St Michael and All Angels' Church, Headingley

Sunday 29th September: Michaelmas

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for a special service of Choral Evensong to celebrate our Patronal Festival for the Feast of St Michael and All Angels.

St Michael's bells will ring out again from this Sunday!

Dear friends and neighbours of St. Michael and All Angels’ Church, we are very pleased indeed to announce that St. Michael’s has recently installed a new electrically driven chime hammer system which will enable our church’s bells to ring out, even when we have no available bell ringers.

As well as ringing the bells, the new system will enable us to restore the chimes to the church clock. We are going to re-introduce the sound of the bells at our Patronal Festival Services (St Michael’s Day) on Sunday 29th September 2024.

This extensive project has been made possible thanks to the generosity of members of our congregation, past and present, which makes it extra special!

The bells and the clock chimes have been mainly silent for a couple of years due to mechanical issues, so we are very glad that the wonderful sound of the church bells of Headingley will be heard regularly again.

A short peal of bells will be rung prior to the start of our 10am Sunday morning service, and before the start of our 6.30pm Evensong service, each week. There may also be occasions of national or exceptional events where a peal will be rung.

In addition, the clock will strike the hours and the half hour chime from 8.00am to 8.00pm. The new system allows the clock chimes to be silent after 8pm, in consideration for our neighbours.

The current planned exceptions to this pattern are for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve when the clock chimes will strike to mark midnight.

There may be traditional (manual) bell ringing from visiting groups during the year, as currently happens. We will also have bell ringing (manually or electronically) for special events (this will not take place after 8.00pm). For example, the bells may be used to ring for weddings and funerals, and may play Christmas carols on the evening of the Headingley Christmas Lights celebration and also on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.

We hope that all our neighbours and friends will enjoy the sound of the bells ringing out once again!

Rev’d Josh (Curate), John and Ann (Churchwardens), September 2024

Sunday 22nd September: Inclusive Church Sunday

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong. This weekend we are celebrating Inclusive Church Sunday, taking a closer look at how historic injustices continue to impact on people in the present day and our community as the Church.

Next month we will have a special service of Choral Vespers with St. Luke's and St Matthew’s Lutheran Church Leeds/Bradford to celebrate Reformation Day. Save the date and join us in October for what promises to be a wonderful service.

Sunday 15th September: The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong, a peaceful service according to the Book of Common Prayer.

"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness : let the whole earth stand in awe of him" - Psalm 96

Wonderful image from Compline last night, a beautiful service of night prayer by candlelight which we hold on the second Tuesday of every month at 8pm.

Photo courtesy of D. Walls.

Join us for Choral Evensong to celebrate our patronal festival on Sunday 29th September.

It was wonderful to welcome so many people into church over the weekend for Heritage Open Days. There were trips up the bell tower, exhibits for International Literacy Day on 7th September - including published works by congregation members, the story of Leeds in scientific advances, and some amazing mini-books from Shire Oak School - and plenty to see and read around church.

Sunday was also Accession Day and we prayed for HM The King on the anniversary of his accession to the throne at a special service of Evensong.

Compline (night prayer) is one of the ancient services of the Church. Its name comes from a Latin word meaning ‘completion’ and it is a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day.

Our next service is this Tuesday at 8pm. Approx. 20 minutes long.

Sunday 8th September: The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for a special Evensong celebrating the anniversary of the accession of HM The King.

The church will be open for extended periods this weekend for Heritage Open Days. Come and take a closer look at the history and architecture of St Michael's.

Sunday 1st September: The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong with prayers for healing and wholeness, a peaceful service according to the Book of Common Prayer.

Sunday 25th August: The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evening Prayer, a peaceful service according to the Book of Common Prayer.

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong, a peaceful service according to the Book of Common Prayer. Why not come and worship with us in the beauty of holiness.

