Baptism Of Christ 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.

SERVICES THIS WEEK: Thursday - Mass at 10.30am. Next Sunday Sung Mass at 10.30am. All services followed by tea, coffee and refreshments.

THIS WEEK the Church remembers St Hilary, 4th Century Bishop of Poitiers (Monday), the 4th Century hermit Antony of Egypt (Friday) and also on Friday, Charles Gore. Charles Gore was an Oxford Movement Priest, Bishop and theologian. Educated at Harrow and Trinity Oxford, Vice Principal of Cuddesdon Theological College, appointed Principle of Pusey House Oxford in 1884, and Bishop successively of Worcester, Birmingham and Oxford. Whilst at Pusey House he founded what became the Community of the Resurrection, and was determined that it should be a force for social action, The Community settled at Mirfield in Yorkshire and established a college for the training of men for the Priesthood. In 1903 a mission house was established in Johannesburg in S Africa, where CR member Trevor Huddleston campaigned against apartheid.

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed last week to our Epiphany collection of food for Maidstone Homeless Care. Our goods were received with grateful thanks by the staff there.

Planned Giving ENVELOPES for 2025 are now available at Back of Church. If you don’t already, but would like to regularly to our Church through the envelope scheme or by bank standing order don’t hesitate to talk to me about how to do this. Giving regularly helps the PCC with our financial planning, and it may also help you to plan your giving.

THE NEXT BISHOP OF RICHBOROUGH. It has been announced that the next Bishop of Richborough, Fr Luke Irvine-Capel SSC (currently the Archdeacon of Chichester), will be Consecrated in Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 27th February at 2.30pm. We hope to arrange for a party from St Michael’s to travel to Canterbury for that – details to follow but please note the date now. For those who like to attend the Chrism Mass in Holy Week – and all are welcome at that – this will take place in Rochester Cathedral on April 15th at 12 noon.

THE PCC meets this Thursday 16th at 7.30pm.

FOR OUR PRAYERS: We pray for our PCC meeting on Thursday, and for responsible leadership of our church in matters of finance, buildings, safeguarding and supporting the pastoral and liturgical work of the parish. We continue to pray for peace, including the Sudan, Ukraine and across the Holy Land and the Middle East. We pray for Fr Luke as he prepares to take up his responsibilities as Bishop of Richborough, and for President-elect Trump and the people of the USA.

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, Beryl Haigh, David Green and Alison Heywood.

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: Leslie Lott, Joyce Barber, Joyce Payne, Louise Wollen, Ivy Parry, Stan Penney, Lily Chandler, Hazel Warriner, Maureen Tresnan, Norman Rust.

FROM THE BELLTOWER: Friday, 3 January 1272 Spliced Surprise Minor 1 Neil Jones 2 Jacqueline Barlow 3 Jane L Kostelnyk 4 Philip Jarvis 5 Stephen Coaker (C) 6 Pam Thomas

Remembering Valerie Stickland, 30/12/24, R.I.P.

Sunday, 5 January 1280 Spliced Surprise Major 1 Mike Birkbeck 2 Stuart Cox 3 Jacqueline Barlow 4 Philip Jarvis 5 Jane L Kostelnyk 6 Lucy Harvey 7 Paul Barton 8 Neil Jones (C)

Rung for the Feast of the Epiphany.
Remembering Joy Neal (mother of the ringer of the 3rd), 5/1/99, R.I.P.