We hope that the 4 Peregrine eggs laid towards the end of March will have hatched; their “due date” was Thurs 30th April. In fact, the 1st egg hatched about 6.30 that morning, and a 2nd chick emerged early on Sat 2nd May, but it looks like the other 2 eggs are not going to hatch. You can watch the chicks live online at /peregrine-falcons/ (and donate towards the cost of streaming) – a little warning that feeding can be messy.

I’ve noticed that the Nottingham Trent University Peregrines hatched their 4 eggs on 22nd & 24th April, while Bath, Derby and Norwich are expecting chicks about the same dates as we are.

If you’ve visited http://www.stdavidschurchexeter.org.uk/ recently, you’ll’ve seen that Chris Durrant will be ordained Deacon on Sunday 13th September 2015 at 10:00 in Exeter Cathedral (God willing!) to serve the parish of St. David’s with St. Michael & All Angels as our full-time training Curate, and will attend parish services from August.

Chris is currently balancing his training on the South West Ministry Training Course with his part-time work as a microbiologist for South West Water. He will resign from the laboratory in July, and hopes to have completed his dissertation on the symbolism of Baptismal Fonts by then!
His wife Jenny is the Assistant Curator of Antiquities at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, and they have lived in Exeter for 15 years, originally coming to read Archaeology and Biological Sciences at Exeter University. They have previously worshipped at St. James’ Church. We look forward to welcoming them.

May this year is full of Red Letter Days of the Church; Rogation, Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity all fall in the month, with Corpus Christi early in June. All of these and more feature as “Events” on the website. And there’s “Hymns&Pimms”, a Recital & a Lecture, so we look forward to seeing you at St Michael’s.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Vespers & Meditation take place at 6pm, though on Thurs 7th May there will be Mass prior to a DCC Meeting, and I think something else is happening that day!

Sun 3rd May Easter 5 = Easter IV, 10.45am; Sung Mass. Setting – Viadana ‘L’Hora Passa’. Anthem – Bairstow ‘I sat down under his shadow’.

Sun 3rd May 6pm Evensong & Benediction – Responses – Smith, Psalm 96, Canticles – Weelkes Short Service, Anthem – Palestrina ‘Exultate Deo’, Plainsong Hymns.

Friday 8th May 7.30pm Recitals @ St Michael’s welcome Alison Smith, Plymouth-based, internationally acclaimed classical guitarist. Tickets £5 (£3.50 conc) on the door.

Sat 9th May 7.30pm. Back by popular demand, please come to “Hymns & Pimms”, voting for and singing your favourite hymns and worship songs on a relaxed late spring evening.

Sun 10th May, Rogation Procession on Mount Dinham, praying for God to bless our work and the fruits of the Earth in their seasons. 10.45; Mass Setting – Bairstow in E flat. Anthem – Greater Love hath no man, by John Ireland.

Thurs 14th May, Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter, 8.00am; Plainsong Matins sung from the West Gallery, followed by breakfast.

Thurs 14th May, Ascension Day, 7.30pm; Sung Mass, with drinks afterwards. Mass in C&F and Coelos ascendit hodie, both by Stanford.

Sun 17th May, Sunday after Ascension = Easter 7, 10.45am; Mass in E by Harold Darke. Anthem – The merrie world did on this day, by Alex West, a lively, contemporary setting of George Herbert’s poem “The Quip”.

Sun 24th May, Whit Sunday/Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, 10.45am; Mass Setting – Victoria ‘O quam gloriosum’. Anthem – Tallis ‘If ye love me’.

Wed 27th May 7.30pm St Michael’s Lecture with Sabrina Gröschel. Same-Sex Marriage in the Church: A Lengthy and Unnecessary Debate? This topic has become a prominent and public issue across most Christian denominations. Speaking in a strictly personal capacity, Sabrina Gröschel will address the issue through reflection on her experience as a Facilitator of discussions in the United Reformed Church.

Sun 31st May, Trinity Sunday, 10.45am; Mass in F by Charles Wood. Anthem – Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas, by Agazzari.

Thurs 4th June, Corpus Christi, 7.30pm; Sung Mass with procession of the Blessed Sacrament around Mount Dinham.

Advanced Notice – Friday 19th June. Meet the exciting young vocal octet VOCES8 at St Michael’s over Lunch and a Choral Workshop (1-4pm, Tickets £10/£7 conc).
Then hear their brilliant and versatile talents in Concert at 7.30pm. Recital Tickets £15/£12 conc (£3 reduction for both events). They really are exceptional – don’t miss it!

Please see https://twitter.com/StMikes_Exeter for latest news.

Richard Barnes.