May the Love of God the Holy Trinity be with us this month in our communities, relationships and service.
Please try to support the John Thurmer Memorial Lecture on Friday 27th May at 7.30pm at St Michael’s. It will be a privilege and a joy to welcome Professor Nicholas Orme who was a colleague and friend of Canon John Thurmer for many years. Professor Orme has a distinguished career studying Church History and medieval society & childhood, especially in the West country.
Reminder: Wed 27 April at 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lectures welcome Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of Crediton, to talk on the topic “Should the Church be involved in the Health of our Communities?” continuing our theme of religious reflection on current social concerns.
With an abundance of Feasts this month, the Choir has a wealth of beautiful music to share with you.
Rogation Sunday, 1st May, 10.45am Sung Mass and Procession around Mount Dinham. Missa “Entre vous filles” by Lassus, and “Thou visitest the Earth and blessest it” by Greene.
Sun 1 May we also have our 6pm First Sunday Choral Evensong & Benediction. To mark Rogation Sunday, the Anthem will be “The Heavens are telling the Glory of God” by Franz Joseph Haydn from his Oratorio, The Creation. Come & see why Choral Evensong is the fastest growing service in the C of E.
Thurs 5 May, 40 days after Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven. Ascension Day Matins is sung at 7.30am from the West Gallery, followed by breakfast.
Thurs 5 May at 7.30pm, Sung Mass for Ascension Day. Music is Spatzenmesse (Sparrow Mass) by W A Mozart and “Ascendit Deus” by Peter Philips. This is a joint Parish service and CBS Mass for May. The Sermon preached by Fr Christopher can be read here.
Sat 7 May – Exeter Pride. We welcome any who want to show solidarity with Exeter’s LGBTQ+ communities to join us for Sung Matins at 9.30am at St Michael’s, and/or to join the Christian group in the Pride Procession from the St Sidwell’s Centre at 12noon.
Sat 7 May at 4.30pm Choral Evensong following a Diocesan Safeguarding Training Day – all welcome.
Sun 8 May, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Our Archbishops are asking all Christians to pray especially this week for better Witness and Evangelism to our secular society. St Michael’s continues to offer diversity and welcome to all – traditional Church for today! Mass Setting is Sumsion in F, and the Motet “O God the King of Glory” by Purcell.
We are much saddened to report the death of Fr Roger Shambrook SSC on Friday 6th May; his visits to St Michael’s to celebrate Mass and preach over the past year or so were always appreciated. Fr Roger had ministered with great devotion over many years to the people of Torquay. We offer our prayers and sympathy to all who knew him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. The Requiem Funeral Mass for Fr Shambrook will take place at 2pm on Friday 13 May at St Mary Steps Church, EX1 1BB.
Photograph by Jamie Bowen
Fri 13 May at 7.30pm – Bute Clarinet Quartet are giving a Concert in St Michael’s with music by Gershwin, Piazzolla and more. £5 on the door (£4 conc).
Sat 14th May at 3pm. Christian Aid tea party at 95 Howell Rd hosted by the Vicar. Bring a cake or buy a cake!
Sun 15 May, Whitsunday/Pentecost, 10.45am. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Sung Mass with Mass in F, by Josef Rheinberger, and Motet “If ye love me” by Philip Stopford. Revel in the rich romanticism of Rheinberger and the lush harmonies of Stopford.
Sun 15 May, at 7pm in Exeter Cathedral, “The Kingdom Come”, a Diocese of Exeter service in response to the Archbishops’ call to prayer. A pilgrimage of worship around the Cathedral to pray reflectively using prayer spaces especially created. Music with University of Exeter’s Chapel Choir and ending with night prayer.
Sun 22 May, Trinity, 10.45am. Sung Mass with Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass” and the Motet “Duo Seraphim” by Guerrero.
Thurs 26 May, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with Vespers at 6pm and Sung Mass at 7.30pm. We process the Blessed Sacrament around Mount Dinham (weather permitting) accompanied by Hymns. Our Music this year features the 16th century Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero with “Missa Inter Vestibulum” and Motet “O Sacrum Convivium”.
Please do put Friday 27 May at 7.30pm in your Diaries, when we are privileged to welcome University of Exeter Department of History Professor Emeritus Nicholas Orme, who will distil his extensive knowledge of Church History to give a lecture in memory of Canon John Thurmer, entitled “A Brief History of England’s Cathedrals.” Entry free, all welcome; we look forward to seeing you.
Sun 29 May, Trinity II, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Music t.b.c.
And finally, don’t forget our nest box camera can be viewed on the “Peregrine Falcons” website page; donations welcome. The eggs laid at Easter are due to hatch as April turns into May.
Richard Barnes.