Easter 6
6th SUNDAY OF EASTER Hymns NEH 338, 486, 295, 103
FIRST READING (Acts 10.44-48) A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 98
Response: The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
1. Sing a new song to the Lord:
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm:
have brought salvation. R.
2. The Lord has made known his salvation:
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love:
for the house of Israel. R.
3. All the ends of the earth have seen:
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth:
ring out your joy. R.
SECOND READING (1 John 5.1-6) A reading from the first letter of John. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
GOSPEL John 15.9-17 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
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NEWS FROM ST MICHAEL'S
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 that we can welcome you properly.
Our Services in the coming week: Thursday – Mass at 10.30 am; Sunday – Mass at 10.30 am.
Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord:
Yes, and Christ Ascended too,
To prepare a place for you;
So we give Him special praise
After those Great Forty Days.
Annual Church Meetings. Thank you to all those who participated in the St Michael's Annual Church Meetings after Mass last Sunday. At the meetings Jonathan Ardley and William Danes-Volkov were elected as Churchwardens for the year 2024/5. We are most grateful to Jonathan and William for agreeing to take on these responsibilities, and we give thanks for all that Jonathan has done as Churchwarden last year. Paul Jones and William Danes-Volkov will now be representing us on the Deanery Synod. Sara Dray has resigned from the PCC, though thankfully is masterminding our Summer Fair on 15th June. We welcome Lee Derbyshire as a new member of the PCC, duly elected. We give thanks to Nelly for her work as PCC Treasurer last year, and for her willingness to be appointed again as our Treasurer for 2024/5. William Danes-Volkov is continuing in post as our Parish Safeguarding Officer, and the PCC has appointed Lee Derbyshire as Parish Disclosure Officer to handle DBS checks on its behalf. My thanks to all of you who serve our church of St Michael and All Angels in whatever capacity. Fr John.
More thanks: We are most grateful to Fr John, who is very generously providing a monstrance for use at St Michael's. For the first time in its history we will be able to use our own monstrance for Corpus Christi and for services of Benediction (we had previously had to borrow one). We shall see our new monstrance in action on Corpus Christi, the feast on which we give particular thanks to our Lord for His presence with us in the holy Eucharist. Thank you, Fr John!
**Our Summer Fun Day will take place on June 15th\ **and will be masterminded by Sara – thank you, Sara! It will have a predominantly Garden theme, but with a Royal dimension as it coincides with the King's Birthday. Ideas along these lines, and offers of help or publicity, will be most welcome. Please speak to Sara at church, or on 07837 919761.
A blessed Easter to our Orthodox guests! The Eastern church is celebrating Easter today, and this weekend St Michael's has been the venue for a Romanian Orthodox congregation to celebrate Good Friday and Holy Saturday – leaving at 5 am and taking with them our warm Easter greetings.
From Our Tower:
Kent County Association, Maidstone, Kent: St Michael and All Angels
Friday, 3 May 2024 in 42m (6–1–24 in C)
1295 Queen's Gate Surprise Minor
- Jacqueline Barlow
- Janice Byrne
- Philip Jarvis
- Mark Elvers
- Pam Thomas
- Neil Jones (C)
Remembering Pat Barton, May 2022, R.I.P. Rung half-muffled during the Romanian Orthodox Triduum, taking place at St Michael's over the 3 days of their Easter.
Jacqui's stamp box: The contents of this will now go to the Royal National institute for the Blind. People don't send as many letters as once they did, and stamps - especially from overseas - are much appreciated. Try to leave half an inch of envelope around your stamp!
Please pray for…. All people in positions of responsibility, particularly our newly elected local councillors, and those newly elected and re-elected as our Churchwardens and PCC members.
Among the sick, we pray particularly for: Paul, Margaret, Ellie, Pauline, Rue, Fr Leon, Antony, Fran, Ellie, Tom, Joseph, Peter, Joan, Margaret, Lindsay, Glynis, Ethan, Sarah, Yvonne, Jessica, HM The King, with thanksgiving for his return to public duties, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
…..And among the departed: Doris Copperwheat, Patricia Osborne, Sandy Mackenzie and Patricia Barton.