool children. Friday mornings 9.15am-10.45am

We meet in a great venue: The Vench, which is not far from Cheswick, Stoke Park and Scholars Chase.

Please email saplings@stmichaelsbristol.org for more information

Bumps and Babies

Bumps and Babies is for expectant parents and parents with under 1 year olds

We meet in St Michael’s Centre in term-time on Monday afternoons between 1.30pm and 3pm

 

Men at Home

Men at Home is an informal social group that meets once a week in the Old School Rooms for friendship, conversation, support and a listening ear when required.

When

Mondays 10am–12 midday

Who

Any men who are free at this time for whatever reason

Where

Upstairs in the Old School Rooms (room T4)

How much

There is no charge but donations towards the cost of refreshments are welcome and we take a charity collection at Christmas

Contact

If you want more info  please get in touch

Welcome to St Michael’s

Welcome to St Michael’s Church

I am so glad that you ‘checked in’ with us online. We are a local Church that lives to make a difference by being a Christian heart at the centre of our communities.

We do this by learning and growing together. We’re committed to sharing Jesus together. We give ourselves to serving together in practical ways.

If that sounds like the kind of church you’re looking for, we’d love you to Get Connected

Ways to get involved

Learning -join a Life Group and learn and grow together.

Serving – Use the various gifts and talents God has given us, and look for avenues of service — where we play our part in Serving Together

Giving — we “count ourselves in” by prayerfully and actively giving to the work of God in St Michael’s.

Find out more about the rest of team here.

Enjoy browsing the rest of the website – there is loads here to explore.

And I look forward to seeing you soon,

Revd Canon Simon Jones 
Rector – Stoke Gifford

Interested in coming to a service on Sunday?

You can read more on our Church Services page

Every Sunday we worship at 9am, 10.30am and 6.30pm. Each has it’s own distinct style, but the main focus is always on worshipping Jesus!

We have two worship venues, our traditional church building, and the auditorium in St Michael’s Centre. Both are equally cherished. More info on where to find us on the location page.

The 10.30 Celebration is when we also have Sunday Club for Children and activities for young people.