Church Life - Organistaions

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Church Choir

St Michael’s has a long-established choral tradition, and the 4-part Choir leads the singing of the hymns and communion setting at the 9.30am service on Sunday morning, and at other major church festivals. It endeavours to enhance our worship through music, and on most Sundays the Choir sings an anthem following communion.

At present there are approximately 20 choristers, including a number of children who are trained to obtain various awards within the diocese up to the Bishop’s Chorister Award. The Choir is always ready to welcome new members. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and a great love of singing.

The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and regularly sings with other choirs at Diocesan Choir Festivals. The Choir also provides music for weddings at the church if requested, and is sometimes asked to sing at outside concerts and for other organisations.

The Choir meets for practice on Friday evenings during term-time from 7pm until 8pm in the church.

If anyone is interested in joining the Choir please contact either the Vicar or the Director of Music.

Sunday School

Sunday School is offered to all children under the age of 13 during our 9.30 am Eucharist service every week of the year except for August when we break for a summer recess.  This is run by a team of volunteer adults who provide short lessons/activities based on our biblical theme/topic of the week.  The children usually begin worship in Church and move out after the Gospel reading and return in time to share the Peace.
Our Sunday School team is a mix of teachers, clergy and other very gifted lay volunteers who meet regularly to review, plan and share ideas and resources for the coming term.

There is always a variety of input and activity each week and often the children who attend make something to take home or bring back into Church to share with the rest of the congregation.

If you require any further information please speak to one of the clergy.

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Flower Arranging

The members of the group provide a good core of enthusiastic, although amateur, flower arrangers and the aim is to have at least one arrangement in church every Sunday (except during Lent and Advent). There is a two-weekly rota to which members of the congregation are invited to sign up, and who take responsibility for the flower arrangements during that two-week period. Usually this only involves one duty each year.

For festivals (Easter, Harvest and Christmas) we operate an ‘All Hands on Deck’ policy and hope that as many people as possible will come on the Saturday morning to arrange. On these occasions contributions of greenery and, if possible, flowers are requested from the congregation, and also sufficient flowers are purchased to provide each arrangement with a base. 

Successful Flower Festivals have been organised and the group contributed to the huge flower festival in Salisbury Cathedral in 2008. 

The group is always keen to welcome new volunteers, with or without expertise! Please contact Barbie Watson for further details.

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The branch has around 30-40 members, and meets at 2.30pm on the 2nd Thursday of every month, except August. Each meeting begins with a short act of worship followed by a presentation from someone sympathetic to the aims and objects of the Mothers’ Union.

There is also a monthly Prayer Group, and a Corporate Communion service is held at 10.30am on the last Wednesday of every month.

The branch is always pleased to welcome new members and if you are interested in joining, please speak to the Branch Leader.

Link to Salisbury Diocese MU Website

Cherubs

“Cherubs” is a group for mums and tots and meets on Friday mornings during normal school terms from 9.30am to 11.15am. It is run under the auspices of St Michael’s but is run independently by a small group of the mums themselves who arrange the activities for each week. There is a small admission charge which covers the basic costs of each week’s activities.

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