Church Notices

Sunday 7 December 2025 - Sunday First Nativity Special

Readings not available at time of writing.

You can follow the service on YouTube

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJ7uMFp9y1d2OIS96CMsOQ/live

The monthly prayer meeting is on 7 January between 7pm and 8pm and will be held on Zoom. Here is the link Zoom link

Services Next Week

Wednesday 10 December 9:30am Spoken Communion service

Sunday 14 December 11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion

You are warmly invited to "The Bible Course", a simple introduction to the Bible.

The Bible Course

In St Michael's Church, Alphington

Use this link to book onto the course Book onto course here

Week 2: Exodus & Freedom

Tuesday 9th December 7.30 - 8.30pm

Week 3: Exile & Peace

Monday 5th January 7.30 - 8.30pm

Week 4: Messiah & Love

Monday 12th January 7.30 - 8.30pm

Week 5: Spirit & Community

Monday 19th January 7.30 - 8.30pm

Week6: Hope & Home

Monday 26th January 7.30 - 8.30pm

“The most read, loved & burned book of all time”

You are very welcome to come to any or all of these evenings.

It would be great to know you’re coming. Just drop a line to Admin using this link Bible Course sign up or register via this QR code.

The Bible Course is a video & discussion based course produced by The Bible Society

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

The Christmas Fayre was a great success and we hope to have the total raised next week but it was brilliant! A big THANK YOU to everyone who came and supported this event; to everyone who helped to set up and run the event; and especially to Kathy who was the brains behind it. Photo below of some of the goings on at the Fayre.

Christmas: a time for giving!

This year at our Carol Service & Midnight Communion, collections will go to our three Christmas charities:

SIM: Serving in Mission, supporting the work of Clive & Kathy Barker in south & east Asia.

ICE: Initiative in Christian Education, Exeter. Supporting Christian work in schools across the city.

The Children's Society: Working with children and families in need across the UK

We also have our Christian Aid Christmas Card Tree in Church. Make a donation in Church and send your Christmas Greetings to the Church family with a card on the tree.

There will be collections in Church at the relevant services. You will also find QR codes and the tap-and-pay giving machine which can be used. Here is our link to the on line giving pages:

Christmas Charities

Christian Aid

Christingle Volunteers, Saturday 13 December

With our Christingle workshop coming up, I am looking for help to make this a really wonderful event!

If you would like to help with a craft stall, cafe or general organisational bits then please reach out to me (amelia@alphingtonstmichaels.org). Hoping for a strong team this year! Thank you.

Thank you

Amelia Rassmus

Christingle booking link

A fun afternoon is guaranteed!

Activities in St Michael's over the Christmas period

There is a lot going on over the next few weeks in St Michael's. Click on this link to see the full programme St Michael's events over Christmas or scan the QR code.

A message from our Food Bank Ambassador.

Below is the current December needs requested for the Food bank so that anyone can make a contribution if they wish. We are all well aware of how much people are giving to various causes at this time of year but some of these needs never decline or go away. The Food Bank will continue to be required by many families and individuals over the Christmas period.

December 2025

Current Food Bank Priority Items

If you are able to Purchase an item or 2 they are in current need of :

Small Coffee

Noodle Snacks

Tinned Meat

Tinned Vegetables

Vegetarian Meals

Rice Pudding

Tea Bags (packs of 40)

Thank you

Carol Service Mince Pies

We would like donations of Mince pies for our Carol Service, which is on 16th December. There will be a box to receive them from now on. Thank you in advance.

LUNCHBOX CHRISTMAS MEAL CORRECTION

The Lunchbox Christmas meal will be on Wednesday December 10th as on your ticket and menu (not on 11th as in the magazine) With apologies for any confusion. Gail

Carol Singing around the Village

Our Ad Hoc Group of singers and musicians will be singing well-known Carols on Saturday 6th December (2.00-4.00pm) at two of our Care Homes and again on Monday 8th December (6.00- 8.00pm) out and about the village. Please do join us if you can on one or both these occasions - it would help if we knew how many people were coming so please sign the list at the back of church to let us know, (NO Auditions are necessary !)

N.B. There will be NO Open Church Tuesday 9th December

Church will be closed on Tuesday morning for drinks and fellowship as we are having new carpeting laid in the servery area - hurrah, just in time for our Christmas celebrations! The Prayer group which normally meet at 10.30 a.m.is able to use the Lady Chapel as usual but should enter and leave by the North door please. The Gardening team will be welcome at 4, St Michael's Close for their well-earned coffee after their session, at 11.00am.

A Message from Marion Andrews

Marion organises the readers and welcomers in the church. As many people will be away this Christmas, Marion is having difficulties getting sufficient Welcomers for some of the services. If you could help with this please contact Marion or the Churchwardens. The services concerned are:

Carol Service

Crib Service

Midnight Communion

Christmas Morning Service

Many thanks, Marion

If it’s easier, use this link: https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QKIUZ1O2

If you are a regular giver to the church then the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) is the best way to do it. The scheme collects Gift Aid for your donations if you are a UK taxpayer and has a facility to increase your giving annually by the annual Consumer Prices Index (CPI) thus keeping up with inflation.

www.alphingtonstmichaels.org

admin@alphingtonstmichaels.org

www.facebook.com/alphingtonstmichaels/

The Churchwardens can be contacted on:

Sue on susanknoden@gmail.com or phone 07782 272106

Roger on roger603@btinternet.com or phone 07782 271862

Normal Scheduled Alphington Open Church times:

Monday 2pm to 4pm

Tuesday 10am to noon (But NOT OPEN on Tuesday 9 December due to carpet fitting)

Wednesday 10:30am to noon, follows 9:30am Communion

Thursday 2pm to 4pm

Friday 2pm to 4pm.

Do drop in for a cup of something hot or cold and a chat or just some quiet time.

Dates for your diary – all at St Michael’s unless otherwise stated

Sunday 7 December

11am Sunday First Nativity Special - Second Sunday of Advent

Tuesday 9th December

7.30-8.30pm The Bible Course Week 2: Exodus & Freedom

Wednesday 10 December

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

12noon Lunchbox Christmas Meal

Saturday 13 December

2pm to 4:30pm Christingle Activity and Service

Sunday 14 December

11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion - Third Sunday of Advent

Tuesday 16 December

7pm Carol Service

Wednesday 17 December

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Alphington School Carol Service

Sunday 21 December

11am Advent Morning Praise - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Wednesday 24 December - Christmas Eve

6pm Nativity Crib Service

11:30pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day Thursday 25 December

10am Christmas Morning Family Communion

Sunday 28 December

11am Mission Community Communion Service - First Sunday of Christmas

2026

Sunday 4 January

11am Sunday First Service - Second Sunday of Christmas

Monday 5th January

7.30-8.30pm The Bible Course Week 3: Exile & Peace

Wednesday 7 January

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 11 January

11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion

Monday 12th January

7.30 - 8.30pm The Bible Course Week 4: Messiah & Love

Wednesday 14 January

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 18 January

11am Morning Praise

Monday 19th January

7.30 - 8.30pm The Bible Course Week 5: Spirit & Community ,

Wednesday 21 January

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 25 January

11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion

Monday 26th January

7.30 - 8.30pm The Bible Course Week6: Hope & Home

Wednesday 28 January

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse