The 5th Sunday in Lent at St Michael's
Sunday 29th March.
The church is closed for public services, but we have been able to record a Mass for the fifth Sunday in Lent.
You can see it on Father Steven's Facebook page here.
COViD-19 (Coronavirus): A letter from Father Steven Young
To the congregation at St Michael's Mill Hill,
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1: 7)
This pandemic motivates us to discover a new way of being God’s people. Of being St Michael and All Angels and of being the body of Christ in Mill Hill.
The Government has called for non-essential travel to stop and for social venues to be avoided. In Parliament it was made clear that this includes public worship. Public worship will therefore have to stop for a season. This includes all baptisms and weddings however at this stage funerals may still take place in negotiation with funeral directors provided the congregation is very small and practices physical distancing throughout the service. Our usual pattern of Sunday services and other mid-week gatherings must be put on hold. But this does not mean that St Michael's has shut up shop. Rather, we shall need to be creative about sustaining our praying and worshipping life.
The Christian gospel speaks directly to the heart of this crisis. We are a people of faith, hope and love – and in the Holy Name of Jesus this virus will NOT defeat us.
Daily Prayer
First, I need you to know that I will continue to pray daily for each and every one of you. Prayers will be said daily in church. I will ring the church bell as loudly as I can so that it will be heard as far across our parish as possible. It will be a great help to me if you can email me any prayer requests at priest@smmh.org.uk. If you wish to join me in this tradition of daily prayer all the services I will be praying can be located here
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
WhatsApp Group for St Michael's Mill Hill Members
Pastoral support, prayer, bible study and information sharing for members of our congregation will be offered via a WhatsApp group, which all SMMH members will be welcome to join. If you would like to join the group please email me your mobile phone number. You will need to download WhatsApp onto your phone if you do not have it already. This is a free service to use but requires a compatible smartphone.
Sunday Parish Mass - your photos requested!
This will continue to be said every Sunday at St Michael's Mill Hill - although you cannot be there in person I would dearly like a photographic reminder that you are there in Spirit. I would be grateful if you could email me a picture of yourself - I will then print the photos out and place them around the altar. The Mass will be recorded and uploaded to the Internet. Every week I will send an email with a link of where this video can be found online.
Phone support
I am looking for a team of volunteers to offer support by the telephone to those who might be vulnerable and isolated. This will mean phoning someone once a day to find out how they are, having a brief chat and (if they wish) praying with them and encouraging them. Please let me know by return email if you would like to help us offer this ministry.
Take Precautions:
As hard as it will be there is real life saving value in physical distancing, washing hands and continuing to practice good hygiene. This is as an act of compassion for those who are most vulnerable. Please pray for the grace for all us to have the discipline to continue to do all we can to keep ourselves and others safe.
Volunteer to help the NHS
People aged 18 and over and in good health – and without coronavirus symptoms – are being asked to sign up online to help ensure vulnerable people confined to their homes get the essential supplies they need and to provide other support to the NHS.
You can volunteer at https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS
Please note that St Michael's Mill Hill and Hartley Hall are not associated with ANY crowdfunding or Gofundme appeal
for Covid-19 or any other cause.
Finally, please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. I would also very much value your prayers for Christian and myself at this time as we too adjust to this new reality.
With love, prayers and blessings
Father Steven
The Good Neighbour Scheme for Mill Hill and Burnt Oak - Emergency appeal for volunteers
We are a charity that has been offering support to the elderly in the Mill Hill and Burnt Oak area for over 40 years.
All our regular events and services in their current form have been cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We will be supporting our clients in ways that come within Government guidelines and this means that we will need
many more volunteers over the forthcoming weeks and months.
If anyone can spare a few hours and are prepared to be DBS checked we would be very grateful of your help and support.
You can contact us on 020 8906 3340
WELCOME TO SMMH
Our congregation reflects the glorious diversity of our local community. We welcome all, irrespective of age, ethnicity, social background, disability, sexuality or gender. We believe all are equally loved and valued by Christ.
We strive to ensure our worship is open, accessible and relevant to all.
WHAT'S ON
REFLECTIONS & SERMONS
"Is this not the fast I choose?" Living in a beautiful state. No matter what.
by Steven Young
Ash Wednesday 2020
Walking through the car park of Barnet hospital yesterday I passed this sign on the pavement saying "This Way. NHS 111. Coronavirus Pod"
Immediately, I stepped out into the middle of the road with the intention of walking as far away from the potentially Coronavirus infected walkway as possible – and narrowly escaped getting hit by the 263 bus ...
