Assumption
Sunday August 14th – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
First reading Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10 —————————-
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun
The sanctuary of God in heaven opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it.
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready.
Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ.’
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 44(45):10-12,16 ———————–
On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.
The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.
So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to him.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.
On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.
Second reading 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 ————————
Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet, and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56
News From St Michael's, 14th August, 2022
Today we welcome Fr Derek as our celebrant. On Sunday 21st August our celebrant will be Fr Paul. Warmest thanks to them both for their time and their pastoral concern for the St Michael's family. Please note: there will be NO MASS this Thursday, 19th August.
Urgent: We simply must have someone who can act as “Halls Manager” and deal with enquiries and bookings. Last week we had to turn away an enquirer because there was no one to handle her booking. Without the hall lettings our church will cease to be financially viable. Please, please ask yourself: could God be calling you to help St Michael's in this way?
Mothers' Union:
First, thank you to Daphne for producing the lovely flower arrangement beside the Mothers' Union banner, reminding us of Mary Sumner Day on August 9th. We give thanks for the work of the MU, praying that God will bless and guide our own branch and its members. It isn't too late to make Mary Sumner's prayer our own:
All this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for thee; and every life I touch, do thou by thy Spirit quicken, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. Amen.
Second, don't forget the MU pop-up afternoon tea at Boughton Monchelsea on Saturday 20th. £10 per person. All welcome - contact Daphne (686463) for details.
Please pray for Pilgrims…. from Society parishes in this diocese, on pilgrimage at Walsingham this week (including Fr Paul), and for Fr Derek on his visit to Oberammergau.
News from the Tower: Bellringer Chloe is coming to the end of her training and will before long be joining her first ship. She was quickly found to be especially good at handling ropes! We wish her every blessing and happiness in her chosen career.
Kent County Association - Maidstone, Kent, St Michael and All Angels:
Friday, 5 August 2022 in 40m (6–1–24 in C)
1440 Carlisle Surprise Minor
1Laura Byrne
2Jacqueline Barlow
3Janice Byrne
4Stephen Coaker (C)
5Pam Thomas
6Neil Jones
A belated birthday compliment to Phil Barnes and Mike Birkbeck.
Sunday, 7 August 2022 in 42m (6–1–24 in C)
1440 Chester Surprise Minor
1Janice Byrne
2Jacqueline Barlow
3Laura Byrne
4Mark Elvers
5Stephen Coaker (C)
6Neil Jones
A get well soon compliment to Peter Dale.
Congratulations to Treasurer Nelly on her recent exam success!