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

SUNDAY 26th JUNE

8am Holy Communion (Order of Service booklets in church)
10am Parish Communion (Order of Service booklets in church)

SUNDAY 3rd JULY

8am Holy Communion (Order of Service booklets in church)
10am Service of the Word in Church and via Zoom (Order of Service available here next week)

Please note that you will need to print your own order of service if you are coming to church.

Godly Play session 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.

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).

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.
This comes with my prayers and blessing, Derwyn

We’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 wondering questions to share together). There's a new breakout session for older children at the same time, same place now too!

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.

GIVING SEASON RESPONSES
Thank you for responses received so far during our Lent Giving Season.
Further responses, for Time and Talents and/or Financial Giving, can be placed in the wooden post box in the corner of the North Porch, or handed to a Warden.
Thank you very much for considering your response to our appeal this year. Derwyn

The bells restoration from April until October

The Church kitchen area and toilet will not be available for some time. However, we are very fortunate to have alternative facilities in the Churches Centre, so Wednesday morning refreshments will take place there until the bells project is complete. This will enhance our social time with more space and during the summer we will aim to serve tea and coffee outside in the sunshine!
The Parish Office is closed for the duration of the bell restoration works. Katharine is working from home and may be readily contacted by email, or chat to her after the Wednesday Holy Communion service.

Bell Fittings Auction, Friday 24th June in the Windhill Churches Centre
We're holding a special auction of some of our bells fittings, in the evening of Friday 24th June. The Charnley Hall will be open for viewings during the afternoon from 1pm. Auction at 8pm. Auction lots to include Clappers, Wheels, Stays, Sliders, Ropes, Pulleys, Ladders and Running Boards. Ideal for wall / house / garden decorations / craft projects. Do come along and have a look!

Funeral of Sybil Smith, Monday 27th June, 11:30am
Sybil’s family would like to extend an invitation to Sybil’s church friends to attend her funeral and refreshments afterwards. Wearing black clothes is not essential. The service will be broadcast by Zoom (contact the Parish Office for more information).Holy Communion, Wednesday 29th June, 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, Wednesday 29th June, 11 for 11:15am in the WCC Tiny Tots relaunch

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 little chance for the children to play before/after the service.

Bishop's Stortford Hospitality Support, Wednesdays from 11:30am-2pm
St Michael's is providing space at the WCC for Ukranian refugees and their host families to meet together once a week. We need to provide some volunteers to be on hand during this time, hopefully for a two-hour slot each. We've had some great sessions, offering a very light lunch and informal language lessons from 11:45am, but we will have no idea how many people will turn up each week or for how long they will want to stay. This is an evolving situation, depending on what amount of support hosts and their guests would like, and I hope, as St Michael's rep on the BS Hospitality Support Group, there are other volunteers who I can ask to come along. Please let me know if you are willing to help with these support sessions. Jenny Klincke (833523 / jennyklincke@gmail.com )

Friends of St Michael’s present a Family Fun Day, Saturday 2nd July
Then a concert at 7pm for 7:30pm: ‘The World of Gilbert & Sullivan’, performed by The Wandering Minstrels. £17 including finger buffet (£19 on the door). Tickets via TicketTailor here or contact Rob Klincke. Rob is also requesting good quality bric-a-brac for one of the stalls at the fun day: please bring donations along and leave them at the back of the church, on the green carpet. Thank you.

TLC Tuesday 5th July, 2:15pm for 2:30pm, WCC
An opportunity to be able to join in with tea and talk, read the paper, play board games … and then 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! We’ll begin with a short time of prayer just after 2:15pm before our session at 2:30pm, until about 4:30pm. This coming month, we’re having a summer holiday theme!

A quiet day at Albury, Thursday 28th July, 10:30am-3pm
These popular days of reflection and contemplation in June’s home have returned. Places are limited, please contact June on 07539 058946 to book, or for more information.

8am services will be fortnightly over the summer holidays
There will be NO 8am service on 31st July, 14th or 28th August. There will be Holy Communion available at 10am on 14th and 28th August. Weekly 8am Holy Communion services resume on 4th September and continue onwards.

Holiday Bible Week, Monday 1st - Friday 5th August 2022
We’re still preparing for this year's Holiday Bible Week, 1st-5th August – It's going to be a wonderful year! If all this is new to you: it’s a hugely successful week-long festival of learning about the Bible with fun, crafts and games for children, put together by the churches of Bishop’s Stortford. We do need more volunteers – we encourage you, with all your various gifts, to volunteer for all or part of the week! (We need adults especially and have room for young people too!) Sign up is staying open, please visit the HBW Website. The launch night is Thursday 16th June at 8pm: come and hear the wonderful theme tune!!

Bike 'n Hike 2022 - Saturday 10th September 2022
An event run by Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust - ride or walk around churches in the area to raise money for the trust and for your church.

The Marriage Course online
‘The lockdown has put relationships under great strain’. If this is you, help is at hand. The Marriage Course is available online to guide you through these times together. Why not give it a try at htb.org/marriage? For further details contact Derek on derekhinge@gmail.com