Welcome! Please welcome William and his family and supporters. William’s parents, Lisa and Niall, were baptised in the river a few weeks ago; William will be baptised in a more conventional way this weekend - at the font!Please also welcome members of the Roger de Clare Worship Club. This morning, they will be leading us in a song they’ve been singing in school. The club meets in school on Thursday lunchtimes under the leadership of the Red Balloon team. They would love some local church people to help out – please speak to John if you think that might be you.This weekend’s Bible reading: Isaiah 2:1-5 (p 686)Traidcraft pop-up shop: The pop-up shop will be back in church this Sunday, 27th November. There will be Traidcraft items for sale (fair trade) and Christian gifts. Payment can be made by cash or bank transfer or even an IOU! You can also order Traidcraft items through Marion. See the website: https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/Advent service this weekend: This Sunday at 6.30pm please join us for a special Advent service at St Mary's. Music and readings will help us to mark the beginning of this special season as we prepare to welcome the Christ child at Christmas.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 on 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.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.Walking Advent calendar: If you are still wondering which carol you want to illustrate for your Walking Advent Window, please just choose from the list in the November/December Newsletter (there are copies at the back of St Mary's). Contact Rebecca at benefice.administrator@ubsms.org.uk. Feel free to use a previous window, you won't win the prize but so many were so good!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.Midweek Music at St Mary’s: Thank you to all who supported the concert last Wednesday. There are plans to hold another one in January – watch this space!Sacombe coffee morning 26th November: Thank you, too, to all who supported the Sacombe coffee morning on Saturday. We will let you know when we have a final figure for the amount raised.FOSM coffee morning: We can now report that the FOSM coffee morning and sale raised just over £1,300. Thank you again to all who supported it in any way.Robin’s funeral: Robin’s funeral will take place on 8th December, and his family is keen to invite everyone to the Crown & Falcon after the service. It’s impossible to estimate numbers, so they would appreciate a rough idea if we’re able to supply it. If you think you might accept the invitation, please let Caroline know. This is not a commitment either way; just an informal straw poll to help with catering.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:27th November 10.30am All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Advent service, St Mary's4th 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
John is not with us this Sunday; he is preaching at the Justice service in St Albans Abbey as part of his duty as the Chaplain to the High Sheriff.Please welcome Richard Prince, who will be playing the organ for our 10.30 communion service. This weekend’s Bible readings:Colossians 1:9-20 (p 1182) and Luke 23:33-43 (p 1060)All age service next Sunday: Members of the new Roger de Clare worship club will be taking part in our service next Sunday in St Mary’s. Please come and support them, and also William, who will be baptised.Advent service next Sunday: On Sunday 27th November at 6.30pm please join us for a special Advent service at St Mary's. Music and readings will help us to mark the beginning of this special season as we prepare to welcome the Christ child at Christmas.Volunteers sought for school clubs: We are still looking for some volunteers from the church family to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. If this is something you would like to be involved in, please speak to John or Caroline. We would ideally like enough to create a rota, so that the same people don’t have to commit every week.Midweek Music at St Mary’s: This Wednesday, 23rd November in St Mary’s Standon, there will be a short concert of light piano and organ music played by Michael Smith at 12.30. Coffee and light refreshments will be served from 11.30. Do come along for a coffee and chat and to enjoy the music.Sacombe coffee morning 26th November: Sacombe will hold its annual Christmas Coffee Morning and Sale on Saturday 26th November, 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be cards, cakes, gifts and bric-a-brac available, as well as the opportunity to chat over tea or coffee. Orders will be taken for fresh table decorations, which will be available shortly before Christmas. If you have any unwanted items lurking in your cupboards, any gifts of bric-a-brac etc. for the stall will be gratefully received by members of St Catherine's.Robin’s funeral: We were very sad to hear that Robin died last Sunday evening. His funeral will take place on 8th December, and his family is keen to invite anyone who would like to come to the Crown & Falcon after the service. It’s impossible to estimate numbers, so they would appreciate a rough idea if we’re able to supply it. If you think you might accept the invitation, please let Caroline know. This is not a commitment either way; just an informal straw poll to help with catering.FOSM coffee morning: Thank you to all who supported the FOSM coffee morning and sale. We will let you know how much was raised as soon as we have the final figure. (In case you were wondering, the elephant is Edwin, and there were 154 sweets in the jar – congratulations to the two winners!)Shoeboxes thank you: Thank you to everyone who contributed to the shoeboxes. There are