Welcome!

Welcome to the website of the churches of St Michael’s &
St Barnabas, Devonport.

There are frequent posts of news and photos on this front page, as well as regular updates on the ‘What’s On’ calendar. Use the contact page to find out more. Recent sermons are available from links on the Ministry page, and see the GIFT Groups page for bible study materials being used in the groups.

Contributions of photos and reports of the life of the churches, book reviews, testimonies, stories of answered prayer are all welcome for inclusion on the church blog – contact Lynda directly or use the contact page

For details of our services and other events, see What’s On
or get in touch by using the contact page

(This site is best viewed with FireFox)

First Wedding

The first wedding in the new St Michael’s building took place in February …

The Bride and her Father arrive at the service

Louise and Carl

The church (and the Bride!) looked wonderful for the occasion and everyone involved knew it was a very special occasion … the first wedding in our new building. It wasn’t sunny for the whole event, and there was snow on the moor as folk drove to the reception, but that only made the day more unique … although we all felt sorry for Louse poising for photographs in the snow!

The new building has proved itself to be just what was needed … warm, adaptable and welcoming. Why not come and see for yourself? Services take place every Sunday at 11am, or join us for Daily Prayer, 4pm Monday – Thursday each week (during term time).

Have you ever wondered …

How do I know that God exists?
7.30pm, Wednesday 24th March

Is there more to life than living for the weekend?
7.30pm, Thursday 25th March

Is there more to life than doing the right thing?
7.30pm, Friday 26th March

FIND SOME ANSWERS

PASSION FOR LIFE

@ Plymouth Methodist Central Hall
24th – 26th March 2010

IT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Peter & Sally Bartlett

On Sunday 21st February, St Barnabas was delighted to welcome our mission partners Bishop Peter Bartlett and his wife Sally to our Café Church service. By means of an interview and a slide presentation, we heard about their personal faith story as well as their calling to service God in South America, their time with SAMS in Bolivia and their move to Paraguay (via Merseyside), and their work in Paraguay.

Peter and Sally at the graduation ceremony of a teacher training college

Bishop Peter licensing lay workers in the church

Bishop Peter leading worship

Did you know where Paraguay is?!

Looking forward to Lent

Our Lent theme this year is very much praying for our local communities and looking to engage with them. With this in mind we have a number events on Ash Wednesday:

7.30am Half hour of prayer at St Barnabas

1-4pm St Michael’s open for prayer

7.30pm Holy Communion at St Barnabas

We’re already mentioned our Community Coffee Afternoon starting on Tuesday 23rd February at 2pm. Our launch coincides with the start of Fairtrade Fortnight and the national Big Brew campaign. So it’s not only a chance to meet new friends, but an opportunity to make a difference to fair trade! Why not come along?

Singalong with ABBA …

… you know you want to!

Enjoy an evening watching/singing/dancing to Universal Pictures’ most successful British-made film of all time featuring songs made famous by Abba.

Friday 26th February, 7pm at St Michael’s
Free entry (Contributions gratefully accepted)
Soft drinks, juices and snacks will be available

Bishop coming!

On the 21st February we will be welcoming our mission partners Bishop Peter and Sally Bartlett to our morning service at St Barnabas.

Come along and find out about their ministry in Paraguay and the challenges the Anglican churches faces in a country we hear so little about in our news.

Special events coming up!

We are starting to put together our social events for the next few months. Highlights include…

29th January – Chilli Evening, 7pm at  St Barnabas. All profits from the evening will go towards the relief in Haiti. Contact us for tickets – £3 per head, £10 per family.

26th February – Mamma Mia sing along, 7pm at St Michael’s. You know you want to – come along and join in!

Plus our Lent challenge this year – a community coffee afternoon starting on Tuesday 23rd February at 2pm at St Barnabas and running throughout Lent.

This event also coincides with the launch of the Big Brew events which mark Faritrade fortnight. More details here

Do you care for a little one?

If so, then you may like to know we are starting a new toddler group at St Michael’s … every Tuesday, 9.30am from 12th January.

