A very happy new year to all!Please note that the road between Dane End and Levens Green is closed due to a burst water main. If you’re travelling to All Saints for the 10.30 service, please use another route.This weekend’s Bible readings: Isaiah 63:7-9 (p 749) and Matthew 2:13-23 (p 966)Midweek services and activities: Our midweek services will resume this week, but the schools don’t go back until Thursday, so the café will restart next week, 11th January. Please see below for more details about our Tuesday and Wednesday topics for the next few months.Stamps and postcards for TLM: Gwen has received a letter from TLM to let us know that they will no longer be collecting used stamps and postcards after this year.We suggest that in future stamps could be handed in at the Community coffee morning or at Standon post office who collect for charity, or given to Lizzy, who collects them for EDS research.Di has found a recipient for postcards; Medical Missionary News (MMN) collects them. If someone is willing to act as co-ordinator for this, please speak to Caroline or Di, who have details of where to send them.Volunteers still sought: As well as hospital transport (see below), our in-house teams are still looking for volunteers on many fronts.- If you can help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school, please speak to John or Caroline. This request has been running for some time, but we do need people from the church family to be involved, to help create relationships between the benefice and these children.- If you are willing to bake for the café, please speak to Deborah or Rebecca.- If you are willing to join our Sunday reading, intercession or coffee making rotas, please speak to the church wardens.- If there’s another job you can see would be helpful, and are willing to undertake it, please speak to John!Standon and Puckeridge Hospital Transport Scheme: HELP - MORE DRIVERS NEEDED: This is a small band of volunteers who take people registered at the Health Centre on Station Road, Puckeridge, to medical appointments. They offer a ‘there and back’ service to hospitals, clinics and the Health Centre. Generally, the time taken is between 1 and 3 hours depending on the destination.Drivers are reimbursed at a mileage rate of 45p per mile for their door to door round trip. Please speak to Wendy or contact her on 07922 519174 to either offer your services or find out more. Thank you.Concert in memory of Len Sparks: We have a new date for the concert which had to be postponed from the autumn. It is 4th February. Tickets will be available soon.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 weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sFor the next few weeks, we will be looking in our midweek services at the later chapters of Acts. Often, study of the book of Acts doesn’t get to the latter part, so we will start at chapter 21. Please join us if you’d like to explore these passages with us.Sunday services:1st January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints8th January 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints15th January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints22nd January 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Choral evensong, St Mary's29th January 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's
This weekend’s Bible readings: Psalm 80 (p 592) and Matthew 1:18-25 (p 965)Advent appeal: We have supported the foodbank for a number of years, and never has the demand for their services been greater than it is now. Karen and her team support families in our villages as well as in Buntingford and other surrounding villages. Last year, our advent appeal raised enough for us to organise online grocery deliveries well into this year, and that has made a significant difference to the support Karen is able to offer. In the last 12 months, we have funded over £5,000 of those deliveries, as well as the groceries we have collected in the boxes in our churches.Key facts: Each box of goods they deliver to a family costs £30-£50; They support approximately 70 families each month - this is increasing month on month.You can support our appeal- by leaving contributions in the boxes in our churches,- by collecting an item each day during advent, to be delivered after Christmas (Reverse Advent Calendar),- by contributing financially online,- by giving a financial contribution to any of our treasurers or- by putting financial contributions in the appeal envelopes and into the collection bag.There are fliers at the back of all our churches. Please ask Caroline if you would like more information.Christmas Crackers 15th December: Thank you to everyone who supported the concert on Thursday evening. More than £1,000 was donated to the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, and FOSM raised £332 from serving refreshments.St Mary’s Carol service next THURSDAY: Please remember that our carol services are not on Sundays this year. The one in St Mary’s is on Thursday evening, 22nd December, at 7.00pm. Please join us if you can for this candlelit celebration of the Christmas story.Walking Advent calendar: Have you seen all the Walking Advent Windows yet? Have you or your dog, children or Grandma found and noted where the Baby Jesus are hiding? If not, then there’s time to get out and have a good look again. You'll have the chance to show how observant you are at the Christingle service at St Mary's on Saturday 24th December 5.00pm. A prize is waiting there for the best window. The windows will stay up over the Christmas holiday for your chance to walk off the turkey! https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/page/79423/view/Carols round the tree in Standon High Street 20th December: This year, we will gather at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 20th in Standon High Street to sing carols round the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the date has inadvertently been missed out of the PS magazine, so please let