Mission and Growth

Read about  Home Groups, Missionary Llinks,  PARCHE, Prayer Ministry, Bereavement Team, School links, Back to Church Sunday.

Home Groups

On alternate Wednesdays we have the opportunity to meet in smaller groups in people’s homes for Bible study, prayer and friendship. This is an ideal way to get to know people better and form closer friendships than is possible in the wider context of Church services, to explore our faith and discuss what we believe. Several such groups meet in homes throughout the parish.

Studies follow themes during the “terms” of Spring, Summer and Advent. Recent topics for study have been the Beatitudes, the Letter of St. James, the Old Testament book of Nehemiah and St Mark's gospel.

Missionary Links

We support mission both at home and abroad, with special links to Missionaries in Sri Lanka, Albania, Romania, south-eastern Africa, Medellin (via Caring & Sharing) and St Patrick's in Hove.

PARCHE

(Pastoral Action in Residential and Care Homes for the Elderly)

This organisation started locally and is rapidly expanding to become nationwide. We have an active branch at St. Michael’s, with two dedicated teams of members who offer support to the housebound and those in local care homes, by visiting, conducting services, and general friendship.

Prayer Ministry

We aim to promote and develop prayer as the priority and key to renewal and spiritual growth. The Parish has a prayer chain for quickly passing urgent prayer intentions throughout the members.

We have a team of trained and authorised members who help with the Healing Ministry after the main Sunday and Thursday services.

Bereavement Counselling

Our trained Bereavement Group follows up the needs of bereaved families, including an annual Bereavement service to which they are all invited.

School Links

St Michael’s has established a strong link with the local infants school. Currently it has 350 children who attend the church along with their parents for their annual Christmas carol service and class groups visit the church throughout the year. The children have contributed art work for exhibitions during our Michaelmas Festival weekend for the past two years. The local secondary school also took part in our Michaelmas Festival and we are building up further links with it.

Back to Church Sunday

Back to Church Sunday is a major event for the church, which is usually linked with our Michaelmas Festival.  The festival provides an excellent point of contact with the community, and shows what St Michael's has to offer