now 155 shoeboxes in Lizzy’s living room, ready to be collected on Sunday afternoon. Please pray for them as they head off to the warehouse and then on their journey to the children who will receive them.Walking Advent calendar: Once again, we are inviting people in Standon and Puckeridge to take part in a Walking Advent Calendar. A leaflet has been delivered to everyone in Standon and Puckeridge and spare copies are available at the back of St Mary’s. If you’d like to dress a window, please speak to Sue, who is coordinating it, or register with Rebecca (contact details in the leaflet).New Seasons support group: New Seasons is a group for those who have been bereaved by losing a partner, either recently or many years ago. It meets on the third Thursday each month from 3 until 5 in Standon Village Hall for tea and cake. This is a lively group whose members support each other with lots of chat and laughter. They are also there to support each other with any problems that may need to be overcome. If you would like to know more please phone Heather 07909 065550 or Rita 01920 821722.ANCC Carol service: All Nations is inviting us all, in person or online, to their carol service on Wednesday 30th November at 7.30 pm. Jade has fliers and will answer any questions you have.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:20th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints27th November 10.30am All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Advent service, St Mary's4th 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 SaintsDetails of our Christmas services are listed on a separate flier, available at the back of all our churches. We will include them here from next weekend.
This weekend’s Bible readings: All Saints: Micah 4:1-5 (p 932) and Matthew 5:1-12 (p 968) St Mary’s: Ephesians 2:13-22 (p 1174)Remembrance services: Once again, we will hold services in each of our churches this weekend.- At 9.30, we will meet in All Saints. After the service and a cup of coffee we walk down to the war memorial in the village to join with the Parish Council and local residents for a short act of remembrance at 11.00.- At 10.30 in St Mary’s we will welcome representatives of the uniformed organisations for a special service of remembrance.- At 3.00 we will meet by the memorial in the churchyard at St Catherine’s for a short outdoor service.- The Centre will meet, as usual, at 4.00 in All Saints.All are welcome at any of these.Volunteers sought for school clubs: Our partners, Red Balloon, would like us to recruit some volunteers from the church family to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. If this is something you would like to be involved in, please speak to John or Caroline. We would ideally like enough to create a rota, so that the same people don’t have to commit every week.Midweek Music at St Mary’s: On Wednesday 23rd November in St Mary’s Standon, there will be a short concert of light piano and organ music played by Michael Smith at 12.30. Coffee and light refreshments will be served from 11.30. Do come along for a coffee and chat and to enjoy the music.FOSM coffee morning 19th November: The FOSM coffee morning and sale will be on 19th November, between 10 and 12. Stalls will include cards, decorations, cakes, plants, books and crafts. Tea, coffee and mince pies will be served. Cakes will be welcomed for the cake stall. Please come and support this and the Sacombe one the following week!Sacombe coffee morning 26th November: Sacombe will hold its annual Christmas Coffee Morning and Sale on Saturday 26th November, 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be cards, cakes, gifts and bric-a-brac available, as well as the opportunity to chat over tea or coffee. Orders will be taken for fresh table decorations, which will be available shortly before Christmas. If you have any unwanted items lurking in your cupboards, any gifts of bric-a-brac etc. for the stall will be gratefully received by members of St Catherine's.Walking Advent calendar: Once again, we are inviting people in Standon and Puckeridge to take part in a Walking Advent Calendar. A leaflet has been delivered to everyone in Standon and Puckeridge and spare copies are available at the back of St Mary’s. If you’d like to dress a window, please speak to Sue, who is coordinating it, or register with Rebecca (contact details in the leaflet).Floodlights at St Mary’s: There is much debate currently about lighting the outside of buildings overnight, whether the Blackpool Illuminations or something more modest. The floodlights at St Mary’s are on from dusk (with a light sensor to switch them on) until 2.00 am. This provides additional security, as the High Street is quiet by then and intruders would be more likely to be heard. The lights are low energy, and we have calculated that, based on 6 hours per night, they cost less than £70 per year to run. In the context of our annual electricity bills of over £5,000 that seems a not unreasonable usage of power (or cost) for peace of mind at a time when so many churches are losing lead from their roofs.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:13th November 9.30am Remembrance service followed by an Act of Remembrance at war memorial, All Saints10.30am Remembrance service, St Mary's3.00pm Act of remembrance, St Catherine's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints20th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints27th November 10.30am All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Advent service, St Mary's4th 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 SaintsDetails of our Christmas services are listed on a separate flier, available at the back of all our churches.