friends and neighbours know when it is.Christingle preparation Friday 23rd December: We need helpers, please, at 2pm in St. Mary’s church. Please see John if you can help with this. We need lots of helpers to prepare for both services!Stamps and postcards for TLM: Gwen has received a letter from TLM to let us know that they will no longer be collecting used stamps and postcards after this year.We suggest that in future stamps could be handed in at the Community coffee morning or at Standon post office who collect for charity, or given to Lizzy, who collects them for EDS research. We don't know of anyone who wants postcards; if you do, please let us know.Volunteers still sought for school clubs: We are still looking for volunteers to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. Please speak to John or Caroline.Concert in memory of Len Sparks: We have a new date for the concert which had to be postponed from the autumn. It is 4th February. Tickets will be available in the New Year.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 weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sChristmas services18th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints22nd December (Thursday) 7.00pm Nine lessons & carols, St Mary's24th December (Saturday) 3.00pm Christingle, All Saints5.00pm Christingle, St Mary's7.30pm Carols by candlelight, St Catherine's11.30pm Midnight communion, St Mary's25th December 10.30am Christmas worship & communion, All Saints10.30am Christmas Worship, St Mary'sSunday services:1st January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints8th January 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints15th January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 (p 719) and Matthew 11:2-11 (p 976)Advent appeal: We have supported the foodbank for a number of years, and never has the demand for their services been greater than it is now. Karen and her team support families in our villages as well as in Buntingford and other surrounding villages. Last year, our advent appeal raised enough for us to organise online grocery deliveries well into this year, and that has made a significant difference to the support Karen is able to offer. In the last 12 months, we have funded over £5,000 of those deliveries, as well as the groceries we have collected in the boxes in our churches.Key facts: Each box of goods they deliver to a family costs £30-£50; They support approximately 70 families each month - this is increasing month on month; As of a couple of weeks ago, 137 families were on the list to receive a Christmas hamper from the Foodbank, but this was going up daily so the total will be higher You can support our appeal- by leaving contributions in the boxes in our churches,- by collecting an item each day during advent, to be delivered after Christmas (Reverse Advent Calendar),- by contributing financially online,- by giving a financial contribution to any of our treasurers or- by putting financial contributions in the appeal envelopes and into the collection bag.There are fliers at the back of all our churches. Please ask Caroline if you would like more information.Café Christmas party 14th December: The Wednesday café will celebrate Christmas this week with a special afternoon of activities and refreshments. In addition to the usual tea and coffee, there will be alcohol free mulled wine and mince pies, and a crib service at 4.15. Please come along and join us.Christmas Crackers 15th December, 7.30: Please come and support the new community choir, the benefice choir and the Rib Singers as they present a concert on Thursday. It is free, but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the High Sheriff’s charity. Mulled wine and mince pies will be provided by, and in aid of FOSM.Little Munden Carol service next SATURDAY: Please remember that the carols services are not on Sundays this year. The one in All Saints is on Saturday 17th at 6.00 pm. Please join us if you can for this candlelit celebration of the Christmas story.Libury Hall December Service: Our Christmas Service at Libury Hall this week had to be postponed because of Covid among the staff. The new date will be in Epiphany, on 4th January. A message of love and good wishes, together with a wish for lots of fun and enjoyment through the Christmas season has been sent to the residents of Libury Hall. For further information please speak to Cliff or Diane G.Walking Advent calendar: The Walking Advent Calendar Windows are lighting up our streets in Standon and Puckeridge. Don't miss this wonderful array of imaginative interpretations of carols - a new window opens every day. Take your dog, your children, your Grandma, yourself for a walk day and/or night and be amazed. Just follow the link https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/page/79423/view/. Here you will find the map with the addresses and days. Enjoy!Carols round the tree in Standon High Street 20th December: This year, we will gather at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 20th in Standon High Street to sing carols round the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the date has inadvertently been missed out of the PS magazine, so please let friends and neighbours know when it is.Christingle preparation Friday 23rd December: We need helpers, please, at 2pm in St. Mary’s church. Please see John if you can help with this. We need lots of helpers to prepare for both services!Stamps and postcards for TLM: Gwen has received a letter from TLM to let us know that they will no longer be collecting used stamps and postcards after this year. They write:"Thank you so much for collecting stamps to raise funds for people affected by leprosy. Over the years you have raised thousands of pounds and transformed lives across Africa and Asia - all with stamps!"We suggest that in future stamps could be handed in at the Community coffee morning or at Standon post office who collect for charity, or given to Lizzy, who collects them for EDS research. We don't know of anyone who wants postcards; if you do, please let us know.Volunteers still sought for school clubs: We are still looking for volunteers to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. Please speak to John or Caroline.Concert in memory of Len Sparks: We have a new date for the concert which had to be postponed from the autumn. It is 4th February. Tickets will be available in the New Year.