Trinity 8 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.
Next Saturday (5th August) is the day of the Richborough Festival at St Albans. Mass in the Cathedral at noon, and then bring your own picnic for lunch in Bishop Norman's garden. This is a lovely opportunity to get together with people from other parishes in the Richborough family for inspiring liturgy and a convivial picnic, and also to mark our appreciation of the help and support of Bishop Norman over a number of years. If going to St Albans by car, could you offer anyone a lift?
Thank you to everyone who has worked to prepare the Vestry Hall for its re-decoration. Please speak to Martyn or Paul if you are able and willing to help with the painting later this month.
An opportunity for this autumn? Canterbury Diocese is running an eight-session “Deepening Discipleship” course which will take place on Wednesday evenings via Zoom, beginning on 27th September – thus participants will not be faced with cold and tiring journeys in the evenings. This course encourages participants to reflect on, and develop, their Christian life, and it also provides a starting-point for anyone who is exploring the possibility of undertaking lay ministry. Applications close on September 13th. Visit Deepening Discipleship - Diocese of Canterbury (canterburydiocese.org) for further information and an application form. (Could God be calling you to serve St Michael's as a lay minister?)
Looking ahead: Saturday, September 9th, 10 am – 4 pm, is a Heritage Open Day. As our church is a listed building, we want our community – and visitors from further afield – to be able to enjoy our lovely Angel Windows, and, God willing, to get a sense of the beauty of holiness as St Michael's tries to show it. We shall need volunteers to bake cakes/biscuits, make tea and coffee, welcome visitors and act as stewards, answer questions, and sign in the Ride and Stride participants – including Catherine - who will be doing their sponsored walk or cycle-ride on the same day in aid of the Friends of Kent Churches. This is an important opportunity to build up our community links and to encourage people to explore our building - and what it stands for. Please put the date in your diary and see how you could help.
From our Tower: Our Tower will be welcoming visiting ringers on Saturday, 12th August, from 3 pm to 4.30 pm, and we all look forward to hearing our lovely bells being in action, and being appreciated, beyond the usual routine.
We look forward to welcoming Archdeacon Andrew, who will be preaching at Mass on Sunday, August 13th. It will be good to see him at St Michael's again – please try to be present to greet him.
Bishop Norman will be leading a weekend pilgrimage to Walsingham for members of Richborough family parishes, from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th September. To book, please contact the Shrine accommodation office on 01328 820239, indicating when you book that this is for the Richborough Family Pilgrimage. This may be easier for many people to manage than a midweek pilgrimage, and will also of course be less expensive. If you have never been to Walsingham and are inclined to be hesitant, this might be for you. Bishop Norman's connection with Walsingham goes back many years (he was once vicar of that parish), and a Walsingham pilgrimage under his leadership should prove to be a spiritual shot in the arm!
Readers' List for August – but please note that at holiday time it may be all hands on deck….Katja and Eleanor may be “reserves” if you need an understudy!
August 6 (Transfiguration) OT and Ps Mike Trout, NT Margaret Gatehouse
August 13 OT and Ps William Danes-Volkov, NT Catherine Garland
August 20 OT and Ps Ralph Baldock, NT Alison Heywood
August 27 OT and Ps Eta/Zangi, NT Paul Jones
TODAY (Sunday 30th July) is the day of the Barbecue at St Michael's, Harbledown, which takes place from 3 to 6 pm. A chance to get together with people from Resolution parishes in this diocese and enjoy some excellent Harbledown cooking!