This weekend’s Bible readings:
Acts 10:34-43 (p 1104) and Matthew 28:1-10 (p 1000)
APCM reports:
It’s time to be sending reports to the secretaries! Many of the annual reports are shared across the benefice, and collating them takes time. Please let our secretaries have them in good time.
Knit & Natter group 13th April:
If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us for a couple of hours in the Sargant room at the back of Standon village hall at 2pm, usually on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Tea & cakes will be available. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 13th April 2023. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130 or Marion on 01920 745683.
Choral Evensong to mark the coronation:
We will be marking the coronation with a special choral evensong on Sunday 23rd April at 6.30 pm in St Mary’s. The music will include 'The mountains shall bring peace', written for the occasion by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.
Mayday in Standon High Street:
The usual Mayday celebrations will take place in Standon on 1st May and we are looking for helpers, please. We need people to welcome in church, to make cakes, to help with teas in the village hall and to prepare and / or serve salads. There’s a sign-up sheet at the back of St Mary’s, or you can contact Caroline (salads), Stephanie (teas) or Keith or Angie (welcoming in church). We’re asking people to commit to an hour at a time, so don’t worry that you’ll be stuck for the whole afternoon (unless you choose to be!) The benefice choir will be singing in St Mary’s at 3.30 pm.
Break for Easter:
Several of our groups are taking a break over the holiday. Little Angels will meet next on 21st April, and our benefice choir will rehearse next on 20th. The café will also rest while the schools are out.
Some news about Charlie:
After much thought and deliberation, Charlie has come to the difficult decision that she will need to finish her curacy elsewhere after her family moves to St Albans in July, and diocesan authorities have agreed with this. The journey to UBSMS from their new home would be around 50 minutes each way and, much as she would dearly love to see her curacy through to its conclusion here, she has realised it would not be sustainable. Her last Sunday will be 9th July.
APCMs and Electoral Roll Revisions:
Before our annual meetings there will be a formal revision of the Electoral Roll in each of our churches. The Electoral Roll is completely renewed every 6 years, next due in 2025. This year the review is a tidying up of the roll. APCM time is a good time to join the Electoral Roll of any of the churches within the Benefice. Being on the Roll allows you to attend the APCM, have your say and play a part in how the church is run. It is also a declaration of support for your church. Paper copies of the enrolment form are available at the back of the churches. Completed forms should be handed to one of the Welcomers or Churchwardens who will make sure it is passed on to the appropriate Electoral Roll Officer.
Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship:
There is a meeting of the DEF in Luton on 27th April at 9am for any who are concerned about the direction taken by the last General Synod. All three of our Bishops will be there. For anyone interested in attending, see John.
Website:
Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page can’t currently be reached but you can find the three churches individually by going to https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/ and clicking the links there.
Services for the next few weeks
Midweek services each week:
Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine's
Wednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary's
Sunday services:
9th April 10.30am Easter holy communion, St Mary's
16th April 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
23rd April 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
6.30pm Coronation choral evensong, St Mary's
30th April 10.30am Holy communion, St Catherine's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
7th May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
14th May 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints