Children and Young People
This is a page especially for our young friends at St Michael's!
We welcome children as full members of our Church, and there are many opportunities for children and young people to be involved in the life of the Church. See the links at the bottom of the page for more info.
Grown ups: The YouTube/Vimeo links will always be carefully checked, with E-safety in mind, and are designed to be a shared experience as a family, not for children on their own. You might wish to check out the videos before your children view them.
Easter
Why not try these activities over the Easter season?
Create a Colourful Poster like the one with the cross and the heart
Try this Wordsearch
Try a Lectio Divina (divine reading) for Eastertide - something for those in Y7 upwards
Never heard of it? Click on the image with the question mark for some info, which will tell you a little bit more about a simple form of Lectio Divina and will help get you started. Why not give it a whirl!
This more simple form is based on focusing on one word in a phrase from Scripture. Each week in Eastertide we'll share the Sunday Gospel reading for you to think about:
The Seventh Sunday of Easter: John 17. 20-end (The Message Version)
I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.
Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
Ascension Day
The word "ascension" means "going up". According to the story told in the Bible, Jesus ascended (went up) to heaven. This was seen by his followers ('apostles' or 'disciples'). The feast day is celebrated forty days after his resurrection. The story tells that Jesus' body went to heaven, and that in heaven he sits at the right-hand side of God the Father. Ascension Day is officially celebrated on a Thursday. However, not all countries hold the feast on this day. All Christians celebrate this feast, much like Easter and Pentecost. It is a very important feast in the calendar of the Christian Church. In some countries the day is a public holiday.
Acts 1. 4-11 (International Children’s Bible)
Once when Jesus was eating with his disciples, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “The Father has made you a promise which I told you about before. Wait here to receive this promise. John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
The disciples were all together. They asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to give the kingdom back to Israel?”
Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only One who has the authority to decide dates and times. These things are not for you to know. But the Holy Spirit will come to you. Then you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up. A cloud hid him from their sight. As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus taken away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.”
Can you find the stained glass window in church which shows Jesus ascending into heaven?
Pentecost
Pentecost is the moment in the ‘Big Story of Christianity’ where the story of Jesus becomes the story of the church. Jesus knew that his disciples would need some help in getting the Church off to a great start. So, he told them he would send them a ‘Helper’. This Helper would not be arriving quietly!
Here's what happened, from Acts 2. 1-21 (International Children’s Bible version)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise came from
heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to speak these languages. There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem who were from every country in the world. When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were completely amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these men that we hear speaking from Galilee? But each of us hears them in his own language. How is this possible? We are from different places: Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, Rome (both Jews and those who had become Jews), Crete and Arabia. But we hear these men telling in our own languages about the great things God has done!” They were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, “What does this mean?” But others were making fun of them, saying, “They have had too much wine.” But Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: “My fellow Jews, and all of you who are in Jerusalem, listen to me. Pay attention to what I have to say. These men are not drunk, as you think; it is only nine o’clock in the morning! But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:
‘God says: In the last days I will give my Spirit freely to all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
At that time I will give my Spirit even to my servants, both men and women. And they will prophesy.
I will show miracles in the sky and on the earth: blood, fire and thick smoke.
The sun will become dark. The moon will become red as blood. And then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.
Then anyone who asks the Lord for help will be saved.’
Perhaps you might like to reflect on the story -
• I wonder how the Holy Spirit is like the wind?
• I wonder why the Holy Spirit is represented in a flame?
• I wonder why the first thoughts of the people they encountered were that the
disciples were drunk?
• I wonder what it felt like for people of different countries and cultures to hear
these special words in their own language?
Pentecost is the day the church was born. It is a day of celebration for all Christians around the world, from different denominations and a range of different types of churches and communities. There is a carnival atmosphere and joy is at the centre. Find Pentecost images which show the different ways that Pentecost is celebrated in different places around the world, illustrating the importance of seeing Christianity as a global faith. Christianity is often expressed differently in different cultures and the different ways Pentecost is celebrated show us how diverse the family of God is. Some churches release doves as this is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Others set up prayer stations with candles to represent the tongues of fire. Some churches release red rose petals from the church ceiling to represent the flames of the Holy Spirit and some use banners and flags of red for joyful celebrations. Some churches release balloons and churches in Jerusalem in Israel use actual fire to celebrate. Other churches like to get outside and wave the flags of different countries to show that at Pentecost people from all nations, all languages and all skin colours were able to hear the Good News about Jesus for themselves in their own language. Some Christians make kites and fly these, thinking about the rushing wind of the Holy Spirit’s arrival. Some churches set up their altar tables with red cloths and candles, some have a Pentecost Party with the whole church community and in some countries the Christian story of Pentecost gets mixed with local cultural traditions, creating some interesting processions and rituals.
