Church Notices

Sunday 10 May 2026 - 11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion

Readings for Easter 6

1 Peter, chapter 3 verses 13-22

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits – 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

John, chapter 14, verse 15-22.

15 ‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’ 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’

You can follow the service on YouTube

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

The next monthly prayer meeting is on Wednesday 3 June between 7pm and 8pm and will be held on Zoom. Here is the link Zoom link

Services in St Michael's Next Week

Wednesday 13 May 9:30am Spoken Communion service

Thursday 14 May 7:30pm Ascension Day Service at St Michael's

Sunday 17 May 9:30am Bubble Church followed by refreshments at 10:15am

11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion

ANNUAL PLANT SALE

The Plant sale last Saturday was a great success and raised a total of £1500! A big thank you to all those involved in organising, setting up, running and taking down the sale. And another big thank you to all those who came and supported the sale. It was a great result!!!

Messages from Amelia

Thank you for your generosity and support in running all our various children’s ministries.

Please could I remind you NOT to donate any items without contacting me - we want to steward everything we have wisely and avoid collecting items that we cannot use.

Finally, you are always welcome to use Gallery Church as a meeting space etc., but please continue to place all furniture back to how you found it.

Our Summer term has begun on a great step with the question "Who is Jesus?”.

We will explore His various titles, identities and characteristics - how can we remember our God is boundless?

Gallery Church is for under 8’s every Sunday Service (except the 1st Sunday of the month)

Thank you, Amelia

South West Community Chaplaincy

I would like to draw your attention to the poster that follows the ICE Prayer walks poster below.

From Gail Hayes - the 2026 Walk 100 Miles in May in aid of Hospiscare

Many of you sponsored me for last year's similar event and in total over a £1000 (including Gift Aid) was raised to support this amazing Charity of which many of us have had personal experience. Should you wish to sponsor me, I would be very grateful and will bring a form to Church on Wednesdays and some Sundays and to Chatterbox on Fridays. There is also an option of donating online on my Just Giving page. I understand that Eira Rowe is hoping to register for this too. With thanks in anticipation Gail Hayes x

Christian Aid week - NEXT WEEK

Christian Aid week is from May 10th to 16th this year
During this week on Tuesday May the 12th the Baptist Church in South Street is hosting a coffee morning , and on the forecourt there will be a few of us manning stalls ,with books ,bric-a-brac, plants etc. from 10am till 12 noon.it would be lovely to see anyone who is free on that morning, come and say hello, and support the work of Christian Aid.
If you want to know more ring me on 01392 256660. Eira.

Exeter Food Bank Update from Denise

The Spring 2026 Newsletter from the Exeter Foodbank is now available in church. I have pinned several copies to our donation box. Please take a copy and read about the current challenges facing the charity.

I also attach a copy of their essential list for April. If you are able to donate any of these items they will be gratefully received. The newsletter clearly indicates that

" We are all aware of the current increases in the 'cost of living'. It is very difficult for many of us with all of us noting the additional cost of everyday items. We seem to have less in our trolleys but the cost is greater. So it is understandable that this will impact on what we can buy 'extra' and put in the donation boxes. There has been a significant drop in donations during the past two years. There is a desire to help and many wish they could do more but simply cannot afford to. Every single donation is appreciated and we will make these donations go as far as we possibly can"

Thank you.

April 2026 Priority Foodbank Items

Noodle snacks Toothpaste and brushes

Tinned Meat Squash

Tinned Vegetables Shower Gel

Tinned Fruit Tinned Rice Pudding

Pasta Sauce

2 Messages from CTaX

Message 1 - A group from St Thomas Baptist Church knit blankets for Moldova and Ukraine, sending them out by Christian Aid to Eastern Europe.

They ask if any of us or anyone we know has any wool, for example tucked away in drawers, which they can put to good use to keep people warm, and if any knitters would like to join their team.

If you can help, either with wool or with knitting, please contact Sandra on 07989550391 or 01392 682396.

Thanks

Ash

Message 2 - 👋 Hi everyone!

We’d love your help spreading the word about our next men’s worship night in Exeter.

📍 Riverside Church, Exeter

📅 Friday 9 May (Note: there is clearly and error here and I don't know which is correct! Ed.)

⏰ Doors open 6.30pm (coffee & cake) | Starts 7pm

We’re really pleased to have Prof John Campbell speaking on the theme “A Mediocre Message”, alongside worship and a great time of fellowship.

🎟️ Tickets / info:

👉 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/arabbleforchrist/2169183

The success of Christ’s Rabble is very much down to word of mouth and the amazing individual efforts of people sharing and inviting, so if you’re able to pass this on to male friends, small groups, or church contacts, we’d be hugely grateful.

Suggested donation is £5, but with freedom to pay what you can — cost is not a barrier.

Thanks so much

- Christ's Rabble Planning Group

ICE Prayer Walks

Between Monday 11th to Friday 15th May, Exeter ICE will be hosting daily prayer walks to pray for all of the schools in Exeter. Across the week, we will walk between the schools ICE work with, taking lunch in the middle of each walk to pray for all the schools in that part of the city. You are all very welcome to join us for just your local school, a whole day or the entire week! There is also an evening walk on Tuesday 12th for those who are busy during the day. If you are interested in learning more about the walks or signing up to come along, you can find out more at www.icetrust.co.uk/prayer-walk (See poster below. )

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

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 10 May - Easter 6

11am Morning Worship with Holy Communion

Wednesday 13 May

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Thursday 14 May - Ascension Day

7:30pm - Ascension Day service

Sunday 17 May - Easter 7

9:30am Bubble Church

10:15 to 11am Refreshments served.

11am Morning Praise

Wednesday 20 May

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 24 May

11am Pentecost - Morning Worship with Holy Communion for Whit Sunday

Wednesday 27 May

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 31 May

11am Trinity Sunday - Mission Community Holy Communion

Wednesday 3 June

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

7pm to 8pm Monthly prayer meeting on Zoom

Sunday 7 June

Sunday First Service - First Sunday After Trinity

Wednesday 10 June

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 14 June

Morning Worship with Holy Communion - Trinity 2

Wednesday 17 June

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 21 June

9:30am Bubble Church

10:15 to 11am Refreshments served.

11am Morning Praise - Trinity 3

Wednesday 24 June

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 28 June

Morning Worship with Holy Communion - Trinity 4

Wednesday 1 July

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

7pm to 8pm Monthly prayer meeting on Zoom

Sunday 5 July

Sunday First Service - Trinity 5

Wednesday 8 July

9:30am Spoken Communion Service

Sunday 12 July

Morning Worship with Holy Communion - Trinity 6

Rev Mike's last Sunday with us.