THE CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS BIRCHWOOD AVENUE HATFIELD AL10 0PS www.stmichaelandallangels-hatfield.org BISHOP’S HATFIELD TEAM MINISTRY WITH LEMSFORD AND NORTH MYMMS TEAM VICAR FOR ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS The Person We are looking for a person of prayer, open to discerning God’s will for our church and neighbourhood. He or she will help us deepen our spirituality and go on growing in the Christian faith. The new Team Vicar will both identify strongly with St. Michael’s and St John’s Lemsford and be a good team colleague We envisage someone with a heart for reaching out and working in the local community and with the capacity to lead St. Michael’s into a new period of growth. Such a person will have energy, sparkle, a sense of humour and will not be afraid of responsibility. He or She will seek to draw out the gifts already shown among members of the congregation and be ready to introduce new ideas whilst valuing the good work already happening. The successful candidate will enjoy the support of a PCC and congregation encouraged by the change of status of the Parish within the team, as they seek new ways of furthering God’s work within the parish. The Parish The Parish of St Michael and All Angels, in Hatfield is part of the Bishop’s Hatfield Team which comprises four churches in Hatfield (St Michael and All Angels; St John, South Hatfield and St Etheldreda with St Luke) together with St John, Lemsford and St Mary, North Mymms. St Michael and All Angels lies to the north end Hatfield, primarily within the Hatfield North ward of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council district, but also encompasses part of Hatfield Central and Hatfield East Wards. The St Michael’s parish, shaded blue, comprises the area once being the extent of the original Birchwood Farm; the original part of the area known as Hatfield Garden Village and the site of the De Havilland Aircraft airfield together with an extensive rural area beyond. The church is situated in a small, district, shopping area including a post office, a baker’s and a Co-op. There is also a local playing field and leisure centre where the Town Council has its offices Schools within the parish. There are three primary schools with which the church has links. In addition members of the Team share the leading of assemblies and the hosting of worship for the Church of England primary school. A Children’s ‘Sure Start’ Centre is located next to the church. Other children’s provision is to be found at the local Guide hut where Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides meet. There is also a Senior Section Unit for girls aged from 14 to 25 years. According to the census, just under 20% of the population is under 14 years. There is opportunity for increased involvement in all these children’s activities both from clergy and lay members of the congregation. Provision for seniors. At the other end of the age range there are three large care homes in the parish, which clergy visit monthly, as well as smaller homes. A group for older people meet in the church hall every Thursday for a social gathering. Friendship House lies within the parish and is open most days for a wide range of provision for senior citizens. St, Michael’s has started to build links with these organisations but there is room for more contact. Worship The focus of our worship at St. Michael and All Angels is the Eucharist (Common Worship). The churchmanship is broadly liberal catholic, which is embraced in a way which we hope will be welcoming and open to all. Vestments (cassock alb and stole) are worn at the Eucharist and the sacrament is reserved. We are fortunate in having a robed choir and a regular organist. The choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and follows the Voice for Life training programme for junior singers. Lay participation is encouraged in reading the lesson, leading intercessions and administering the chalice. The usual Sunday attendance is about 60 adults and 12 children and this can rise substantially at festivals. Many of the congregation have worshipped at the church for a long time, but there are also a number of new families. Sunday Club has grown substantially in recent times with most children 8 years old and under. The children attend a Sunday Club during the service, returning to church with their leaders for a blessing during communion. They then show the congregation what they have been learning and pray with us. There is an emphasis on reverence and prayerfulness at St. Michael’s, combined with a sense of mutual support and good humour. We extend a warm welcome to newcomers who are encouraged to feel part of the worshipping community. Pattern of Services Sunday 9.30 a.m. Sung Eucharist Average Communicants 60 Tuesday 10.00 a.m. Said Eucharist 3 ‘Messy Church’ takes place once a month in church and includes a short and simple act of worship for children and adults. This normally attracts 35 to 45 people but has reached 70. Special Services Services at Christmas include Nine Lessons and Carols and an ever growing Crib Service. There is also carol singing, with mulled wine and mince pies in the church in the week before Christmas. Money collected from this and that taken at the Crib Service on Christmas Eve is sent to The Children’s Society Services in Holy Week include a service on Maundy Thursday, which includes a simple meal and also the washing of feet. This service is shared with many of our friends from Lemsford Parish. This service is followed by a vigil maintained through the night. On Good Friday evening there is a devotional service led by the choir and on Easter Eve there is the traditional service of first light and of course on Easter Day we have our family Eucharist with Easter Egg hunt for the children. On Easter Monday there is a pilgrimage to the Abbey Church at St Albans. This follows the Alban Way footpath, an old railway line converted. Easter Monday Pilgrimage All Souls Day when we remember our departed loved ones Special Sundays – e.g. Mothering Sunday, Harvest – are celebrated at the Eucharist. Occasional Offices In 2014 there were 18 Baptisms 2 Funerals held in church 16 Funerals at the crematorium conducted by clergy from the church Structure of the Parish St. Michael and All angels has been a parish since the beginning of 2013. Before this it was part of the Parish of Bishop’s Hatfield, which also included St. Etheldreda with St. Luke, and St. John, South Hatfield. The church has an electoral roll of 117 members. The management of the parish is by two elected church wardens and a Parochial Church Council (PCC). There are two deputy church wardens, as well as a Secretary and a Treasurer. The PCC meets every other month and, in between, a number of Action Groups have responsibility for planning and carrying out tasks in their specific areas. The Action Groups are composed of members of the congregation not necessarily on the PCC, though the convener gives a report and seeks approval for actions where necessary. The Action Groups cover the following areas: Children and Young People Communications Fund-raising Mission Action Planning Pastoral Care Planning and Property Social Activities Financially the church is not wealthy, having a share factor of 0.85. However it has fairly comfortably achieved its Parish Share both as part of Bishops Hatfield Parish and as a Parish in its own right. ST MICHAEL’S MINISTRY TEAM Roger Fisher Churchwarden Kate Wright Churchwarden Dave Gunn Reader Kim Banham Deputy Churchwarden Nikki Spencer Deputy Churchwarden Mission Action Plan Our three priorities for the next five years are: 1. To provide opportunities for people to deepen their faith 2. To improve communication with people in the locality 3. To build on the church’s involvement with local people Our five specific goals for the next year or more are: 1. To maintain and improve the church premises, in particular the repair of the church roof 2. To seek ways of extending our connections with those living on the British Aerospace site and reaching out to those living in the relatively new housing on the Hatfield Garden Village extension, working with St. John ’s Lemsford if this is appropriate. 3. To encourage people to assist with the services and visits to Care Homes and to support those called to be Pastoral Visitors 4. To continue working on the use of email and other electronic communication and notice-boards for sharing information 5. To continue with the donations to Food Bank Children in Church Children are made welcome at St. Michael’s, where there is a Sunday Club during the Eucharist. A lively team of helpers lead the Club with helpers and parents of the youngest taking part. We have updated the CRB checks on all our leaders. There is a ‘children’s corner’ in church and children’s pack of activities for those who decide to stay in during the service. The congregation are welcoming and warm towards young people. Children over 7 can be members of the choir and we are hoping to increase the numbers of child singers. Messy Church Messy church meets once a month in the church for messy activities on a bible theme. The activities are shared by parents and carers and church members who explain the stories.