Who we are

Our vision is to build a community in which:

• The love of Christ is experienced, made visible and given to the world

• All are welcome to belong and participate

• Children and young people are valued and encouraged to take an active part in church life

• Worship is dynamic and involves the whole worshipping community

• Healing and reconciliation become visible realities

• Each person's humanity and faith are strengthened through relationships with others

We do not see these simply as statements about the kind of church we would like to be.

They are aspirations that shape how we seek to live together.

We Worship Together

Worship is at the heart of our life as a church community.

We gather around Scripture, prayer, song and the Eucharist, giving thanks for God's love and seeking to grow in our relationship with him.

Our Sunday Eucharist is the central gathering of our parish, but worship also takes place through prayer, seasonal celebrations, special services and other opportunities to encounter God together.

Our worship follows the Anglican tradition while seeking to be warm, welcoming and accessible.

Sunday Eucharist · 08:30

We Grow Together

Following Jesus is not simply about attending church.

It is about learning to live his way.

We seek to grow as disciples through:

• Scripture

• Prayer

• Christian fellowship

• Small groups

• Bible study

• Junior Church

• Alpha

• Pastoral care

• The ministries of the laity

• Encouraging and supporting one another

We believe that faith grows in community.

There are times when we need to learn, times when we need to ask questions, times when we need prayer and times when we simply need someone to walk alongside us.

We don't journey alone.

We Serve Together

Jesus calls his followers not only to receive his love but to share it with others.

We therefore seek opportunities to serve our neighbours in practical ways, both individually and as a parish community.

Our outreach includes involvement in:

• Nahoon Community Outreach

• The Parish Charity Shop

• Holding Cross Ministry

• Knitting and Sewing initiatives

• Support for local schools, charities and community organisations

• Practical assistance to people experiencing hardship

We also encourage one another to recognise that Christian service does not only happen through organised church programmes.

We can serve Christ wherever God has placed us — in our families, workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods and everyday relationships.

We worship together.

We grow together.
We serve together.

At St Michael's, we believe that ministry is not something reserved for the priest.

Through baptism, every Christian is called to participate in the life and mission of Christ's Church.

Our parish depends upon the gifts, commitment and service of many people.

Some serve visibly during worship as readers, intercessors, servers, sidespersons or members of the worship team.

Others serve through pastoral care, teaching, prayer, administration, music, hospitality, technology, practical work or community outreach.

Many ministries happen quietly and may never be noticed by the wider congregation.

All of them matter.

Ministry is something we share.

We seek to encourage each person to discover how God has gifted them and how those gifts might be used in the service of others.

We believe that the Church belongs to the whole people of God.

Children and young people are therefore not simply the Church of tomorrow — they are part of the Church today.

Our Junior Church provides opportunities for children and young people from toddlers through to 18 years to learn about Jesus, explore their faith and participate in the life of the church.

We also seek to create opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to worship, learn, serve and enjoy fellowship together.

From our youngest members to those who have been part of St Michael's for many decades, everyone has a place in the life of our parish.

There is a place for you here.

St Michael's is part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) and the Diocese of Grahamstown.

Our worship and life are shaped by the Anglican tradition, including Scripture, the sacraments, the rhythms of the Church year and the liturgical tradition expressed through An Anglican Prayerbook 1989.

Our Sunday Eucharist follows this established liturgical tradition while being presented in a style that is relatively relaxed, informal and accessible.

We value the richness of Anglican worship while recognising that the Church is made up of people from different backgrounds and at different stages of faith.

At the centre of our identity is not simply a denomination or a particular style of worship.

Jesus Christ is at the centre of who we are.

St Michael's has a long-standing tradition of strong lay leadership working alongside the clergy.

The life of the parish is supported through a combination of ordained and lay ministry.

Our formal parish leadership includes:

Clergy

Providing spiritual leadership, pastoral oversight, preaching, sacramental ministry and guidance for the parish.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council provides leadership and oversight for the life and ministry of the parish, including responsibility for parish property, finances and administration, while also supporting the clergy in matters concerning the mission and ministry of the Church.

Churchwardens

Our Churchwardens are principal lay leaders within the parish and serve as the Bishop's officers in the parish.

Lay Ministers and Ministry Teams

Lay people contribute to the spiritual, pastoral, practical and administrative life of St Michael's through a wide range of ministries.

Parish Staff and Volunteers

The everyday life of the church also depends upon the many people who give their time, skills and energy behind the scenes.

Leadership at St Michael's is therefore not simply about holding a particular position.

It is about working together in service of Christ and his Church.

We want St Michael's to be a place where people can come as they are.

You do not need to know all the words.

You do not need to understand everything that happens in an Anglican service.

You do not need to have been a Christian for years.

And you certainly do not need to have everything figured out.

You are welcome to come, to ask questions, to explore, to worship, to meet people and to discover what it means to follow Jesus.

For those who are already part of the Christian faith, we hope St Michael's will be a place where you can deepen your relationship with God and find opportunities to use your gifts in serving others.

For those who are exploring faith, we hope it can be a safe and welcoming place to begin.

There are many ways to become part of the life of St Michael's.

You might begin simply by joining us for Sunday Eucharist.

You might become involved in a ministry.

You might join a prayer gathering or Bible study.

You might help with Junior Church.

You might volunteer in one of our community ministries.

Or perhaps you simply want to meet some people and discover more about who we are.

Whatever brings you through our doors, we hope you will discover a community seeking to live out a simple calling:

To know Christ.

To grow together.
To serve others.

We would love to welcome you to St Michael's.