This weekend’s Bible readings:

1 Peter 1:3-9 (p 1217) and John 20:19-31 (p 1089)

APCM reports:

It’s time to send 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.

Choral Evensong to mark the coronation:

We will be marking the coronation with a special choral evensong next 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.

Sunday lunch at the Star:

Heather’s next Sunday lunch will be on Sunday 23rd April at 12.15pm at The Star Standon. If you would like to join them please let Heather know by Monday 17th April. Tel 07909 065550.

Midweek Music at St Mary’s 26th April:

Our next recital is on Wednesday week. Light refreshments will be served from 11.30 and the recital by Peter and Nick Hudson will take place at 12.30. All are welcome.

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.

APCMs and Electoral Roll Revisions:

In advance of our annual meetings the formal revision of the Electoral Roll is underway in each of our churches. This year the review is a tidying up of the roll. 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:

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