This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 (p 1186) Luke 20:27-38 (p 1056) New secretary for The Mundens: Now that Ray has become treasurer, the secretary role for The Mundens PCC has been taken by Jeremy. Congratulations to Jeremy! Volunteers sought for school clubs: Our partners, Red Balloon, would like us to recruit some volunteers from the church family to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. If this is something you would like to be involved in, please speak to John or Caroline. We would ideally like enough to create a rota, so that the same people don’t have to commit every week.Operation Christmas Child: It's now just two weeks until the shoeboxes will be collected and taken to the distribution centre to be checked, packed and sent off on their journey. There are currently 109 filled shoeboxes ready to go, but if you would still like to take part, please do speak to Lizzy. You can fill a whole shoebox, provide things to go in a shoebox, or contribute financially to the cost of transportation. Thank you as always for all your support.Concert for Remembrance, 12th November in St Mary’s: Our own Michael Smith will conduct Royston Choral Society singing Durufle’s Requiem in Standon next Saturday at 7.30 pm. Posters and fliers are available in our churches, and tickets are available from Caroline.Remembrance services: Once again, we will hold services in each of our churches on 13th November. At 9.30, we will meet in All Saints. After the service and a cup of coffee we walk down to the war memorial in the village to join with the Parish Council and local residents for a short act of remembrance at 11.00.At 10.30 in St Mary’s we will welcome representatives of the uniformed organisations for a special service of remembrance.At 3.00 we will meet by the memorial in the churchyard at St Catherine’s for a short outdoor service. The Centre will meet, as usual, at 4.00 in All Saints.All are welcome at any of these.Midweek Music at St Mary’s: On Wednesday 23rd November in St Mary’s Standon, there will be a short concert of light piano and organ music played by Michael Smith at 12.30. Coffee and light refreshments will be served from 11.30. Do come along for a coffee and chat and to enjoy the music.FOSM coffee morning 19th November: We have two Christmas shopping opportunities coming soon! The FOSM coffee morning and sale will be on 19th November, between 10 and 12. Stalls will include cards, decorations, cakes, plants, books and crafts. Tea, coffee and mince pies will be served. Please come and support this and the Sacombe one the following week!Sacombe coffee morning 26th November: Sacombe will hold its annual Christmas Coffee Morning and Sale on Saturday 26th November, 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be cards, cakes, gifts and bric-a-brac available, as well as the opportunity to chat over tea or coffee. Orders will be taken for fresh table decorations, which will be available shortly before Christmas. If you have any unwanted items lurking in your cupboards, any gifts of bric-a-brac etc. for the stall will be gratefully received by members of St Catherine's.Walking Advent calendar: Once again, we are inviting people in Standon and Puckeridge to take part in a Walking Advent Calendar. If you’d like to dress a window, please speak to Sue, who is coordinating it. A leaflet is being delivered to everyone in Standon and Puckeridge and spare copies are available at the back of St Mary’s.FOSM Christmas cards: The Friends of St Mary’s have commissioned Christmas cards featuring photos of three of the stained glass windows in Standon church. They are on sale from Diana or at the coffee morning on 19th, £1 each or £5 for 6.Help sought with St Mary’s brasses: Ann B looks after our brasses at St Mary’s with loving care, but she would appreciate some help with the polishing. Brian did help her, but he is too unwell to continue for now. If you’d like to know more, please speak to Ann.New bookshop at ANCC: All Nations and St Andrews Bookshops have joined forces to open a Christian bookshop at All Nations Christian College. It will open this Wednesday, 9th November, initially with limited hours on Wednesday afternoons (1:30-4:30pm) and Saturday mornings (9:30am-12:30pm).New date for Charlie’s operation: Charlie has a new date: 17th January 2023. Please pray for Charlie’s health over the busy Christmas period and in the run up to 17th January.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 thereServices 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:6th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints13th November 9.30am Remembrance service followed by an Act of remembrance at the war memorial, All Saints10.30am Remembrance service, St Mary's3.00pm Act of remembrance, St Catherine's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints20th November 8.00pm 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints27th November 10.30am All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Advent service, St Mary's4th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All SaintsDetails of our Christmas services are listed on a separate flier, available at the back of all our churches.