Last night the Gilpin Singers (our women’s community choir) performed to a packed church a wonderful varied programme of music. Here are some photographs taken by John Lambton of the evening. Our church music CDs featuring the Gilpin Singers are still available to buy at church for £10 – a great Christmas present!
Singing the song Nana was a Suffragette
Our conductor, Frances Wilson
Deanery Quiet Day Saturday 5th December at St Oswalds, Shiney Row
Braving the wild wind a few of us gathered with Bishop Paul to share a day of quiet reflection as we journey through Advent and encounter the busyness that the season brings to church life and beyond.
We read through and reflected on Psalm 62. Bishop Paul shared some of his thoughts and understandings of the language and meaning highlighting God as rock both in the sense of foundation and refuge – God as our stronghold. He noted that we often overlook the power of God when we are seeking to solve problems big and small and that we look to ourselves for answers. We were invited to spend some quiet time focusing just on God.
After coffee we explored Psalm 62 some more. Bishop Paul noted that we need to be able to fully acknowledge our own frailty to ourselves and before God if we are to truly worship and follow him. We were invited to spend some quiet time reflecting on our shortcomings and difficulties.
After lunch we moved our focus onto Psalm 63. Bishop Paul reflected on the power of thirst having been in a situation where there was no water to drink for a considerable time. He moved on to explore praise, particularly in the light of our previous thoughts on God as our rock and our own shortcomings. We were invited to spend some quite time thinking about praise.
I spent the first two period of reflection time in the church in silence. When reflecting on the power of God the noise of the roaring wind battering the church brought to mind the story of Jesus calming the storm. The fear and panic of the disciples, the lack of faith matched with the extreme calm of Jesus as he commands the turmoil to cease. How often do I get caught up in my own chaos and that of others and forget to stand still, listen and trust?
I won’t share with you the shortcomings and difficulties I reflected on during the second period of quietness; needless to say I had plenty to think about.
The final period of reflection I spent reflecting with another person, somehow praise felt for me more of a sharing experience. We ended our day together in the praise of singing. I came away with much to think about and a sense of having taken some time out to reconnect with God and my fellow travellers.
Christine Britcliffe
As ever there is a wonderful array of events and services at St Michael’s this Christmas, celebrating the light shining in the darkness, the birth of our Saviour, Emmanuel, God with us.
Here are some dates for your diary. The 🙂 symbol denotes that the service is particularly suitable for children.
Sunday 6th December 11.30am – Mini Michael’s Toddler Service – Christmas Special 🙂
Tuesday 8th December 7.00pm – Piano and Cello Concert
Featuring Kiryl Keduk and Ivan Karizna from Belarus playing the music of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Glaznov and Rimsky Korsakov. Tickets £8 on the door.
Tuesday 15th December 7.00pm – Light of Life Service – remembering loved ones at Christmas – dedicating lights on the Christmas Tree.
Wednesday 16th December 7.00pm – Gilpin Singers Christmas Concert. Tickets £3.
Sunday 20th December 3.00pm – Christingle Service for all the family 🙂
Christmas Eve
10.00am Eucharist
3.00pm Crib Service 🙂
7.00pm Carol Service
11.30pm Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
8.30am Eucharist
10.00am Parish Eucharist
Sunday 27th December – Feast of St Stephen
8.30am Eucharist
10.00am Parish Eucharist
Our annual Light of Life service will be on Tuesday 15th December at 7pm.
The season of Christmas is often a time for thinking about others and we invite you to dedicate a light on our Christmas tree to those special people in your thoughts.
It can be a time to celebrate the memory of a loved one who has died, to acknowledge a special person in your life or to mark a special occasion that has happened this year, maybe the birth of a child/grandchild or an anniversary.
This is a special way to remember and give thanks.
For each dedication you make we will send you a special “Light of Life” card.
We will be lighting the Christmas tree on Tuesday 15th December at 7.00pm and we would be delighted if you could join us. Each light on the tree will shine brightly for those special people during the Christmas season. The Service will be a mixture of Christmas carols, readings and a time for special prayers and remembrance.
Click here to download the form or fill a form in at the back of Church and hand it in to a Church Warden or the Clergy.
Our candlelit Advent Service last night focused on finding, meeting and discovering God in the darkness. It featured beautiful music from our choir and different stories from the Bible of how people encountered God in the darkness. May you have a blessed, refreshing and meditative Advent season.
Even darkness is no darkness with you;
the night is as clear as the day;
darkness and light to you are both alike.– Psalm 139:11
Here are some images from this beautiful, thought-provoking service taken by John Lambton:
Advent Carols by Candlelight will be on Sunday 29th November at 6.00pm. Come and anticipate the joys of Christmas, wait on the Lord and pray for the light to shine in the darkness of our world with us.
Come and join us for our famous Christmas Market on Saturday 28th November from 10am-3pm. FREE ENTRY.
Cakes and Refreshments, Santa’s Grotto, stalls, crafts, raffle.
A warm invitation is extended to anyone who enjoys singing to join our choir. We rehearse on Thursday evenings at 6pm in the choir vestry at St Michael and All Angels Church. Evensong is once a month and it is possible to arrive at 5.15pm on the Sunday on which it takes place to rehearse with us and then sing.
Feel free to join our Facebook Group to get regular updates and to chat with others:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/stmichaelshlschoir
Currently we are rehearsing for Advent and Christmas – why not join us for singing during one of the most wonderful times of the year!
We had a special and moving service of Remembrance at St Michael’s this morning. It was a pleasure to welcome Pastor Carola Scherf from the German Lutheran church today who took part in the service. A big thank you to all those who made the event run so smoothly.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Photos by John Lambton:
Join us for our services of Remembrance this Sunday 8th November at 8.30am – Eucharist, 10.15am – Remembrance Sunday service with laying of wreaths at the cenotaph at 11.00am and Remembrance Sunday Evensong at 6.00pm.
Here is a short film from the Church of England based on an extract of Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen”, commemorating Remembrance Day 2015 on 11 November:
