Royston Parish Church (Herts)

Royston Parish Church News - Sunday 8th February 2026 (2nd Sunday before Lent)

2026-02-08 Notice sheet.docx 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

Saturday 7th February 2026

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

Sunday 8th February

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-!7:30 Tea Time Praise

Monday 9th February

19:00 Enquiry Evening NB This takes place at the Vicarage this week!

1900-21:00 An Evening with Author Guy Stagg, presented in conjunction with Bow Books

Tuesday 10th February

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

Wednesday 11th February

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

13:00-15:30 Knit and Natter

18:00-19:15 Chorister Practice

18:30-20:00 Choir Practice

Thursday 12th February

09:00-11:00 Tots in Church

13:00-15:00 Church Cleaner

19:00-21:00 Bell Ringers Practice

19:00-20:00 Julian Prayer at 11 Middle Drift

Saturday 14th February 2026

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

19:00-22:00 Church Quiz

Sunday 15th February

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

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.

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 Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City
For all who worship at Royston Evangelical Church; Joanathan Scott
For the work of our mission partners: Church Mission Society (CMS)

We pray for the community of Royston:

For our local health centres
For all our local Market Stall Holders and Shopkeepers

We pray for our world and ECO projects:

We pray that as Lent approaches (starting on 18th Feb) that we may take the time to think about how to reduce our individual Carbon Footprints, perhaps participating in the "Carbon Fast" - more information can be found on the website climatestewards.org.

We pray for the sick and suffering:

Lee Cockerill
Pat Pritchard
Jackson Herbert
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
Laura O'nyamul (On-Ya-Mul)
Keith and Elaine Edwards
Katie
Margaret Green

We pray for those who have died in the faith of Christ:
Deceased Bereaved
Harry McDonald Ruth, family and friends
Ann Coburn Kay Blayney, Matt, family and friends
The Turner Twins Heather, Ross, family and friends

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

NOTICES

DEANERY CHORAL EVENSONG on February 22nd at 5pm, our choir will be joined by choirs and singers from across the Deanery to sing Choral Evensong together. No other churches in the Deanery are having evening services as all the church leaders are taking part in the service, and we are also coming together with congregations across the Deanery to worship together in this service, which will be followed by wine and refreshments. If you would like to sing then please speak to Steven, otherwise, please do come along and worship together with our sisters and brothers from across the Deanery.

NEW SUNG SETTING In our 10.30 services from the 8th February (with the choir singing it at the Candlemas service on the 1st February) we shall be singing a new setting of the communion setting (where we sing Lord, have mercy, Glory to God, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord and Lamb of God). The setting is written by David Thorne and is called the Mass of St Thomas. If you would like to get to know it before we start singing it then you can hear it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVMJxiIXQMs

LENT COURSE: As we approach Lent, everyone is invited to take part in our parish Lent course, Draw Near: Life-Giving Habits for Lent, based on the Church of England resource offering short daily reflections to help deepen our relationship with God. Sunday preaching and home groups will follow shared weekly themes, creating a common rhythm of worship, reflection, and conversation across the church. Home groups will meet weekly where possible, with most able to welcome newcomers as well as three newly formed groups for Lent only. Further details about booklets and groups will be shared soon.

QUIZ RAFFLE: We are having a small raffle at the quiz on Saturday 14th February and are looking for contributions for this. At the back of the Church is a list of items that we need, if you feel able to contribute please cross off an item.

The hampers will be made up on the morning of the quiz so please bring items before then, thank you.
Looking forward, we will also be looking for donations of Easter eggs for the egg hunt on Easter Sunday, 5th April and chocolate items for a chocolate tombola at the Book Fayre, 2nd and 4th May. We are happy to take these at any time from now on so we can take advantage of any offers.
Please leave all items in the kitchen. As always we ask that all food items have good dates on them as we cannot include out of date items!
Thank you so much, the Events Committee.

HELP NEEDED PLEASE: We are helping with Lent Lunch on Wednesday 11th March which is held at the Roman Catholic Church Hall. Lunches usually run from 12 until 1.30pm, consist of a selection of soups, bread, butter, cheese and fruit. Help is also needed to put out/put back chairs and tables (men please). There is a suggested donation of £5 per person. Profits after costs go to Christian Aid and CAFOD.

If you are able to help in anyway, there is a sign up sheet up at the back of Church, or please speak to Kay for any more information. Thank you.

BASIC AWARENESS SAFEGUARDING COURSE Three years ago, after the church re-opened, we ran a Basic Awareness Safeguarding Course for anyone who was unable to access the training online and would find it easier to come along to the church to do the training as a group. For some people it is now time to renew their training after three years, for others it will be the first time. This is a relaxed, non threatening way for everyone to join together and learn how we can, as a church, keep everyone safe whether it is children or vulnerable adults. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity we will be running the course on Monday 23rd February 2026 at 9.30 am in church. Please let me know if you would like to join us.

Alison Bailey, Parish Safeguarding Officer, 01763 250637, [email protected]

.AN EVENING WITH JOHN STAGG - LOCAL AUTHOR Bow Books are delighted to welcome local author Guy Stagg to Royston Parish Church, where he will discuss his award-winning non-fiction books, The Crossway and The World Within, illustrated with slides. Tickets £5 per person (includes first drink free) available from Bow Books. Please see leaflet for more information.

SUNDAY MORNING READING SHEET 8th February 2nd Sunday before Lent

A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:18-25

GOSPEL

‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:25-34

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