Remembrance Sunday 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 Matthias, 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.

Our pre-Christmas Fair is nearer than we think! Please look out for things that would make good Tombola prizes, and think about home-made items such as cakes and jams (please attach a list of ingredients). Or provide something crafty, or Christmassy, or nice for the garden! There are boxes at the back of church for such items as prizes – please bring along what you can!

If you are willing to run a stall or come and help, don't leave Sara to wonder – please let her know! If she has to miss Mass for work reasons, Sara can be reached, with any offers or questions, on 07837 919761.

Canterbury Cathedral invites visitors to enjoy a special tour of its magnificent stained glass, some of which is among the oldest in the world. The tours take place on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 11.15-12.15, until December 23^rd^, and the charge is £5. St Michael's is rightly proud of its Victorian stained glass, but the medieval glass at Canterbury, some of it very recently cleaned and restored, is well worth going to discover in greater depth than might be possible in an ordinary visit to the Cathedral. Visit the Canterbury Cathedral website also to find details of the many services and events that will be held at the Cathedral during Advent and Christmas.

The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral are looking for new members. If you join, our £30 annual subscription enables you to take part in all sorts of interesting events and also entitles you to a 10% discount (subject to some exclusions) at the Cathedral Shop and the Cathedral Lodge.

A prayer for peace amid unrest

O God, who wouldst fold both heaven and earth in a single peace:

let the design of thy great love lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows:

and give peace to thy Church,

peace among nations,

peace in our dwellings,

and peace in our hearts:

through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Interview Day for the priest(s) who wish to be considered for St Michael's will be on December 6th. There will be a lunch in church before the formal interview session in the afternoon. If you can offer to help with this in any way, please speak to Sue, who will be delighted to hear from you. And please, everyone, continue to pray for all concerned in the appointment process.

The Diocesan Synod meets at the John Wallis Academy in Ashford on Saturday, November 18th. Part of the Agenda will be concerned with finance (and, yes, the Parish Share!), but there will also be a couple of significant items relating to the environment. In the afternoon, from 1.15 to 3.30, there will be a session, open to others besides Synod members, at which “Living in Love and Faith” will be discussed. Please remember Synod members in your prayers. Remember also that there will be a fresh round of Synod elections in 2024. Maidstone Deanery can elect 4 lay members. Could God be calling you to stand for election next year? It is important that the different styles and traditions of our complex church life should all have a voice at diocesan level.

Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal to help people affected by the escalation of violence across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. To make a donation, please visit the Middle East Crisis Appeal page on the Christian Aid website – christianaid.org.uk.

Chloe asks our prayers for herself and her contemporaries as they follow their present demanding course.

For your prayers also: Among the sick we pray for Margaret, Ellie, Pauline, Rue, Fr Leon, Antony, Fran, Ellie, TomJoseph, Pamela, Valerie, Peter, Joan, Margaret, Lindsay, Glynis, Ethan, Sarah, Yvonne and Paul.

Please pray for all who have died, and are dying, as a result of war, and for members of he St Michael's family whose year's mind falls at this time: John Richards, Richard Breed, Jean Riddoch.