This weekend’s Bible readings:
Isaiah 49:13-18 (p 736) and Luke 15:8-10 (p 1049)
APCM reports (due now) and PCC elections:
The annual church meetings (APCMs) are getting ever closer, and the end of this week is the deadline for getting reports to secretaries. The APCMs are a great opportunity to celebrate all that goes on in our benefice, so if you lead or are involved in a group, please make sure a report makes its way to the secretaries of each church (Lizzy for Standon, Michael L for Little Munden, Peter H for Sacombe) Please don't assume that someone else will do it - the secretaries can only include the things they receive information about! The deadline is Saturday 5th April, to give time to collate and then get the reports out before the meetings. If your report isn’t specifically and only for one of the churches (ie CW, secretary, electoral roll or treasurer) please make sure you send it to all three secretaries. Please also be considering whether you could serve as a PCC member for one of the churches - speak to a current PCC member if you'd like to know more! Even just a year on PCC can help shape the practical and spiritual decisions being made, and is a good way to serve your church.
Little Easter Angels:
We will be running ‘Little Easter Angels’ on Saturday 5th April, 10am-12pm, in St Mary's. There will be Easter treats, snacks, Easter craft, toys, stories and songs – lots of Easter fun! The session is open to all ages so bring the whole family - all are welcome and no booking is needed. The session is free. Please do spread the word! For more information, contact Cate at: [email protected].
Confirmation preparation:
John has prepared a group of young adults for a baptism and confirmation service which will be held in our benefice on Saturday 10th May, at 6.00 pm. If anyone else would like to explore the possibility of baptism or confirmation, please speak to him.
Lent appeal:
Once again, our Lent appeal is for the work and witness of our three churches in our benefice. There is a huge amount going on in our benefice, all offered at no cost to those who come to us (though donations are always welcome). Unfortunately, our current level of giving is insufficient to sustain this indefinitely, and all three churches need periodic boosts to our regular income. Please consider prayerfully whether you are able to make a Lent donation to one or more of our churches. If you’d like your gift to be used across the benefice, please mark it ‘benefice’ and our treasurers will make sure that happens.
Electoral Roll (ER) Renewal:
Each of the churches within the benefice is renewing its ER between now and their Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Everyone who wishes to remain on, or join, the roll must complete and sign a new form. Statutory notices are displayed in each of the churches. Copies of the Application forms are now available. If we hold your email address, application forms will be emailed to you. Paper copies are available at the back of each church.
Paper copies should be returned either directly to the respective ER Officer or left in any of our churches in an envelope labelled ER Application and either Hugh Legg, All Saints, Carole Hudson, St Catherine’s or Wendy Smith, St Mary’s. We will make sure they get to the right person. All applications should be returned before the end of Tuesday 15th April 2025
All Saints, the Mundens – electronic, scanned, copies should be emailed to [email protected]
St Mary’s, Standon – application forms are also available on the benefice website ubsms.org.uk st. mary’s, standon about us ER renewal.
Electronic copies should be returned to the email address at the bottom of the application form.
EHCCA Good Friday worship:
This year’s East Herts Church Choirs Association (EHCCA) Act of Worship for Good Friday (18th April) will be held in St Mary’s, Cheshunt at 7.30pm. They will sing Fauré’s Requiem, interspersed with readings, prayers and hymns. The soloists are Amelia James and Hugh Legg. All are welcome.
Beds and Herts Historic Churches Bike’n Hike:
This takes place every year on the second Saturday of September. The aim is to raise about £100,000 each year. The team is looking for a volunteer to act as Area Organiser for Hertford Deanery. The commitment is not hugely onerous. It is a worthwhile charity that most of our churches have benefitted from in the form of grants in the past, but it relies on people prepared to do the organising! If you would like to know more, please contact Nicol at [email protected].
Services for the next few weeks:
Midweek services each week:
Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine's
Wednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary's
Sunday services:
30th March 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine’s
6th April 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
13th April 10.30am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
20th April 10.30am Easter Communion, St Mary’s
27th April 10.30am All age worship, St Mary’s
6.00pm Choral Evensong, St Mary’s
4th May 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
Please note there will be no service of choral evensong in April.
Easter services:
17th April 7.30pm Maundy Thursday service, St Catherine’s
18th April 10.30am Service by the cross, All Saints
18th April 2.00pm Reflective hour, St Mary’s
20th April 10.30am Easter Communion, St Mary’s
Please note there will be no 8.00 service on Easter Day.