Easter 4 News
A very warm welcome to any new readers, and to visitors and newcomers to St Michael's. A special welcome and thanks to Fr Paul, our celebrant this morning, who will also kindly be saying Mass for us on Thursday at 10.30 am. If you are new to St Michael's, do join us in the Vestry Hall after the service, so that we can welcome you properly. Today we hold our Annual Parish Church Meeting, to which all are invited. Many thanks to Paul, who has generously provided sparkling wine and nibbles to make the occasion still more enjoyable.
STRAWBERRY FAIR – URGENT! For work reasons, Sara is not in church today but is most anxious to receive ideas and offers of help for our Strawberry Fair on 1st July. It is later than we think, and if the Fair is to go ahead, Sara needs to know who will support her. Please contact her, swiftly, on 07837 919761 or 01622 682675.
Readers' List for May:
Warmest thanks to all our readers! If unable to read on the day listed, please try to make an arrangement with another reader.
Sunday 7th May: Acts and Psalm Alison Heywood, 2nd reading Mike Trout
Sunday 14th May: Acts and Psalm Eta/Zangi, 2nd reading Paul Jones
Sunday 21st May: Acts and Psalm: Catherine Garland, 2nd reading Katja Svarts
Pentecost: Acts and Psalm Ralph Baldock, 2nd reading Margaret Gatehouse
Don't forget our Parish Lunch to celebrate the Coronation – next Sunday after Mass! Any late offers of food or help, please, to Alison Ponter.
Our Tower will be in action on the Coronation weekend:
**Ringing for the King at St Michael and All Angels Maidstone **
Friday May 5th 1/4 peal 8pm
Saturday May 6th 1/4 peal 5:30pm
Sunday May 7th 1/4 peal 3:30pm
Do read the very impressive Tower Report, among the APCM paperwork.
A special thank you to Treasurer Nelly, whose inconspicuous but indispensable work preparing our accounts has been approached with such patience and professionalism.
Vacancy News: Our advertisement has now appeared. Please pray that the right priest will respond!
Emerge is a local Christian charity devoted to befriending young people who have been self-harming or attempting suicide. The number of these in this part of Kent runs into hundreds every year, the vast majority of them teenage girls. Emerge seeks to train volunteers to support such young people, in crisis or recovery, whether in hospital or in the community. It also seeks prayers and donations. For information, please email info@emergeadvocacy.com.
Having a clear-out? Make a Difference Maidstone (MADM) seeks items of furniture that could be repaired or upcycled, for sale in its shop or for people who have no furniture. Other household items are likely to be welcome also. Kent County Council is supporting this initiative to save usable items from being dumped. Enquiries, please, to 01622 687414.
Can you help a neighbour parish? The new St Faith's Community Centre is almost completed, but as it approaches the last lap it has been offered a crowdfunding page by Aviva. Any gift of less than £250 (per household) will be matched by Aviva if it arrives before May 26th. The crowdfunding link is https//www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/st-faiths-centre-2-1.