Trinity 14 News
Welcome, new readers and newcomers to St Michael's. We welcome and thank Fr Derek Mottershead, our celebrant this morning, who is also kindly celebrating Mass for us on Thursday 22nd. If you are a newcomer or a visitor, please introduce yourself to a member of the congregation so that we can welcome you properly.
The Tower of St Michael's has made a notable contribution as Maidstone has marked the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Thank you to those who rang and to those who attended to the flag. Thanks, too, to all who have helped us to mark the occasion in other ways.
Kent County Association: Maidstone, Kent:
St Michael and All Angels
Thursday, 8 September 2022 (6–1–24 in C)
96 Tolling
Half Muffled
8Mark T Elvers
**Tolled in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who died today aged
- 21 April 1926 - 8 September 2022**.
Friday, 9 September 2022 (6–1–24 in C)
Rounds, Bob Doubles, Bob Minor and Reverse Canterbury
General Ringing fully muffled with tenor open at backstroke
1Jacqueline Barlow
2Terry Barnard
3Liam Corette
4Charlotte Elvers
5Mark Elvers
6Robin Hughes
7Steve Newlands
8Brian Osmer
Rung fully muffled to mark the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
A County and Civic Service of Commemoration will be held at All Saints', Maidstone, at 3 pm today (Sunday 18th). Everyone is invited.
Fr Paul Gibbons's Requiem Mass, which took place on Tuesday morning at St Francis' RC Church, was attended by many worshippers with a link to St Michael's. Among the clergy in the sanctuary were Fr Liam Gallagher, the parish priest, and Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. It had, however, been Fr Paul's plan that the celebrant and preacher should be Fr Christopher Pearson, also of the Ordinariate – whom he had known ever since the latter's arrival (as a school leaver) for a parish placement at St Michael's many years ago. Fr Paul had been adamant that the Mass must include “no eulogy” – but Fr Christopher managed to do justice to the essential nature of Fr Paul as person and priest while delivering an illuminating sermon on the raising of Lazarus - “When God speaks, it is.” Fr Paul had also planned the place of his burial, in Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, where he had secured a plot in the section belonging to the parish of St Alban's, Holborn. So, as the hearse departed after the Mass, we could reflect that although in life he felt abandoned by the Church of England, his final resting-place was among the members of an Anglican flock. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Our Michaelmas/Harvest Buffet Lunch on October 2nd still needs offers of food and help. Please, kind cooks and helpers, sign up on the list in the narthex. Please also think what you might bring to decorate the church for our worship that day, and to support the food bank which will receive our harvest gifts. Let's make it a day of rejoicing for St Michael's and a memorable occasion for our guests, who will include the Archdeacon of Maidstone as our preacher at Mass.
Warmest thanks to all who so generously joined in the church cleaning and Garden Working Party yesterday, Please make a note also of the Garden Working Party scheduled for October 8th – even if you can spare only half an hour, half an hour's gardening can make a real difference.
A Picnic in the Park this afternoon (Sunday 18^th,^) is being arranged by the Fant and Bower Group in Clare Park from 4.00 to 5.00 pm, weather permitting. Bring your picnic tea and appreciate our Green Flag local park. This is intended to be, not a raucous occasion, but an opportunity for members of the community to come together. Please note: anyone with any connection to the district (which all St Michael's worshippers have) is most welcome to join the Group on payment of a small subscription. Visit their website for details: fantandbower.co.uk.