Below is a notice which didn’t make it into the Bulletin proper but which will go in the next few editions – so here’s advance notification! Could you be a First Aider? In order to ensure that we have First Aid cover when the church is open (for services as well as “Open Church”) we have a group of named people who have current First Aid training. This provides immediate help before the emergency services arrive (if they are needed). We have arranged to run a First Aid Course at St Michaels Church on Wednesday 17th September (full day). There are spaces for 12 candidates, and we’d like to fill them. The training and qualification is valuable at any time – at home, at work or out and about. There will be no charge, but the expectation is that participants make themselves available when in the church building, and, in particular, for a few hours on a Treacle Market Sunday at least once per year. Please contact the office to book a place. ...and if you already have a First Aid certificate and are not on our list, please let us know! All good wishes, Lynne
Please find attached the St Mike’s March Newsletter. As always there are plenty of thought-provoking articles plus the usual reminders and alerts, so please take the time to read the newsletter through. A reminder that it is our final Film Evening of 2025 – ‘Marvellous’ – on Friday 14th March, showing in the Youth Centre or Upper Room, depending on the heating situation! Please arrive for 6.30pm. May I also remind everyone that it would be lovely if you could email or Whatsapp a photograph of your mum for a ‘collage of mums’ to be shown in our Mothering Sunday service on 30th March. This should be a picture of just your mum – preferably no family groups or similar. Photographs can be digitally cropped if you have no image of her on her own, so don’t be put off sending in a picture! Please email the picture to clergypa@maccteam.org.uk or Whatsapp it to the number on the back of the newsletter (+44 7579 820265) or just do ‘reply’ to this email and I can forward your image. If you don’t have the technology to send in a digital picture, please bring a hard copy in for Sue who can scan it then return it to you unharmed. Also attached with this newsletter is an advert for a Youth Worker at Cre8. I write this on Wednesday afternoon having just come inside from a couple of hours gardening. The rainwater gathered in my wheelbarrow is frozen and, despite the swelling buds on the trees and the wonderful spring flowers, I feel as though we have returned to winter. Sadly, Paul and I were away while you all enjoyed ‘summer’ last weekend. Back to my thermals! All good wishes for the coming week, Lynne
Please find attached this week’s St Michael’s Bulletin. As always there are some additional reminders! Lent groups Ash Wednesday is just under two weeks away (5th March), and we are busy finalising various Lent groups. Take a look at the additional attachment here which gives details of the groups so far confirmed. It’s an eclectic mix so do please consider one group and give it a try – maybe something outside your comfort zone. Contact details are provided so you can always email/phone the coordinator to find out more. Vacancy Remaining! Just a reminder that we are still looking for someone who could take over as Church Council Secretary. Paul Spedding, the current Secretary, is happy to work alongside a new postholder until he/she feels confident to go it alone. Please email him at paulspedding@gmail.com if you would like to find out more. The World Day of Prayer service This service will take place at the United Reformed Church on Friday 7th March: refreshments from 10.00 and the service at 11.00. Barbara and Heike have been involved in planning and leading this service. Please put the date in your diary and do your best to support this important united service. All good wishes, Lynne
We have now said farewell to Epiphany and are entering into our ‘Sundays before Lent’, which means that spring must be around the corner! The snowdrops I have been attempting for years to establish in my garden are finally colonising (what joy!) and tell me that my dormant garden is re-awakening – even some crocuses and hellebores are making their presence known. This time of year in nature is so full of potential. New life, new hope, and warmer and brighter times ahead (particularly, we hope, in the church building!). Please note the various forthcoming events flagged up in the Bulletin: there is definitely a great deal going on with our church and across the Team Ministry, so why not pick an event or volunteering opportunity you might not normally try, and give it a go! Just a few reminders from previous weeks: we are still looking for a new Secretary to the Church Council; Barbara and Heike would value any more offers of help with the forthcoming Services of Prayer for Healing and Wholeness (scheduled for 21st March, 27 June, 12 September, 28 November - all Fridays and all beginning at 11.00am). You could contact Barbara or Heike directly or reply to this email and I will forward your interest to them. All good wishes for the coming week, Lynne