Who is Saint Michael?
He's an Archangel (one of the most important of God's angels) and is mentioned a few times in the Bible - why not see if you can find him:
Daniel, Chapter 10 and 12
Jude, Chapter 1
The most famous story is mentioned right at the end of the Bible:
Revelation, Chapter 12, verses 7–9
"Then there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough. He and his angels lost their place in heaven. He was thrown down out of heaven. (The giant dragon is that old snake called the devil or Satan. He leads the whole world the wrong way.) The dragon with his angels was thrown down to the earth." International Children's Bible
Click on this picture of St Michael to print and colour it in ⇒
You can find pictures of St Michael in a few places in our church too: he's one of the four archangels in the West Window and there's a banner of him too.
We celebrate St Michael's special day on 29th September, or the Sunday nearest to it.
You might want to think of St Michael whenever you feel lonely, scared, or tempted.
Tiny Tots is here! Thursdays from 12:30 - 2/2:30pm
Did you come to Tiny Tots when you were really small? Well it's now here in a new and exciting way and on a new day with lots of fun activities so if you have little sisters or brothers, why not ask your grownups if they'd like to come along! Grown-ups, please note that we now meet in the Windhill Churches Centre (it's buggy friendly and there's baby changing in all loos). You older children are welcome on inset days / school holidays and you can bring a packed lunch too!
Come along on Sundays at 10am and share A Godly Play
WE'RE HERE EVERY WEEK WITH SOME SPECIAL TIME JUST FOR YOU IN THE SUNDAY SERVICE !! We invite YOU, with your grownups, to come into the Lady Chapel during the sermon and prayers, and share in A Godly Play (a short story, with things to wonder about together and some fun activities afterwards). We've also got a session for older children on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
Ask for our 'Look' activity sheets!
There's a weekly Bible story, some fun puzzles and a short prayer to say with your grown-ups. Pick up yours at our Sunday Service (or sometime in the week if you can't make it to Church).
© Redemptorist Publications
Here's a taster of A Godly Play
You might like to watch A Godly Story. There's lots of fab videos of Bible stories, made by people from St Albans Diocese (that's the group of churches around us that St Michael's Church is a part of). It's got questions at the end that you can wonder about and talk about together with your grown-ups afterwards. Find the video on YouTube
HERE!
Crazy Pandas
Crazy Pandas Worship Song
Crazy Pandas feature at the fantastic Christian Festival,
Spring Harvest. Have a listen to their excellent song and bonkers video 'Oh Wow! (Awesome God)' right here ⇒
Crazy Pandas TV Series
Ask your grown-ups if you can watch this fun-filled 11 part series especially for kids, made with the brilliant
Cheeky Pandas!
Click here for the series on their YouTube Channel.
Can you beat this quiz?
You'll need to have a look around the churchyard and on some other pages on this website for your answers! Click on the Quick Quiz to pull up a full-size version to print.
Here are the answers ... no peeking!
Have a look at this Stop Motion Filming!
Our Youth Group created this bit of silliness back in 2013 and it's still fun to watch. Click on the pic below to find the 'Youth Group Animation' video on our media page ⇒
St Michael's School
There's lots of information about our wonderful church school of St Michael's on our
St Michael's School page (including a link to the school website) but that's mostly a way for us to tell your grown-ups about things.
Here's something that might appeal to you guys and your families ...
Staff and pupils have created some fantastic worship videos which you might like to watch and share together ⇒
Thirst Youth Cafe
Thirst Youth Café is a safe space, run by Bishops Stortford Youth Project for young people to come, eat, relax, play and enjoy each other’s company whilst also being a place where they can be creative, receive support and advice from experienced youth workers and positive role models. Their doors are always open to anyone aged 11- 18.
Sorry NO parents or Grown ups allowed – unless you work or volunteer for us!
FREE hot food at Thirst Youth Café for secondary school children (11-18's), Wednesdays from 3.30pm (and Thursdays from January 2023) This is part of the “Warm Spaces” initiative. Food available whilst stocks last. Menu changes weekly.
Holiday Bible Week
Holiday Bible Week is a brilliant event put together by members of churches all over Bishop's Stortford, Thorley and the nearby villages. It takes place every August (and has done for more than THIRTY YEARS!) in big tents in the grounds of a local school. There's a central group with members from these churches that meet regularly to plan and organise everything that is needed for each years event.
Save the date for this year! Monday 4th - Friday 8th August 2025: 'Once upon a time'
Herts & Essex High School
500+ children take part in a whole heap of activities - crafts, silly games, singing, prayers) all centred around Jesus Christ and the Bible. Find out more and sign up by clicking on the link below.
Click on these links below to find out about more ways you can be involved: