3rd Before Lent 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.

NEW CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL: We are preparing a completely new Electoral Roll for St Michael’s Church. Even if you are currently on the Roll you will need to apply again to be included on the new Electoral Roll. If you are not already on the Roll of this Church, this is an opportunity for you to join and show your support for St Michaels Church in this way.

To be eligible for the St Michael’s Electoral Roll, you need to have been baptised, be aged 16 or over, and to either reside in the parish of St Michaels or (if not) to have habitually attended worship here for at least six months.

Application Forms are available at the Back of Church for you to complete and return to myself – Fr John. Please complete and return your form asap and certainly before 30th March.

CONSECRATION of Fr Luke as the new Bishop of Richborough at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 27th February at 2.30pm. Entry is by ticket only: If you wish to attend, please see me and I can give you a printed entry ticket which will get you into the service, and which has all the details you need.

On SUNDAY 1st JUNE Bishop Luke (as he will then be) is coming to St Michael’s to Celebrate a Confirmation Mass for us at 10.30am. We have 3 adult candidates wishing to be Confirmed. This will be a very special occasion, and we are very fortunate that our new Bishop wishes to come to St Michael’s so early in his Episcopal ministry among us. Do plan to support this special occasion in the life of St Michaels.

ST MICHAEL’S PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM Tuesday 27th May – Friday 30th May. I hope as many of you as possible will want to join this trip away to the Shrine of Our Lady in Norfolk, a truly wonderful opportunity for traditional worship and happy fellowship in a place of great peace and holiness. We have reserved places on a full board basis – the total cost for the stay at Walsingham is £273 (children £163.80). We don’t want anyone to be put off on the grounds of cost, and we have a number of Bursaries available to offset part or all of the cost for anyone who needs that assistance.

There are forms at Back of Church – please complete one and return to me (Fr John) along with your non-refundable deposit of £40.

If you haven’t been on pilgrimage to Walsingham before and are interested, talk to someone who has – myself, Eleanor, Fr Paul, Ralph, Mike and Mary Trout, Margaret Smith… There is also information about Walsingham at the Back of Church, or look online at www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk

FOR OUR PRAYERS: We pray for Fr Luke as he prepares to be consecrated Bishop. We pray for our Lay Church Officers – Churchwarden Jonathan, PCC Secretary and Lay Reader Eleanor, and Treasurer Lee, for their well-being and for wisdom in carrying out their duties. We give thanks for their work on our behalf, and for the support they offer to Priest and people alike.

We pray for those in need, and especially Paul Jones, Glynis Reynolds, Yvonne Young, Jessica O’Sullivan, Lindsay Wheeler, Martyn Nash, Fran, Ellie Tomlinson, David Green, Alison Heywood, Norman Farrington, Olga Danes-Volkov.

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: William Norman Bryson, Vera Clements, Doris Mason, Alice Roberts, Ken Gibbons, Barbara Sage, Gwen Vanstone. May they rest in peace, and rise in glory.

FROM THE BELLTOWER: 9 February. 1260 Stedman Triples 1 Michael A Birkbeck 2 Stuart Cox 3 Jacqueline M Barlow 4 Emma Jarvis 5 Jane L Kostelnyk 6 Mark Elvers 7 Philip Jarvis (C) 8 Pam Thomas