Thank God for these wonderful parishioners who keep our church beautiful and clean! They had a well-deserved drink in the vicarage garden after a BIG spring clean today.

As President Zelensky visits HM The King in Norfolk today, prayers ascend for his nation and a just peace. In the words of the Book of Common Prayer, may they know “that peace which the world cannot give” & “being defended from the fear of [their] enemies may pass [their] time is rest & quietness”.

A joyful day preaching at Hickeys Almshouses, launching our Lent 2025 programme, teaching the junior confirmation class and evening prayer in the light of many candles lit by people coming to St Michael’s.

Launching our Lent Programme 2025 today! Lots going on. Come and join in.

Letter from Bishop of London to The Guardian: Kim Leadbeater’s proposed amendment to the assisted dying bill has filled me and many others with grave concern. Leadbeater has described the bill as the “most robust piece of legislation on this issue in the world”. However, the removal of judicial oversight significantly weakens the safeguards, raising concerns about what other measures may be dropped through the legislative process or through the interpretation of clinicians. While it will be essential to involve multidisciplinary teams if the law is changed, this need not have come at the expense of judicial oversight. While we do not yet know who will be appointed to the proposed expert panels, concerns have already been raised that there will inevitably be a self-selection bias to the voluntary assisted dying commission. My background as a nurse and as a priest tells me that the best safeguard is the current law. I urge parliament to reject this bill. It is neither safe nor compassionate. Instead, we should be focusing on providing the best possible palliative care services. Dying people should be offered hope, not fear. Sarah Mullally Bishop of London and lead bishop for health and social care, Church of England

Bishop of London: "The best safeguard is the current law. I urge Parliament to reject this Bill. It is neither safe nor compassionate. We should be focusing on providing the best possible palliative care services. Dying people should be offered hope, not fear."

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

It was a hard gig but someone had to be a judge for the Barnes Primary School Bake-Off!

It was a joy to welcome Father James Hadley, Chaplain of Milan, as our guest preacher last Sunday for Candlemas.

We're so looking forward to Saturday, our first Open Day of 2025! If you've not managed to book a place yet, it's not too late to come visit, have a look around and find out what we offer. Book a place via the QR code or visit https://buff.ly/3OUps93

Great pics from our Christingle children’s mass for Candlemas, when we interviewed Rose who has lived and worshipped 84 years in Barnes like Anna in Jerusalem today’s Gospel reading.

Looking forward to Christingles this Sunday for Candlemas at St Michael’s.

Excited to celebrate candlemas next Sunday which mass at 10am and children’s mass with christingles at 11.30am.

This Sunday at St Michael’s: 8am low mass | 9am morning prayer | 10am All age mass | 6pm evening prayer. Cone and join in!

Totally! He is very well trained!

A joyful day with Baxter the Bactrian Camel leading us on procession to epiphany children’s service!

Services this Sunday at St Michael’s Barnes: 8am low mass | 9am morning prayer | 10am parish mass | 11.30am epiphany procession with camel and family epiphany service | 6pm epiphany carols

So grateful to photographer Nico Wills for this fab pic from our Christmas Eve nativity service!

Love this atmospheric photo of Saint Michaels nativity service on Christmas Eve.

A brief snippet from the Nativity Service at Saint Michaels.

Nativity Service JOY at Saint Michaels Barnes

From the wonderful Fusion Light and Sound! Just don’t anybody steal them from us on Christmas Eve or I’ll be very cross!

So excited about our 4pm Christmas Eve nativity service with lights, children in costume and real holy family and baby Jesus!

Fr James enjoying the church Christmas in the community centre today!

Some good news to share today!

This Sunday at Saint Michaels Barnes: 8am low mass | 9am morning prayer | 10am | Sung Mass | 11.30am | children’s mass | 6pm carols by candlelight | Christmas tree festival continues all day!

Our famous carols by candlelight this Sunday! Come and join us.

Carols in the Courtyard and opening of Christmas tree festival was a JOY!