The Naming Of Jesus News
A Happy New Year and a warm welcome to any new readers, and to visitors and newcomers to St Michael's, as we keep this Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. A special welcome to our celebrant Fr Paul, who will also kindly celebrate Mass for us on Thursday at 10.30 am. If you are new to St Michael's, please join us for tea or coffee in the Vestry Hall after Mass, so that we can welcome you properly.
FREE copies of Together can still be found at the back of the church. Pick one up, take it home, discover more about other parishes like our own, and use it in your prayers!
From Practice to Perfect is the title of a new booklet issued by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and dealing with how Church Bell Ringers are trained, safeguarded and organised, as well as with such seemingly basic questions as “Why ring?” If you Google the title, you can find a copy online; PCC members and safeguarding officers should find it particularly informative, but it will be appreciated by anyone who has an interest in ringing, or who has a friend or family member who would like to know more.
The PCC meets on 12th January. If you would like an item included in the Agenda, please mention it as soon as possible to Paul or Eleanor.
Help, please! Please speak to Paul if you can volunteer for welcoming or refreshments in the coming weeks. Also, while it has become customary here to leave the Crib in place until Candlemas, we shall be dismantling the rest of the Christmas decorations after Epiphany, on Saturday 7th January at 9 am. Any help will be most welcome.
A FREE Online Safeguarding Conference, organised annually by the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester, takes place on 21st January from 9 am to 12.30 pm. Everyone is invited, and you can book a ticket at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/annual-conference-2023-partnerships-in-creating-safer-church-tickets-474612728447.
Church, School and Household can and should come together to nourish children and young people in their Christian faith. This is the message and purpose of a new diocesan hub, “Growing Faith”, full of resources for anyone who comes into contact with youngsters in whichever context. You can find it at: https://canterburydiocese.org/childrenandyoungpeople/growing-faith/.
Parish Giving Scheme: From small beginnings in Gloucester Diocese, this now covers 34 dioceses including our own, and our parish is taking steps to become part of it. It relieves treasurers of various administrative burdens, notably the Gift Aid processing. Pilot parishes have found it most helpful in maintaining their cash flow: in December 2022 the Scheme processed over 74 000 donations and £1.1 million in - monthly - Gift Aid, the latter taking only a few days to reach church bank accounts. We shall be hearing more about all this, but in the meantime, there is explanation, and a chance to attend a January information session, on the diocesan website: visit https://canterburydiocese.org/financial-giving.php.
From our Tower
Kent County Association, Maidstone, Kent, St Michael and All Angels:
Wednesday, 28 December 2022 in 2h 42 (6–1–24 in C) 5040 Stedman Triples
W.A.Cave (6 single variation)
1Adam A Brady
2Jason R Turnock
3Michael A Birkbeck
4Paul N Mounsey
5Stephen Coaker (C)
6David J Dearnley
7Stanley Jenner
8Neil W Jones
Rung half-muffled on the Innocents' Day.