Advent 4 News

Priest-in-Charge Fr John Ainslie (revjohnainslie@gmail.com; 01628 629827)

Do please join us after Mass for Tea, Coffee and Cake in the Vestry Hall - - just ask if you don’t know the way!

                                        THIS AFTERNOON, 4pm

                  TRADITIONAL SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

Services this week:

CHRISTMAS EVE CRIB SERVICE – 4pm. A short service of Carols and Readings for all the family.

MIDNIGHT MASS - Christmas Eve 11.30pm

CHRISTMAS MORNING MASS - Christmas Day 10.30am. As the bells ring out, come and share in the joy of Christmas morning !!

SATURDAY 27th DECEMBER – Patronal Festival Mass at St John’s Higham. All Welcome. 12 noon followed by buffet lunch.

Next Sunday: Sung Mass 10.30am.

Regular Giving Envelopes. For those who give weekly through the envelope scheme, your 2026 pack of envelopes are at the back of church. If you give in this way but your envelopes aren’t there, please contact me. Likewise, if you would like to give regularly to the upkeep and work of St Michael’s Church via a weekly envelope then just ask. It does help us to plan, and to reclaim gift aid tax. Fr John.

ADVANCE NOTICE: ORGAN RECITAL in church, Saturday 3rd January 4pm, recitalist Levente Vas. Begin the New Year with some glorious music played on our wonderful “Father Willis” organ !!

FOR OUR PRAYERS: For peace and justice in the Holy Land. For grace, love and understanding between different Christian traditions and denominations. For those keeping Christmas in places where they risk persecution for their Christian faith. For those who will be apart from their loved ones this Christmas, and those in hospital, care homes or prison this Christmas. For families under stress, for relationships in difficulty, and those suffering from domestic abuse. For those mourning the loss of a loved one this Christmas. For the homeless, for those who have lost hope, and for those who cannot see the wonder of the Christmas message of love and forgiveness.

We pray for those in need, and especially Glynis Reynolds, Yvonne Young, Lindsay Wheeler, Martyn Nash, Fran, David Green, Norman Farrington, Jacqui Barlow and Joe.

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: Carol Crisp, David Farrington, Margaret Amphlett, Winifred Johnes.

FROM THE BELLTOWER: Sunday, 14 December 1260 Stedman Triples 1 Callum Clark 2 Stuart Cox 3 Kath White 4 Emma Jarvis 5 Philip Jarvis 6 Mark Elvers 7 Neil Jones (C) 8 Jane L Kostelnyk Remembering Emma Cundiff, 9/12/20, and Alan Baldock, 16/12/22, R.I.P. SUPPORT ST MICHAELS: to make a donation towards the work and worship of St Michael’s Church go to: www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/maidstone-st-michael-and-aa-maidstone/