Trinity 2 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.
Local Government elections 2024. Cllr Stephen Thompson of the Green Party, a member of Jubilee Church, has contacted local churches to alert them to the fact that in May 2024, by contrast with previous years, the entire Maidstone Borough Council will be up for re-election, with 48 seats to fill. Far from trying to tell us how to vote, Cllr Thompson is asking us to do our best to see that there will be enough candidates whom we shall want to vote for. Do you know a person of public spirit and integrity, very possibly a fellow-Christian, whom you could encourage to stand for the Council? Could God be calling you to seek to serve the Maidstone community in this way? Cllr Thompson writes:
“I suggest that we have 3 months in which to find men and women with Christian values and character who could provide residents with a positive choice. Do we agree that God's People should be quick to step forward in the cause of service to our district?” One way in which we are all bound to respond to this challenge, whether or not we can identify a possible candidate, is to pray continually for the public life of our county town.
Please talk to Sara after Mass if you would still like to offer help with our Strawberry Fair! In particular, posters are now available – could you display or distribute?
From Our Tower: Kent County Association, Maidstone, Kent - St Michael and All Angels
Sunday, 4 June 2023 in 41m (6–1–24 in C)
1260 Stedman Triples
- Stephen Coaker
- Philip Jarvis
- Jacqueline Barlow
- Emma Jarvis
- Mike Birkbeck
- Pam Thomas
- Neil Jones (C)
- Mark Elvers
Rung on the Saint's Day of Petroc, Abbot of Padstow, 6th century.
Sunday, 11 June 2023 in 43m (6–1–24 in C)
1344 Double Norwich Court Bob Major
- Mark Elvers
- Janice Byrne
- Jacqueline Barlow
- Rupert Cheeseman
- Paul Barton
- Kath White
- Pam Thomas
- Neil Jones (C)
Rung on the Saint's Day of Barnabas the Apostle.
Bishop Jonathan Baker draws attention in New Directions to two areas of tension apparent as the traditional sacramental teaching of the Church is challenged by recent developments in and out of General Synod. In relation to same-sex civil marriage, a priest who maintains the traditional doctrine of marriage has liberty of conscience about whether or not to use the proposed prayers of blessing for a same-sex union. In relation to sacramental confession, it is proposed in the final IICSA Report on sexual abuse that even a disclosure that takes place in the confessional shall be subject to mandatory reporting by the priest – which would be a radical departure from the teaching of the church and from present canon law. While endorsing the Report's call for better training and possible licensing for confessors – a process to which Anglo-Catholic practice and experience can make a distinctive contribution – Bishop Jonathan adds: “We know where we cannot, in conscience, ever go…. We must pray that if the law of the land changes we will be given strength and wisdom as to how to live and minister this sacrament in those circumstances; but that the Church herself will not change her laws, her canons, her teaching in this matter which touches on the very essence of the gospel.”