You may have noticed scaffolding around St Michael’s Church this week.
This has gone up, as we are carrying out remedial work on the church tower.
The work is scheduled to be completed by the middle of August
Category: St Michael’s Church
Living to Make a Difference – Gift Day 2017
At St Michael’s, we are privileged to be part of a vibrant, growing church. It’s encouraging to see the continued growth of our ministry and mission, both locally and overseas. Thank you to everyone who has given their time, money and prayer support in 2017. Looking ahead to 2018, there’s a sense that God is drawing more people in. This will bring both challenges and opportunities for us all. Our November “Gift Day” is a chance for us to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness and to renew our commitment to living generously. How will you give in 2018 to help deliver the vision of St Michael’s? With your support we will achieve our church’s vision and lay stronger foundations for the future. Thank you for your generosity.
Simon Jones
Our Vision
St Michael’s, Stoke Gifford is a lively, growing Anglican Church. We share a vision of “living to make a difference” by being a “Christian heart at the centre of the community”.
Our Strategy
Discipleship: through Life Groups, Youth & Children’s groups, helping each of us grow in our friendship with Jesus.
Outreach: to creatively share the Good News of Jesus with others.
Serving the community: in a variety of ways that generate goodwill and community regeneration.
Our Investment in Ministry & Mission in 2017
Thank you to all our amazing staff and volunteers we have reached and blessed many more people in 2017: Children’s Ministry at Sunday Club, Beehive, Saplings, Messy Church and St. Michael’s School; Youth & Student Ministry through Youth Club, Uganda Mission Trip, Youth Retreat, Abbeywood & Bradley Stoke Schools and UWE; Alpha, Baptism Preparation, Marriage and Parenting Courses, Divorce Recovery Workshop; Over 65s Ministry lunches, teas and Osbourne Court; Pastoral presence offering a ‘listening ear’; Prayer Opportunities and 24/7 prayer weeks and a new “Sacred Space”.
Our Future
We have a vision for growth of our congregations and our community outreach. We require faith, boldness and generosity in our giving according to our circumstances. By God’s grace and our commitment we will have the resources to lay hold of these opportunities.
In 2018, we’d like to see more young people come to know God through our Children’s, Youth & Student Ministries. We are excited about our outreach Youth Club, Soul Survivor camp and Hope Bristol. We’d like to start “Make Lunch” to provide lunch for children, who might otherwise not eat a hot meal, in the school holidays. We’d like to provide better ongoing support for those who’ve experienced Alpha. We’d like to offer parenting courses to parents of children of all ages. We’d like to expand our Over 65s ministry to provide wider opportunities for engagement. We’d like to strengthen our pastoral ministry through “Listening” training. We’d like to develop an ‘us-together’ culture of ‘Welcome and Hospitality’.
Our Financial Target for 2018
To maintain and develop our ministry in line with our Vision, we need to raise additional income of £60,000 in 2018. This is an extra £5000, £4000 + 25% Gift Aid of £1000 per month in regular giving.
Our Giving
We receive no financial support from local or national government or the Church of England including the Bristol Diocese. Our parish relies on the generous financial support from those who attend St. Michael’s. Giving and gratitude go together and we give out of gratitude for what we receive from God.
‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ 2 Cor 9:7
Our Challenge
Many of us faithfully and sacrificially give, even in difficult financial circumstances, to support the work of God and this Parish.
If you live in a household which is not yet contributing financially to God’s work at St. Michael’s, please prayerfully consider how you can change that.
‘Each one of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.’ 1Peter 4:10
Our Response
- If you are not yet a regular giver to the Church, please pray about starting regular, planned giving.
- If you are an existing regular giver, please prayerfully consider increasing your gift.
- If you receive a windfall gift, for example, a bonus or inheritance, please consider making a lump sum gift to St. Michael’s.
- If you are a tax payer, please take advantage of Gift Aid by signing a declaration form. This will mean an extra 25p on every £1.00 you give.
- Click here to download a Response form
Our Prayer
Loving Father, you have made us your people, richly provided us with good gifts and called us to live for you. May gratitude be in our hearts, may generosity be in our hands, may justice and righteousness guide our feet and may the life of your kingdom and the joy of heaven be found among us.
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’. Philippians 4.6
Revd Canon Simon Jones
Congratulations to Simon who has been installed as Honorary Canon at Bristol Cathedral.
This honour is a recognition of Si’s work as Rector and Area Dean, as well as leader of the Heart of the Community Project.
Si was installed alongside 5 others from across the Diocese, and all were well supported within the congregation.
Si said “A huge ‘thank you’ to everyone at St Michael’s who came to the Cathedral on Sunday. I felt very loved and supported by you all. It was a privilege to be installed as a Canon at Bristol Cathedral and an on-going joy to lead St Michael’s.”
Photos by Chris Dobson
Heart of the Community Project Update
As we approach our next Heart of the Community gift day, it’s an opportunity to remember why it all started, what has been achieved so far, and look at the plans for the future.
The latest update can be read here
