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)

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!

Christmas Services

Details of our Christmas services have now been finalised …

SUNDAY 13th December
9.30am at St Barnabas – Christmas Café Church
11am at St Michael – Holy Communion
4pm at St Barnabas – Children’s Christmas Party
followed by …
5pm at St Barnabas – Carol Service
followed by refreshments!

SUNDAY 20th December
9.30am at St Barnabas – Holy Communion
11am at St Michael – Christmas Café Church
6pm at St Michael – Carol Service

CHRISTMAS EVE – THURSDAY DECEMBER 24th
4pm at St Barnabas – Crib service
followed by tea for the children
8pm at St Michael – Holy Communion
11pm at St Barnabas – Holy Communion

CHRISTMAS DAY – FRIDAY DECEMBER 25th
9am at St Michael – Holy Communion
10am at St Barnabas – All Age Worship

This will be our first Christmas in the new St Michael’s building … so you are guaranteed a warm (and dry!) welcome!

Plus – there will be plenty of other opportunities to sing carols, in nursing homes and around the parishes. Details to follow.

Remembrance

On Sunday November 8th we held our Remembrance Service at the war memorial in Devonport Park. A crowd of some 200 people gathered, supported by DRC (Devonport Regeneration Company) and the Friends of Devonport Park. Although it was windy, the rain held off, and as ever, the two minute silence was a moving reminder of all those who fought and died for their country.

The Salvation Army Band at the memorial

Waiting to lay wreaths from all sections of the community

St Michael’s Opening Celebration – photos

Faces old and new

Having a good time

Time to talk and share news

A wonderful spread!

St Michael’s (final) opening celebration!

Saturday 17th October

Friends of St Michael’s, past and present, gathered to celebrate the opening of the new St Michael’s church. Many thanks to everyone who made it such a special day … whether in the preparations (we had a wonderful tea together after the service) or clearing up or simply by coming to share it with us!

St Michael's, Saturday October 17th, 2009

If you missed out on the day itself, you can read Rev Tim’s sermon for the occasion here (edited slightly to make sense on the web!) and can see the building by coming along any Sunday at 11am!