Forthcoming Events 

See the Church Calendar for information about services and events.  Below is further information about some of these events and information about other events that we have been asked to publicise.

SUNDAY WORSHIP 

Ascension Day, Thursday 9th May, 7:30pm
All are warmly invited to share in our special evening service of Holy Communion,
with music and hymns

SUNDAY 12th MAY
(NO SERVICE AT 8AM)
10am Parish Communion, in Church (booklets in church)

SUNDAY 19th MAY - PENTECOST
8am Holy Communion, in Church (booklets in church)
10am Service of the Word, in Church and via Zoom (Order of Service available here in due course).
Please note that you will need to print your own order of service if you are coming to church.
11:15am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion, in Church
 
Zoom
When you are signed in you can ‘Join a Meeting’ (See newsletter for ID and Passcode).
Alternatively you can phone in (
Call 0131 460 1196 then follow instructions, entering Meeting ID and Meeting Passcode, followed by hash (#), as instructed).

Godly Play for children and young people in the Lady Chapel during the 10am service.
We’re delighted to offer refreshments to enjoy in (or outside) the WCC after the 10am service.

Whether or not you might like to do this, let’s be aware of the prayerful communion in God’s Spirit that we all share, wherever we are, whether or not we are able to see one another.
I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will, I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Romans 1.9-11.
 
Godly Play logoWe’re delighted to share a short session for children and young people during our Sunday 10am service, EVERY WEEK!
We invite them, with their adults, to come into the Lady Chapel during the sermon and prayers, and share in a short Godly Play (a visual storytelling of scriptures, with wonde
ring questions to share together).  There's a new breakout session for older children at the same time, same place now too, on the Second and Fourth Sunday of every month!

Individual personal prayer, early morning to mid afternoon each day
The church is generally open from early morning to mid afternoon every day.  Please do publicise this amongst those you know: there must be many people who would value an opportunity to spend some comforting time in prayer, peace and reflection in these times.  May our church’s light shine in the darkness.
 
Prayers for our Community, 9:30am, every Saturday, in church
We meet each Saturday for a half hour session of informal prayer for those within our community and issues which affect our town and community.  All welcome.
 
Holy Communion, Wednesday 8th May at 10am
A service of Holy Communion, with music and a hymn, in church.  Refreshments afterwards will be held in the Windhill Churches Centre.
Tiny Tots relaunch
 
Tiny Tots, Wednesday 8th May, from 10:45am for 11:15am gathering in the WCC then walking to the Lady Chapel
A 20-minute worship for babies/toddlers and their parents / carers; with a story, singing and instruments for little ones too!  Join us for refreshments, fellowship and a chance for the children to play before/after the service.
 
FREE hot food at Thirst Youth Café for secondary school children (11-18's), Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3.30pm
This is part of the “Warm Spaces” initiative.  Food available whilst stocks last.  Menu changes weekly.”A4 YP Poster
 
Two Plant Sales! Saturday 11th May
BMS Plant Sale and Coffee Morning, Bishop's Stortford Baptist Church, 10am-12noon
There will be a large number of reasonably priced plants for sale, including: perennials, alpines, shrubs, tomatoes and runner beans! Hand made cards, home-made cakes and jams and turned wood goods and carvings will be on sale. Please bring along your family and friends.
St James the Great Church Plant Sale and refreshments, Emmaus Centre, 11am-1pm
Plants for hanging baskets & containers, bedding plants, perennials and vegetables, supplied by Matthew’s Plants from Hadley Nursery at Roydon Hamlet.

Services for Pentecost, Sunday 19th May
Please note these services in your diary.   8am Holy Communion, 10am Pentecost Praise Service of the Word, 11:15am A simple Book of Common Prayer Said Holy Communion at the High Altar to offer Pentecost Communion.

UK Chinese Music Ensemble JuneAPCM, Sunday 26th May after 10am service
Over the coming weeks the APCM documentation will be published here.  There are a few hard copies of the papers, along with the finance documents available in the Publicity Area.  Any other members who are unable to print their own papers, or read them via the website, please contact Katharine Stanley. Please email Graziana Maddalozzo, our Treasurer, via the Parish Office, with any queries you have about the finance papers in advance of the APCM.  Thank you.

Quiet Days in Albury, next on Thursday 30th May
These popular days of reflection and contemplation in June’s home have returned.  Places are limited, please contact the Parish Office for more information.

UK Chinese Ensemble, Sunday 2nd June, 3pm  
A recital with Dennis Lee playing Xiao (a Chinese vertical end-blown flute) and other musicians playing Pipa, ('Chinese Lute') and Guqin, ('Chinese Zither').  Free admission with retiring collection and tea and homemade cake served afterwards.

The TLC Club invites you to join them on their annual mystery tour on Tuesday 4th June
“We leave Bishop’s Stortford just after 1pm, arriving back around 5:30/6pm.  Cost is £25 covering travel and cream tea at our destination”.  Speak to Rosemary asap or email the Parish Office for more details and to book.

‘Ringing out for Peace’ on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, 6th June at 6:30pmTLC Generic
6th June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces mounted the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever witnessed. In 1944 Operation Overlord saw over 5,000 ships and landing craft set down more than 130,000 troops on five Normandy beaches in an action that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe. 
As part of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers is encouraging ringers to Ring Out for Peace on 6th June at 6.30pm. 

Coffee Morning, Saturday 8th June, 10am-12noon
All welcome! Fresh coffee / tea and cakes ... plus a cake stall, a raffle and a good as new / unwanted gift stall.  Come and join us for a cuppa!  Any helpers and cake bakers would be most appreciated.  Please contact Gill.
 
TLC Tuesday 2nd July, 2:15pm for 2:30pm, WCC
An opportunity to join in with tea and talk and a regular 10/15 minute presentation on wide-ranging interests.  Later in the afternoon we welcome families after school for a short while, to share in reading/play and enjoy a biscuit/cake/fruit snack.  Do come along…and tell your friends too!  
 
Tower Tours flyer
Tower Tours in 2024, Next on 28th July,  1:30 to 3pm
£5 for adults, free for children.  Book at bells@saintmichaelweb.org.uk or 07773 572135.
 
Holiday Bible Week 2024, 5th - 9th August at Windhill21 School
A week-long festival of learning about the Bible with fun, crafts and games for children, put together by the churches of Bishop’s Stortford. 
Sign up now by visiting the HBW website!
HBW 2024