All Saints Festival News

Priest-in-Charge Fr John Ainslie (revjohnainslie@gmail.com; 01628 629827)

A very warm welcome to any new readers, and to visitors and newcomers to St Michael's. If you are new to St Michael's, do join us for refreshments in the Vestry Hall after the service, so we can welcome you properly.

If you would like to receive St Michael’s News by email, or to request a conversation with a priest, please fill in an email request form at back of church and leave in the postbox, or hand it to Fr John.

PRAYER REQUEST SLIPS are available at the back of church if you want to request prayer for yourself, for someone else or for a particular situation.

SERVICES THIS WEEK: Thursday Mass at 10.30am followed by refreshments.

NEXT SUNDAY 10th NOVEMBER IS REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY. Do join us for our annual Service of Remembrance at 10.30am, including the Two Minutes Silence.

Our CHRISTMAS MARKET will be on SATURDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 11am - 3pm. We are looking for donations towards our stalls, including crafts, books & jigsaws; also small gifts for the children’s grotto, and raffle prizes. There is a box at the Back of Church for donations, or speak to Catherine Garland or Eleanor.

CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. Please pray for international efforts on the important issues of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss. The UN COP conference on Biodiversity has just ended, and the UN COP conference on Climate Change begins on 11th November. It is notable how little coverage the conferences are getting this year, but these are matters that will seriously affect the lives of our children and grandchildren.

**To check what we can each do to help…..MAIDSTONE ECO-HUB 26 Oct - 9 Nov, The Mall Shopping Centre
**Now in its third year, the pop-up community information centre in The Mall helps support people live more sustainably, save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Why not drop in and see what’s possible?

NOVEMBER is a month when we remember the departed – we prayed for our departed loved ones a few days ago at our All Souls Service, and next week we will remember those who have died in war. So this is a good time to remind you of the Christian Duty to ease the strain on your relatives by making sure you have an up to date Will, and all your affairs are in order. Every Priest will also tell you that leaving a record of your funeral wishes, in as much detail as possible, is also a great help to those who are left behind. The way in which you plan your funeral can become a statement to those who will attend of how much your faith has meant to you, and how large a part God has played in your life. Of course, you will want to have the prayers of the Church at your funeral – but beware, if your family is unaccustomed to church things, they may opt for a dummed-down version as being “easiest for everyone”. Not what you might have wished for! If you would like help with planning, let me know, and if you would like the Priest at St Michael’s to keep safe and secure your funeral wishes ready for when the time comes, that can easily be done.

FOR OUR PRAYERS: For our PCC meeting on Thursday. For the building of peace between nations, and especially the protection of innocent lives. For those struggling to bring up children in war zones, and those seeking to bring food, water and healthcare. For the success of the UN conferences on biodiversity and climate change, and for those affected by climate change, intense weather events and rising sea levels.

We pray for those in need, and especially Paul Jones, Glynis Reynolds, Yvonne Young, Jessica O’Sullivan, Lindsay Wheeler, Martyn Nash, Fran, Keanna, Ellie Tomlinson, Sara Dray, Robert Hill and Michael.

We pray for the recently departed. We remember those who have faithfully served God in this Church in previous generations, and we pray for those whose year’s mind occurs this week: Margaret Turner, Myra Lury, Betty Landi, John Richards (Bishop).

FROM THE BELLTOWER: Monday, 28 October 2024 5024 Cambridge Surprise Major composed by J S Warboys

1 Christopher C P Woodcock 2 Ian H Oram 3 Jacqueline M Barlow 4 Paul Sharp 5 Anne L Rueff 6 Stephen R T Pocock 7 Stephen Coaker (C) 8 John B Keeler

Remembering Tom Barlow and Tony Lewis