We’d love to see you there!

And don’t forget the group at St Barnabas continues to meet throughout the term, every Wednesday at 9.30am.

Please extend an invitation to anyone in the area you know cares for a little one – we warmly welcome everyone.

Christmas Message Archive

If you missed any of our Christmas services, you can read the sermons in full here … or see the Ministry pages for quick links to the individual services.

A Christmas Quiz

How much do you really know about Christmas?

Are these statements true or false? Have a go!

1. The Bible says Jesus was born in December … true or false?

2. We are told that Mary rode into Bethlehem on a donkey … true or false?

3. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day of his life … true or false?

4. The angels told the shepherds that they should worship the baby Jesus … true or false?

5. The Bible tells us that three kings riding on camels visited Jesus’ birthplace … true or false?

6. Mary gave birth on the night she arrived in Bethlehem … true or false?

7. The star led the wise men straight to Jesus … true or false?

8. Micah foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem … true or false?

9. God told people to remember the birth of his son … true or false?

10. All four gospels tell the Christmas story … true or false?

How do you think you did? When we ran this quiz at our Christmas Café, not many people had all the right answers! The thing is, we tend to believe the songs we sing … and at Christmas there is a wealth of traditional music with which we are familiar, but we don’t realise that many of the details in our carols are simply there for dramatic effect. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sing them, but we do need to think about what we’re singing and to make sure that we know the facts as the Bible portrays them, not a Victorian poet!

We had great fun at our Christmas Café, not only the quiz, but party games and crafts (we made angel decorations for our Christmas tree as a prayer activity!) … so all of us at St Barnacles wish you, too, a Christmas full of peace.

(And in case you were wondering, the right answers are … that only two statements are true … numbers 3 and 8!)

Christingle

St Barnabas played host today to a Christingle service for Stuart Road Primary School. Four classes, who had made some Christingles and talked about what they represent, came to sing carols and light their Christingles in a Christmas act of worship. The children brought up a Christingle for each class present, and told us that the orange is for the world, the sweets for God’s goodness to us, the candle for Jesus, the light of the world, and the red ribbon for the blood he shed on the cross.

In turn, Rev Tim talked about ‘Light‘ … using each letter to tell the children something about Jesus … that we need light to Live, for Information, to Guide us, to give us Heat and to show us the Truth. Then the Christingles brought by each class were lit.

It was a lovely, atmospheric way for the children to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and what we are celebrating.

Nursery Rhyme Nativity

On Friday 11th December, Morice Town early years classes held their nativity play at St Michael’s. About 100+ parents and carers came to watch as the children sang and acted out the Christmas story, and each received an invitation to our Christmas services as well as information about our new Babies and Toddlers group that starts in the New Year.

The children were, of course, delightful as were their props and costumes … we can’t use images of the children on our website, but Rev Tim thought you might like to see the camels carried by the ‘wise men’ …

Rev Tim surrounded by the trappings of the Nativity!

It really feels now as if Christmas has begun!

Love came down at Christmas …

CHRISTMAS LOVE

A seasonal paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of LOVE will endure.

Author Unknown

with thanks to Val C

Advent Calendar

Do you have an Advent calendar? One of those that has a door to open for every day from December 1st until Christmas Eve? Often they have chocolate inside, some will have a bible verse and a prayer … take a look at this online Advent calendar … it’s not too late to start opening a door a day!

click on the picture for a link to the full calendar

Do you like singing carols?

If you like singing carols we’d love to hear you! We need lots of singers this year to help spread Christmas cheer. Can you join us on the following dates?

Thursday, 17th December – 2pm @ Parkwood; 2.45pm @ Napier Lodge (meet at St Michael’s at 1.45pm)
Monday, 21st December – 11am @ Woodlands Villa; 2.45pm @ Norfolk Villas
Tuesday, 22nd December – 7pm Carol singing around the parishes (meet at St Barnabas at 6.45pm)

This is a lovely opportunity to spend some time with those who aren’t able to join us at church but who still want to celebrate the birth of a Saviour. All are welcome to join us!