Today is the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary when we celebrate and give thanks for the mother of our Lord, the God-bearer, to whom is given the highest honour among all of God’s creatures🙏

“He that is mighty has magnified me, and holy is his name.” - The Blessed Virgin Mary

In Luke chapter 1, Mary is described as a virgin of Nazareth, pledged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of David. This humble young girl was visited by an angel of the Lord and greeted with high honor. “Do not be afraid, Mary;” The angel said. “You have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Mary’s response has been a model for all Christians, “Behold, I am a servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary conceived, just as the angel foretold. Bearing God within her womb, Mary has been called “Blessed” and “the Theotokos” (God-bearer) by Christians of subsequent generations. She was present with Jesus in his earthly ministry and witnessed his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. She was present with the Apostles at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the church and empowered them to obey the Great Commission. Some church traditions say that Mary, like Elijah and Enoch, never died but was taken (or “assumed”) into heaven. Others say that she died (“dormition”), and that her body was received into heaven. In either case, Christians of all traditions have given her highest honor, among all of God’s creatures.

O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Art & bio by Ben Lansing

PREORDER the book 📚 and listen to the podcast 🎙️ at www.ourchurchspeaks.com

CTE Presidents issue a joint statement in response to recent violent disorder.

They urge churches and communities to work together to put an end to violence, restore peace and heal our nation.

Full text: https://cte.org.uk/cte-presidents-statement-on-violent-disorder/




Please share: Archbishop of Canterbury Churches Together in the Merseyside Region The Church of England Catholic Bishops' Conference (England and Wales) Free Churches Group The Methodist Church The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference The Lutheran Church in Great Britain - The Official Site Council of Lutheran Churches in Great Britain Church of God of Prophecy UK Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong. A prayer for this Sunday:

Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

St Michael's will be open for an extended period over the weekend of 7th and 8th September for the annual Heritage Open Days. There will be lots to explore, come along and have a look at our beautiful church.

For more information, contact us or visit: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-michael-and-all-angels-church-headingley-open-day.html

Today the Church remembers Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles, the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus 🙏

“I have seen the Lord.” - Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospels more than most of the 12 Apostles. A Western European tradition synthesizes her story from various passages of scripture, some which do not mention her by name. In this version, Mary was a pr******te of Magdala, oppressed by seven demons. Caught in adultery, she was nearly stoned by a mob when Jesus interrupted, saying, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus forgave her of her sins, cast out her demons, and told her to “go and sin no more.” She was restored to her brother Lazarus and sister Martha in Bethany and remained a devoted disciple of Jesus. She scandalized many when, out of devotion and gratitude to her Lord, she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. In the East, she is not equated with the adulteress, pr******te, or as Mary of Bethany. All four Gospels say that Mary was present at the death and resurrection of Jesus. Christ chose first to appear, not to a religious leader or man of esteem, but to Mary Magdalene, whose testimony as a woman was derided by her society. In doing so, He elevated her testimony to the highest of esteem among his disciples. She is, as Augustine described her, “apostola apostolorum”, the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

Church tradition says Mary devoted her life to the good news of the resurrection, using an egg as a symbol of resurrected life emerging from the tomb. In this account, she was mocked and told that the resurrection was as likely as the egg turning red. Her egg then miraculously turned red, inspiring a tradition of dying eggs at Easter in observance of the reality of the resurrected Christ.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that, by your grace, we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Print & bio by Ben Lansing

PREORDER the book 📚 ourchurchspeaks.com

Wonderful music on Saturday at the brass band concert 🎺 Thank you to everyone who attended. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Photo credit: D. Walls

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong. A prayer for this Sunday:

O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Join us on Sunday at 10am for the Parish Eucharist and at 6.30pm for Evensong with prayers for wholeness and healing. A prayer for this Sunday:

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of thy name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Well done to our walkers yesterday who endured the rain to 'beat the bounds' of the parish (a walk following the line of the parish boundaries) as part of events to mark our Dedication Festival. Rewards of strawberries, scones and cream back at church were a welcome incentive on the final stretch! 🧁