Thanks to everyone who responded to the questions on ‘Learning and Looking Ahead’. There were lots of interesting views about how we go forward for the future. Several people mentioned mixing online and physical services and groups, continuing the phone and email contact between elders and members, and making the internal layout of the church building more flexible. You can find the full analysis here.
Please click on the channel you wish to view it on.
All services are available on our YouTube channel.
If you know of anyone who doesn't have internet access then the service is also available by phoning 01506 306036.
An audio recording of the service can be heard on our page HERE
A copy of the live streaming of Holy Communion on Pentecost Sunday 31st May 2020 can be found HERE
St Michael's features in July's Life and work. To read the article click here.
The magazine costs £1.99 for a single issue, £11.99 for 6 months and £20.99 for a year.
If you would like to subscribe to the magazine click here.
The Monthly Prayer Calendar has been changed to a weekly one during the pandemic and is available here.
Churches and local community groups from across Linlithgow have joined forces to form a collaborative network to help coordinate the districts’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Linlithgow Coronavirus Support is a partnership between individual volunteers and local associations including Linlithgow Churches Together, Linlithgow Community Development Trust, Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council, The Black Bitch Magazine and the MyLinlithgow.com online information resource on what's happening in the area.
This new support network has set up a helpline service for anyone in need of food, household supplies or someone to talk to. The number to dial is 01506 200838 or Email: LinlithgowCoronaCare@gmail.com
For more information and advice, you can join Linlithgow Coronavirus Support's dedicated Facebook group via the following link: Linlithgow Coronavirus Support
If you would like to get involved and are able to support others in the Linlithgow area, please complete a Volunteering Form at: mylinlithgow.com
For a comprehensive list of local COVID-19 resources in and around the town, you can visit: mylinlithgow.com
Linlithgow Churches Together comprise the congregations of St Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow, St Michael's RC Church, St John's Church, St Peter's Church, Linlithgow and St. Ninian's Craigmailen Parish Kirk.
Safe Families for Children Scotland offers struggling and isolated families a lifeline by providing supportive relationships, practical advice and resources. Safe Families is a charity that works with 30+ local authorities around the UK. Safe Families offer hope, belonging and support to children, families and care leavers; they do this primarily, but not exclusively, with and through local churches.
For those interested in becoming volunteers with Safe Families, on line training sessions are currently being held via Zoom.
There are no Orders of Service available at present.
The Wednesday Prayer Group is currently meeting online at 12.30.
For further information please contact ruthmiddleton12@btinternet.com
If you wish urgent prayer please phone the Telephone Prayer Chain on 01506 670980 or 07719 966273
Offers information covering many concerns. Wondering where to access support for yourself or another? Tel 842646, or look at www.helpcentre.org.uk
The Team offers confidential one to one support to help you adapt to your loss. In addition, Positive Pathways support group meets fortnightly in the informal setting of the Canal Tearoom. Contact Sheila Rae 07719966273 or sheila.ruth.rae@gmail.com.
Singalong for Memory, like all events, won't be happening again this month so here is a message from the team
If you would like to borrow a recording of previous services, you will find CDs at the Church shop. A recording of the sermon is available weekly via podcast here.
St Michael's features in July's Life and work. To read the article click here.
The magazine costs £1.99 for a single issue, £11.99 for 6 months and £20.99 for a year.
If you would like to subscribe to the magazine click here.
For more information about Prospects go to www.prospectsacrossscotland.org.uk
Due to the pandemic, while we cannot physically attend church, you might be wondering how you can continue to support financially the work of St Michael’s and the wider Church of Scotland. Those members who currently give through the Free Will Offering Scheme and who cannot hand in their envelopes might wish to consider one of the following options:
· You could set up a monthly standing order for regular giving – please contact either Tim brown on finance@stmichaels-parish.org.uk or Andrew Jones on giving@stmichaels-parish.org.uk and either Tim or Andrew will be able to send you a standing order form and advise on Gift Aid
· You could make a one-off payment using the give.net button
· You could continue to set aside your weekly gifts and bring them to church once we are able to physically come together again.
Here is the latest Prayer News Bulletin from Lorna.
The latest Crossreach Newsletter is available here. More information about Crossreach itself is available on their website.
All worship services and groups associated with our church and buildings are suspended. Please check for updates here or on our Facebook page.
The 2019 Annual Report and Accounts is available here.
St Michael's Annual Report and Accounts for 2019 have been approved by Kirk Session and submitted to Presbytery. The next step would normally be to arrange the Stated Annual Meeting, but that is not possible at present. The key points are that offerings increased from £249k in 2018 to £254k; however, there was an overall deficit of £6.5k due to essential property expenditure.
Sunday Club and Bible Class will meet online each Sunday morning for the time being via Zoom. If your family would like to join us please contact Trish Archibald for more details on how to get involved.
We are already thinking about Christmas 2020! We are planning to place small hand knitted angels around the town with a message of love from our congregation, for people to take and hang on their tree. To make this happen we need around 1,000 angels to launch at this year’s Christmas Tree Festival! A simple knitting pattern is available here. If you or someone you know would like to take part, please contact Trish Archibald (07746 828 279) or Margaret Henderson (844787).
The schedule for our quarterly Communion services in St Michael’s has changed.
Communion will now be celebrated on the last Sunday of February, May, August and November.
We need to increase our members in the team. If you feel you have the time and aptitude and would like to join us, please contact Marshall on 07967112137 or projection.team@hotmail.com
Cancelled until further notice. Further info: alisonhastie1@gmail.com
The latest edition of Crosswind Magazine is now available to download from the Crosswind page.
Stamp Appeal 2020: Thank you for the 7.5kg of stamps which have been collected for the 2019 appeal. The stamp project for 2020 is the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy, Sri Lanka which runs a project to support women and girls who have been victims of rape and sexual violence. Please keep those stamps coming in!
Did you know that the church can claim 25p for every £ given if the donor is a UK taxpayer and signs a Gift Aid declaration? This is true whether payments are made by regular standing order, via freewill envelopes, or by other identifiable means. For more information, or to set up/amend an existing arrangement please contact the Gift Aid Convener in confidence - Andrew Jones – at giving@stmichaels-parish.org.uk or on 01506 840914.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect in the UK on 25 May 2018. It replaces the existing law on data protection (the Data Protection Act 1998) and gives individuals more rights and protections with regard to how their personal data is used by organisations.
St.Michael's have adopted the following :