Author: Laura Thomas

Growing Faith. Together

Posted on by Laura Thomas

St Michael’s Centre is delighted to be hosting this Bristol Diocese event on Saturday 20 January

Bristol Diocese say:

At Growing Faith. Together, we aim to create an informal and welcoming environment where individuals from all parts of our diocese can come together to explore and deepen their faith. Whether you are a long-time believer, in church leadership or just starting your spiritual journey, this event is for you! If you can come with others from your parish team you will be able to get even more from learning and reflecting together.

Throughout the day, there will be engaging speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and inspiring worship sessions.

Keynote Speaker: Christopher Jamison – Former Abbot of Worth Abbey; reluctant star of the BBC2 series, The Monastery; Director of Vocations for England and Wales from 2010-2017 will speak on spiritual patterns for everyday life and lead a workshop on learning from Benedictine rhythms.

Workshops and short talks throughout the day will enable us to hear from the experience of others across the whole diocese who are seeking to help people grow in their discipleship and to help their churches flourish including:

  • Holy Habits
  • Renewing culture and building hope
  • Sabbath rest
  • New resources for encouraging growth in faith
  • Growing faith with young people
  • Developing patterns of life that fit with our temperament and personality
  • and more to be announced

You will have the opportunity to connect, think and pray with others who are longing to grow in faith and see our churches thrive, share your experiences, and learn from one another.

MORE DETAILS AND BOOKING HERE

Men’s Ministry Beer Tasting

Posted on by Laura Thomas

This year, the Men’s Ministry is mixing up the Beer tasting evening on Saturday 20 January

There will be 5 Best Bitters and 5 English IPAs to blind taste (blindfolds not required) against the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) style guidelines.

You will be judging each beer against the BJCP style for; Aroma, Appearance, Flavour & mouthfeel to find your overall winner 

Between the 2 styles, there will be a refreshment break with a hotdog and onions

The evening will start at 19:30 and will cost £10.

Booking and payment is online, places are limited to 48 men over the age of 18.

BOOKINGS CLOSE THURSDAY 18 JANUARY

Prayer Gathering

Posted on by Laura Thomas

On Wednesday 10 January at 7.30pm we are gathering in St Michael’s Centre for a whole church prayer gathering.

Prayer is key to everything we do, and an important part of our individual lives. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather and pray as a church, and listen to God together.

Why not count yourself in and come along for an evening of prayer and worship?

Bible Reading Plans for 2024

Posted on by Laura Thomas

Deepen Your Connection with God in 2024: Recommended Bible Reading Plans

As we approach a new year, many of us look for ways to refresh and renew our lives. For Christians, one of the most enriching ways to do this is to deepen our connection with God through Scripture. Engaging with the Bible daily brings spiritual growth, and guides our everyday lives.

If you’re looking for a Bible reading plan for 2024, we’ve pulled together a few options that may help in choosing a plan that’s right for you: Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just starting out, there’s a plan to help you dive deeper into God’s Word.

The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel (formerly The Bible in One Year) is an excellent free resource from the team that produces the Alpha Course   You can read it directly on the website, listen wherever you access podcasts, download an app, or purchase a book.  There are three different plans: Classic, Youth, and Express.

The YouVersion Bible App is also an excellent resource for different lengths of reading plans as well as one-year plans.  Many of us have this app already on our phones. The above options have accompanying commentary to help us in our reading.  But some of us may prefer to just have the plan without the commentary:

The Bible Project has available a downloadable and printable one-year reading plan.  You can find that here.

Blue Letter Bible has a downloadable chronological plan here.

And there are many more out there.

Some tips:

  • Choose a plan that fits your lifestyle and goals. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.
  • Be consistent. Even a few minutes of daily reading can make a big difference.
  • Engage with the text. Ask questions, take notes, and reflect on what you read.
  • Pray. Ask God to open your heart and mind to His Word.
  • Consider Reading along with your Life Group. Sharing insights with others can deepen our understanding and enrich our experience.

We encourage everyone to explore the many Bible reading plans available and find one that resonates with you. May 2024 be a year filled with rich blessings and a closer walk with God!