Advent 3 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.

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: Said Mass on Thursday 10.30am. Next Sunday Sung Mass for Advent 4 at 10.30am.

CHRISTMAS AT ST MICHAEL’S

Sunday 22nd December: Join us for a Traditional Service of Carols and Readings with augmented choir at 4pm, followed by mulled wine / non-alcoholic equivalent and mince pies. All Welcome. With a collection for Maidstone Homeless Care.

Christmas Eve: The ever-popular Crib Service at 4pm, All Welcome, especially families. Enjoy the magic of the Christmas Story with Carols round the Crib. With a collection for Maidstone Homeless Care.

Midnight Mass: Hear the news of the Angels, join the shepherds at the Crib, come and adore the Christ Child. Sung First Mass of Christmas 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morning: Sung Mass with carols at 10.30am.

DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS will take place on Monday 23rd 9am – 12 noon. If you are able to help do please join us as we make the Church fit to welcome and celebrate our Lord and Saviour this Christmas. Any questions: ask Margaret G.

THE NEXT BISHOP OF RICHBOROUGH has been announced: Fr Luke Irvine-Capel SSC, presently the Archdeacon of Chichester and a ‘Mirfield Man’. The date for his consecration will be announced in due course.

FOR OUR PRAYERS: For Jubilee School, West Borough School and our own St Michael’s schools as they come into Church for their Christmas Services this week. For Fr Luke Irvine-Capel as he prepares to be consecrated Bishop. For the people of Syria, and especially the Christian community there. For the hospitals and medical staff working in Gaza, especially the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital administered by the Diocese of Jerusalem.

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

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: Henry Watson, Jean Farnan, Michael Houghton (Bp), Rosetta Towner, Carol Crisp.

FROM THE BELLTOWER: Sunday, 8 December 1250 Yorkshire Surprise Major 1 Stephen Coaker 2 Janice Byrne 3 Nigel Pointer 4 Mark Elvers 5 Paul Barton 6 Philip Jarvis 7 Pam Thomas 8 Neil Jones (C)

Remembering Thomas David Barlow, 5/12/1996, R.I.P. Rung on the Second Sunday of Advent.