Dear friends,

Just after Christmas last year, my husband Chris and I had to say goodbye to our much-loved Springer Spaniel, Millie.  We’d had her for 12 years and she very much belonged to the season of life of us being ‘home alone’, with our children having grown up and left home.  We were very sad, yet at the same time so grateful to have had her in our lives for these years.  We both felt that we had ‘one more puppy in us’, so set about exploring options, and in early February we welcomed a new four-legged friend, Poppy, into our home.  She came to us as an ‘older’ puppy – about 16-months old – beautifully behaved in some respects (having spent her early months with a dog trainer), but it took some weeks for us to crack her toilet training!  And she had SO much energy…

It felt at times like we, and our home, had been hit by a whirlwind!

But through all those challenging early weeks I really felt God speaking to me about the nature of his love.  We had known and loved Millie deeply for so long; we were ‘familiar with all her ways’ (as King David wrote in Psalm 139).  Poppy we didn’t yet know in the same way, yet we loved her – not because she had done anything to deserve our love, but we loved her because we’d chosen her.  In fact, we chose to lavish our love on her – and she responded so gladly and willingly.  Now, four months on, it very much feels like she’s part of our family – and we’re becoming familiar with all her little ways!  I thought you might enjoy this picture of Poppy with Chris, on the Malvern Hills.  It all reminded me so much of this verse from a letter written by the Apostle John:

‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!’, 1 John 3v1

As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, I know that for many of us there may be feelings of sadness as we remember fathers who are no longer with us, or fathers who may not be able to be there for us in the way they once were, or perhaps even fathers we never had an opportunity to know.  But the fatherhood of God is something we are all invited to know and experience for ourselves, and His enduring presence with us through all the ups and downs of life is something we can count on. I love this promise of God: ‘Never will I leave you: never will I forsake you’, Hebrews 13v5.

May you know the reality and comfort of God’s love in this season of your own life.

And may these simple resources speak to you of this reality, and the fact that your Father in heaven loves you, has chosen you, and longs to lavish His love on you.

May God bless you and keep you in His love and care.

Julie Bradley

Revd Canon Julie Bradley, Associate Minister

On Sunday 5 June, our ten-thirty service was outside on The Green, as we joined together to not only celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee but also Pentecost. A double celebration!

See some photos below

Updated 23 May 2022

There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The government suggests that you continue to wear a face-covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet. 

 Social distancing in a place of worship is now a personal choice.

In all our buildings we still welcome the wearing of face coverings.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Updated 1 March 2022

There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.

Social distancing in a place of worship is now a personal choice.

From Thursday 3 March:

• In our Church building (and whilst singing) we recommend the wearing of face coverings.
• In St Michael’s Centre (and whilst singing) we still welcome the wearing of face coverin

Updated 25 February 2022

Despite the lifting of Government restrictions around Covid-19, we are still currently advising the wearing of face-coverings at all our services and celebrations. The leadership team will review this going forward.

Updated 26 January 2022

The Current Situation…

For places of worship, it is up to individual churches to decide the precautions they wish to take – based on their own risk assessment – to protect others and themselves.

Within the Church we believe that everyone is known and loved individually by God, and that as many members within one body we are called to be responsible to and for one another, respecting the more vulnerable whose suffering is our suffering (1 Cor 12:12-27)

At St Michael’s…

From Thursday 27 January:

• In our Church building (and whilst singing) we strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings.
• In St Michael’s Centre (and whilst singing) we recommend the wearing of face coverings.

We suggest that you keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow or feel ill, please do not attend.

Updated 16 December

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.

When available, you can order lateral flow tests online here.

We look forward to worshipping Jesus together, in-person and online.

Updated 10 December

We are thankful to be able to meet in person for our Christmas services and events.

Following the latest government announcement, face coverings are now a legal requirement in our buildings.  This is something we were already strongly recommending.

Please keep your face covering on at all times unless you are exempt

We suggest that you keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and 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.

Updated 3 December

The arrival of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus, Omicron, has prompted the government to introduce some additional precautionary measures as they assess its potential impact.
 
For places of worship it is still up to individual churches to decide the precautions they wish to take based on their own risk assessment to protect others and themselves.
 
Within the Church we believe that everyone is known and loved individually by God and that as many members within one body we are called to be responsible to and for one another, respecting the more vulnerable whose suffering is our suffering (1 Cor 12:12-27). 
 
The current situation, means we are being asked to take even more personal responsibility, than when we were compelled to adhere to Government restrictions. 
At present, news of the newly emergent omicron variant of the virus is causing concern and uncertainty. It is, however, too early to say what impact this new variant will have on the pandemic in the UK. There is likely to be fuller information within a few weeks and we will have to exercise both patience and caution until then.

At St Michael’s we strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings in both the centre and church buildings, and whilst singing.  We suggest that you keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow or feel ill, please do not attend.

Updated 4 November

We all need to look out for each other. Please keep testing regularly to stop the spread, and if you do test positive with a lateral flow, isolate and take a PCR test promptly. 

At present, incidence of the virus is high, though Government statistics tentatively point to it beginning to decrease.

Largely due to the success of the vaccination programme, hospitalisations and deaths remain at a much lower level than at similar points during the pandemic, but the continuation of this will be dependent on a good uptake of booster vaccinations.

However, vaccination cannot be the sole means of containing the spread of the virus: hand and respiratory hygiene, social distancing, face-coverings and good ventilation are also important factors in lessening the spread of the disease. While these are not mandatory, they are still important public health mitigations to help minimise risk.

We  recommend face-coverings in enclosed and crowded spaces, and ask that you remember to wash your hands regularly. 

We will continue with a one-way system for our coffee time after the 10.30 Celebration, and encouraging people to move outside or back to the auditorium after picking up their drinks.

Updated 27 October

As cases of covid-19 continue to be a concern, we are committed to following guidance and reviewing our processes.

The wearing of face-coverings continues to be expected in the Church building. Feel free to wear face-coverings during the 10.30 and Evening Celebrations, as well as whilst moving around  St Michael’s Centre.

From this Sunday, we are introducing a one-way system for our coffee time after the 10.30 Celebration, and encouraging people to move outside or back to the auditorium after picking up their drinks.

Updated  9 September

The core leadership team has come to the decision that mask-wearing in the auditorium and St Michael’s Centre is now optional and down to personal choice.  

As you may know, the centre and especially the auditorium, is very well ventilated and this decision brings us in line with government and Church of England guidance on mask-wearing.

So as of today please feel free to wear or not wear mask at your discretion during worship and whilst moving around the centre. 

Ventilation in the church building is less efficient, so we (strongly) recommend that worshippers continue to wear masks during the 9am and for other services in the building. 

You can find full details on our Sunday Worship here

Our services and celebrations will still be live streamed, and you can find them on our youtube channel