Falling on Sunday 4th October, this year we will keep the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. This is especially appropriate at a time when Pope Francis has reminded in his recent encyclical “Laudato Si” of our Christian responsibility for Nature, the environment and all God’s creatures.

10.45am, Solemn Sung Mass. Hymns: 451 : 263 (omit *) : Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.  Setting: Missa L’Hora Passa, Viadana. Motet: Laudans Exsultet Gaudio, Croce.

6pm Evensong & Benediction – Smith Responses. Psalms 125, 126. Office Hymn 242. Canticles: Walmisley in D minor. Anthem: O Lord the Maker of All Thing, Mundy.  O Salutaris Hostia: 269. Tantum Ergo: 268. Recessional Psalm 117.

At St Michael’s, the South Aisle Window nearest the South Door depicts St Francis.

This sonnet for St Francis’ Day is crafted by Malcolm Guite, Cambridge Poet, Priest and Performer.

‘Francis rebuild my church which, as you see
Is falling into ruin.’ From the cross
Your saviour spoke to you and speaks to us
Again through you. Undoing set you free,
Loosened the traps of trappings, cast away
The trammelling of all that costly cloth
We wind our saviour in. At break of day
He set aside his grave-clothes. Your new birth
Came like a daybreak too, naked and true
To poverty and to the gospel call,
You woke to Christ and Christ awoke in you
And set to work through all your love and skill
To make our ruin good, to bless and heal
To wake the Christ in us and make us whole.