Weekly News - 30th April 2023

This weekend’s Bible readings:

1 Peter 1:17-23 (p 1217)

Mayday in Standon High Street:

The usual Mayday celebrations will take place in Standon on 1st May and we are still 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 (vegetarian 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!)

May Day Music in St Mary’s Standon Monday 1st May:

1.30pm Piano duets played by Marion and Michael Smith

2.00pm The church bells will be rung

2.30pm Standon Sing directed by David Ranford

3.00pm Organ music played by Thomas Martyn Stephens

3.30pm Members of the choir of our United Benefice will sing songs and anthems

New sermon & discussion series midweek:

We are about to start a new series of talks and discussions in our weekday service at St Catherine’s on Tuesdays and in St Mary’s on Wednesdays at 9.30 am. We will be looking the seven sayings in John’s gospel known as the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus, which invite us to think carefully about who he is. Everyone is welcome.

APCM reports:

If you would like copies of the Standon papers by email (saving on paper and photocopying) please email either Lizzy at [email protected] or Caroline by replying to the email sending this sheet.

Visitors in St Mary’s: welcomers sought:

The Hertfordshire Geological society and The East Herts Geology Club will be visiting on Saturday 13 May, arriving at about 11 am. They will be looking at the pudding stone, but plan to visit St Mary’s too. It would be good if someone could be there to welcome them. If you would like to do that, please speak to John.

“A lifetime in the making” All Saints Church, morning and afternoon Saturday 27th May:

Barbara Springate will be showing and speaking about the silk quilt she has been making for a lifetime! The quilt includes silk that was in the Abbey for the Queen’s coronation in 1953. Barbara also helped make the Archbishop of York’s cope for the occasion. She will tell her story twice on 27th May. In the morning, tea and coffee (and cake, of course!) will be served from 10.30 and Barbara will speak at 11.30. In the afternoon, refreshments will begin at 2.00 and Barbara will speak at 3.00. Donations will be invited for All Saints.

Two events for garden lovers on 10th June:

The annual Open Gardens event will take place in Standon, starting at 11.00 am and finishing at 5.00 pm. Posters and fliers are available in all our churches.

Then at 7.00 pm the same evening Sacombe will be hosting a talk by Graham Burton who is the gardener at Sacombe House. It will be titled ‘Restoring a Devon Garden’ covering his previous job in doing exactly that. There will be refreshments afterwards. More details will follow nearer the time.

Oasis Women’s Morning 17th June:

we will host a morning of renewal, refreshment, worship, Bible study and testimony from 10.00 until 1.00 on Saturday 17th June in All Saints Church. Why not step aside and come together with others to spend some time with God? More details are available from Gaby (07821 546518) or Deborah (07956 686749).

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:

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

21st May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's

10.30am Holy communion, All Saints

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints

28th May 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints

6.30pm Songs of Praise, St Mary's