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 weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:11th December 10.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All SaintsChristmas services:17th December (Saturday) 6.00pm Carol service, All Saints18th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints22nd December (Thursday) 7.00pm Nine lessons & carols, St Mary's24th December (Saturday) 3.00pm Christingle, All Saints5.00pm Christingle, St Mary's7.30pm Carols by candlelight, St Catherine's11.30pm Midnight communion, St Mary's25th December 10.30am Christmas worship & communion, All Saints10.30am Christmas worship, St Mary's1st January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints8th January 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 (p 723) and Matthew 3:1-12 (p 967)Advent appeal: We have supported the foodbank for a number of years, and never has the demand for their services been greater than it is now. Karen and her team support families in our villages as well as in Buntingford and other surrounding villages. Last year, our advent appeal raised enough for us to organise online grocery deliveries well into this year, and that has made a significant difference to the support Karen is able to offer. In the last 12 months, we have funded over £5,000 of those deliveries, as well as the groceries we have collected in the boxes in our churches.Key facts: Each box of goods they deliver to a family costs £30-£50; They support approximately 70 families each month - this is increasing month on month; 137 families are currently on the list to receive a Christmas hamper from the Foodbank - this is going up dailyYou can support our appeal- by leaving contributions in the boxes in our churches,- by collecting an item each day during advent, to be delivered after Christmas (Reverse Advent Calendar),- by contributing financially online,- by giving a financial contribution to any of our treasurers or- by putting financial contributions in the appeal envelopes and into the collection bag.There are fliers at the back of all our churches. Please ask Caroline if you would like more information.Libury Hall December Service: Our Christmas Service at Libury Hall will take place at 2.30 pm this Friday, 9th December. A small group of members of our Benefice congregations regularly support our monthly informal services, but the residents are always pleased to be joined by new faces from our churches. Why not join us for this celebration of Christmas, or even for our regular meetings at Libury Hall on the first Wednesday of each month? For further information please speak to Cliff or Diane G.Sale of Christmas trees at Sacombe Green: Christmas trees are available this weekend and next, 3/4 and 10/11 December, between 9am and 4pm at SG12 0JQ. They are organically grown Nordman Firs, of various sizes, and there is no fixed price. Buyers are asked to pay what they consider is a fair amount, and 100% of the proceeds will be divided between the Hertfordshire Community Foundation and St Catherine's Church.Knit & Natter group: If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us for a couple of hours in the Sargent room (at the back of Standon village hall) at 2pm usually on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Tea & cakes will be available. The next one is on 8th December 2022. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130 or Marion on 01920 745683.Christmas crackers: This is a concert of Christmas music to be held on Thursday 15th December at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, introducing Standon Sing Community Choir together with The Benefice Church Choir and Rib Singers Chamber Choir, directed by David Ranford and Michael Smith. The concert will be free, with a retiring collection for the High Sheriff’s Fund at the Hertfordshire Community Foundation.Carols round the tree in Standon High Street 20th December: This year, we will gather at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 20th in Standon High Street to sing carols round the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the date has inadvertently been missed out of the PS magazine, so please let friends and neighbours know when it is. We hope to serve refreshments in church afterwards; if you can help with that, please let Caroline know.Christingle preparation Friday 23rd December: We need helpers, please, at 2pm in St. Mary’s church. Please see John if you can help with this. We need lots of helpers to prepare for both services!Volunteers still sought for school clubs: We are still looking for volunteers to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. Please speak to John or Caroline.Sacombe coffee morning 26th November: Thank you, again, to all who supported the Sacombe coffee morning. Over £1,500 was raised.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 weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:4th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints11th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All SaintsChristmas services17th December (Saturday) 6.00pm Carol service, All Saints18th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints22nd December (Thursday) 7.00pm Nine lessons & carols, St Mary's24th December (Saturday) 3.00pm Christingle, All Saints5.00pm Christingle, St Mary's7.30pm Carols by candlelight, St Catherine's11.30pm Midnight communion, St Mary's25th December 10.30am Christmas worship & communion, All Saints10.30am Christmas worship, St Mary's1st January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints