Advent 4 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.

THIS SUNDAY AT 4PM: FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS with augmented choir. Join us for this lovely traditional Christmas service, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Collection for Maidstone Homeless Care.

CHRISTMAS AT ST MICHAEL’S

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.

Note there will not be a 10.30 Mass this Thursday, 26th December.

DECORATING THE CHURCH 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.

BEING A WELCOMING CHURCH THIS CHRISTMAS: A big ‘Thank You’ to all those who have signed up to be welcomers at our services this Christmas. This is an important role as we welcome many who may not come to church often, or who may be first-time visitors to St Michaels. People often comment to me that they find us a very welcoming church, and it makes such a difference when we help them feel welcome, help those with children and buggies negotiate the doors into the church, ensure they have the books they need, and notice when they may need a bit of help finding a seat or working out what the next hymn is. We all play our part in this, but especially those who are the first to greet people at the door. If during the service you notice someone in a pew near you who looks confused, do offer some help! Thank you.

FOR OUR PRAYERS: For peace across the Holy Land and the Middle East. For those who will be alone this Christmas, those who will be grieving a departed loved one, or spending Christmas in hospital, care home, or prison, and for the homeless. For the work of Maidstone Homeless Care, for staff, volunteers and clients. For our Christmas services at St Michaels, especially for occasional churchgoers or those who are visiting us for the first time; for all who visit St Michael’s or another church this Christmas in search of comfort or solace, that they may meet with the love, compassion, forgiveness and strength of the Christ Child.

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, 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: David Harrington, Margaret Amphlett, Winifred Johnes, Muriel Kilby, Dorothy Kendling, Marjorie Ethel Cleaver.

FROM THE BELLTOWER: Sunday, 15 December 1320 Cambridge Surprise Minor 1 Stuart Cox 2 Rona Joiner 3 David Ridley 4 Mark Elvers 5 Stephen Coaker (C) 6 Lucy Harvey

Rung on Rose Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent). Remembering Emma Cundiff 9/12/20 and Alan Baldock