Weekly News - 5th February 2023

This weekend’s Bible readings: 

Romans 8:18-25 (p 1135) and Matthew 6:25-34 (p 971)

Choral Evensong at St Mary's Ware Sunday 5th February 6.30pm: 

Our choir will join the singers from St Mary's Ware for a special service of Choral Evensong this Sunday. Michael will be leading the music at the service and it would be lovely to worship together with friends from this benefice and Ware. Do come along if you can.

Knit & Natter group 9th February: 

If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us for a couple of hours in 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 9 February 2023. For more information please contact Marion on 01920 745683.

Soup ‘n’ Snowdrops at St Catherine’s, 18th February: 

The Sacombe folk will hold their annual ‘Soup ‘n’ Snowdrops fundraising event on Saturday 18th February, 12.00 – 2.00. Please come along and admire the snowdrops, and enjoy some delicious home-made soups.

Tudor evensong 26th February: 

The weekend of 25th and 26th February will be a celebration of the completion of the restoration work on the Sadleir tombs. The weekend will culminate in a service of evensong on Sunday 26th at 6.30, where we will, as far as is practicable, follow an order of service that would be familiar to Sir Ralph. Bishop Alan will take part, and refreshments will be served afterwards.

Lent course on Wednesday evenings: 

We plan to run a course on Wednesday evenings throughout Lent, venue yet to be determined. All are welcome. Ash Wednesday is on 22nd February and the course will start after that. Please look out for more information in the next couple of weeks.

World Day of Prayer 3rd March: 

This year’s service, prepared by the Christian Women of Taiwan, will be on Friday 3rd March 2023 at 7pm at St. Mary The Virgin Church, Church Lane, Braughing. There will be refreshments after the service. This is a lovely enjoyable, ecumenical service open to all. Margaret is still looking for people to read or take part in the service. If you think this could be you please get in touch on 07791 233338. All are welcome to the service; please put the date in your diary and tell your friends.

Confirmation service in St Mary’s 9th March: 

There will be a confirmation service in St Mary’s on 9th March. The new Bishop of Hertford will be officiating, and we will be welcoming candidates from Bishop’s Stortford as well as our own church family candidates. Please come and support them all if you can.

Volunteers still sought: 

Our in-house teams are still looking for volunteers on many fronts. In particular, we are now turning children away from the clubs at Roger de Clare because we don’t have enough helpers, and there is a waiting list of 15-20 children. If you can help with this or any of the other tasks listed in recent weeks, please speak to John or the appropriate person.

Website: 

Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page is:www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/benefice. Please visit it to see the range of information 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:

5th February 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's

10.30am Morning worship, All Saints

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints

12th February 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints

19th February 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's

10.30am Holy communion, All Saints

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints

26th February 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints

6.30pm Tudor Choral evensong, St Mary's

5th March 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's

10.30am Morning worship, All Saints

4.00pm The Centre, All Saints