Royston Parish Church (Herts)

Royston Parish Church News - Sunday 30th November 2025

2025-11-30 notice sheet.pdf Download

ROYSTON PARISH CHURCH - where all are welcome and God's love is shared

You can download the paper copy of our news sheet from the link at the side of this page.

If you would like regular copies of the Notice Sheet emailed to you please email the parish office at admin@roystonparishchurch.org.uk.

Diary

Friday 28th November

18:00 - 20:30 Town Christmas Tree Light up - refreshments

Saturday 29th November

10:00 - 16:00 Tree Lit up in Church; refreshments including mulled wine and mince pies

10:00-11:30 1:30 Church Café (Tea / Coffee / Hot Chocolate only £2 - Free Biscuits)

Sunday 30th November - There are special services this Sunday as we celebrate the church building coming of the “At Risk” register following the fire. To celebrate with us, Archdeacon Janet, the Archdeacon of Hertford, will be coming to lead the services and to preach.

09:00 - 09:45 Communion Service that is quiet and reflective

10:30 - 11:40 Communion Service with music/choir, children's groups/toy area, followed by refreshments

15:00-17:00 Advent Carol Service Choir Practice

17:00-18:00 Advent Carol Service

Monday 1st December

18:00-23:00 Christmas Craft Event

Tuesday 2nd December

09:00 - 09:30 Morning Prayer (incorporating prayer requests that have been left in church)

Wednesday 3rd December

11:00 - 11:25 Communion Service that is quiet and reflective, followed by refreshments

13:00 - 15:30 Knit and Natter (where all are welcome to meet and chat)

18:00 - 19:15 Chorister Practice

18:30 - 20:00 Choir Practice

19:00-21:00 Men's Group at Wetherspoons (turn up at any time, all men are welcome to meet and chat)

Thursday 4th December

09:00-11:00 Tots in Church

13:00-16:00 Ladies Group "Bring and Share" Christmas Lunch

19:00-21:00 Bell-ringers Practice

Friday 5th December

NOTE: Celtic Prayer will not be taking place in this slot this month

Saturday 6th December

10:00-11:30 1:30 Church Café (Tea / Coffee / Hot Chocolate only £2 - Free Biscuits)

14:30-17:30 St Mary's School Concert

Sunday 7th December

09:00 - 09:45 Communion Service that is quiet and reflective

10:30 - 11:40 Communion Service with music/choir, children's groups/toy area, followed by refreshments

15:30-17:00 Christingle/TTP

Dates for the Diary/Upcoming Events

UPCOMING EVENTS :There are a number of events coming up over the next few months to look forward to.

11th December 7 pm -Julian Prayer meeting at 11 Middle Drift

9th February 2026 - The work of Guy Stagg, a local author , the event being organised byBow Books

14th February - Church Quiz

18th April - Cheese and wine evening

2nd & 4th May - Book Fayre

19th June - Hymns and PIMM’s

20th June - Concert

Intercessions

We pray for all Christians worldwide:

For all Christians in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore
For all who are worship at Kneesworth House Hospital; Mark Bridger
For the work of our mission partners: Vietnamese Church; Pastor Na

We pray for the community of Royston:

For our local health centres
For all who work on our local Industrial Estates

We pray for our world and ECO projects:

We pray that we may be inspired to do what we can to join in reducing plastic waste, especially as Christmas approaches and we are choosing presents.

We pray for the sick and suffering:

Lee Cockerill
Pat Pritchard
Maria Turi
Chris Christou
Paul & Pat Tidey
Mike Brown
Marion
Val Brown
Angie & Ken Rushall
Paula Walker
Keith & Elaine Edwards
Peter Coates
Emma & Phil Heath
Peter Foster
Gwen Simmons

We pray for those who have died in the faith of Christ:
Deceased Bereaved
Annie Mulcahy Anette and Paul, family and friends
Olive Watson Lisa Watson-Wilde, family and friends

We pray for those whose anniversaries fall at this time:
No anniversaries this week

NOTICES

CHURCH HOSPITALITY: Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to be in church during Advent to meet people who come into church to write a message and place it on the tree and to offer a drink or soup. We have the following dates and time that we still need people to sign up for:
Thursday 4th December 11am - 1pm
Friday 19th December 12-4pm
Monday 22nd December 9am-12.30pm
Monday 22nd December 12.30-4pm
Tuesday 23rd December 12.30-4pm
Wednesday 24th December 9am-12.30pm

Please let Joanne know if you are willing to sign up for any of these slots

Christmas Jumper/Bauble Swap event: Please dig out your Christmas decorations early this year and give them a dust off and sort through. Royston Environmental Group will be in church with us on 28th and 29th November for their Christmas Jumper and Decoration swap. They will collect donations of seasonal clothing or tree decorations in advance or on the day. Simply exchange your donation for a swap token and take away something new to you. It may also be possible to "swap" something for a cash donation if you don't have any- thing to donate, depending on stock. If you fancy a different look this year, for yourself or for your tree, bring along your old seasonal clothing or tree decorations and swap them for something new to you. Make this Christmas green not white! You can swap decorations for socks, or a jumper for baubles. If you have donations of good quality, clean clothing or deco- rations you would like to have collected or drop off in advance, please contact [email protected] or 07968 006018 to arrange.

HELP WANTED! - The church will be open on Saturday 29th November for the switching on of our Christmas tree lights, with mulled wine and mince pies. If you're able to spare an hour to help serve refreshments, please sign up on the sheet at the back of
church. Thanks in advance from the Events Committee

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE! They'll be available after church services, Saturday Coffee, and during events at the end of November. Tickets are £1 each, prizes include Christmas Hampers, and all proceeds go to church funds.

MINCE PIES- The Events committee is seeking donations of boxes of mince pies for events throughout Advent. Please make sure they have a good shelf life. They can be left in the kitchen. Many thanks.

PUMPKIN SOUP: Please return by Friday 28th November evening where the soup will be used to welcome visitors into the church. Thank you in anticipation!

PARENT AND CARER CHRISTMAS CRAFT NIGHT: Royston Parish Church - Monday December 1st at 7.30 pm Christmas crafts to make , mince pies , mulled wine and Christmas treats. come and join us. Book at: https://tickets.myiknowchurch.co.uk/gb/NzcwMi0yNQ/t or speak to Yvonne.

SUNDAY READING SHEET 30th November 2025 1st Sunday of Advent

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! Isaiah 2:1-5

A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:11-14

GOSPEL

‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Matthew 24:36-44

STAFF TEAM

Vicar: Revd Steven Sivyer (rest day MONDAY)

Telephone no. 01763 580242

Email: [email protected]

Curate: Jaime Roberts (rest day FRIDAY)

Telephone: 01763 580241

Email: [email protected]

Assistant Priest: The Reverend John Fidler

Telephone no. 01763 241886

Email: [email protected]

Reader: Emma Sivyer

Telephone no. 07851 688610