This weekend’s Bible readings: Psalm 149 (p 634) Ephesians 1:11-23 (p 1173)The Centre this weekend: The Centre folk will join us at St Catherine’s this weekend, and won’t meet in the afternoon.Walking Advent calendar: Once again, we will be inviting people to take part in a Walking Advent Calendar in the run up to Christmas. If you’d like to dress a window, please speak to Sue, who is coordinating it. The leaflet to be delivered to everyone in Standon and Puckeridge will be at the back of St Mary’s by Sunday morning 30th October. Please will the deliverers collect and deliver them asap and if there are any problems, let Sue know on 07754 072148 or 01920 318674, or email suegeddes@hotmail.com.Remembrance services: Once again, we will be holding 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.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.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 on Wednesday 9th November, initially with limited hours on Wednesday afternoons (1:30-4:30pm) and Saturday mornings (9:30am-12:30pm).Sacombe as a retreat centre! Since the completion of the new facilities, Sacombe people have been hoping that the church can be used as a place of retreat and for other community activities. We recently welcomed a group of Pentecostal Christians from Harlow for a three day retreat. A few people from the benefice accepted an invitation to their Saturday service with a charismatic guest preacher, which was very different from our normal services, noisy and with lots of movement. This was followed by a glorious biryani in the biggest pot ever seen. Once they had left, the church was as clean as ever and they gave us a generous donation. They were lovely people and we hope to build on this early collaboration.No sooner had this booking been made than we had another request, for the church to be used for three days to produce a short film for showing at a forthcoming festival.We are very encouraged that these two very different organisations have been drawn to St Catherine's in this way.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, £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.Reminder of change in financial procedures for Standon and invitation to volunteer: Now that Robin has retired from his post as assistant treasurer, please deliver money or submit expenses claims for Standon to Caroline.We are looking for people willing to take on some or all of Robin’s tasks. These include helping to count the collections, banking money, paying bills, reading the electricity meter, keeping the cash book up to date. If you would like to know more, please speak to Caroline.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: Lizzy is now packing shoeboxes of gifts to be sent abroad to children in places where Christmas is not going to be easy, because of war or natural disaster. If you’d like to know more about the Samaritan’s Purse scheme, please speak to Lizzy. Filled boxes, empty boxes or anything to go into boxes can be left with Lizzy or Caroline, or in St Mary’s for her to pick up.Concert for Remembrance, 12th November in St Mary’s: Our own Michael Smith will conduct Royston Choral Society singing Durufle’s Requiem in Standon on 12th November at 7.30 pm. Posters and fliers are available in our churches, and tickets are available from Caroline.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:30th October 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's6th 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 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 8.00am 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's
This weekend’s Bible readings: 10.30: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 (p 1197);Evensong: Romans 15:1-6 (p 1141) Luke 4:1-21 (p 1030)Please welcome Hadley and his family and God-parents as he is baptised during our family service this week. Please pray for Hadley, who faces health challenges, and his parents as they care for him.Clocks change next weekend: Please remember, or you’ll be very early for the service!A pop-up shop to start on 23rd October at St Mary's: Marion is starting a pop-up shop selling Traidcraft products and Christian books and gifts. Traidcraft sells handmade, ethical & fair trade products, from home furnishings and fashion items to yummy chocolate and biscuits, ensuring that the producers are fairly paid. The other books and gifts on sale will be sourced from Eden, an online Christian shop. So many Christian Bookshops are sadly now closing down that we hope this will be of use. You will also be able to order further Christian books and gifts and Traidcraft items via Marion. We are hoping that this will be on a monthly basis with the first pop up shop will be being after the 10.30 service at St Mary's this weekend. Any profits made will go to the local foodbank. Please support this if you can.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, £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.Change in financial procedures for Standon: Sadly, Robin is now in Isabel Hospice in Welwyn and cannot continue in his role as assistant treasurer. If you need to deliver money or submit expenses claims to Standon, please give them to Caroline rather than to Robin. Please pray for Robin and those who are caring for him. Pray, too, for the person whom God is preparing to take on this role. If you would like to know more about what is entailed, please speak to Caroline.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: Lizzy is now packing shoeboxes of gifts to be sent abroad to children in places where Christmas is not going to be easy, because of war or natural disaster. If you’d like to know more about the Samaritan’s Purse scheme, please speak to Lizzy. Filled boxes, empty boxes or anything to go into boxes can be left with Lizzy or Caroline, or in St Mary’s for her to pick up.Community choir: A new community choir is being formed by David Ranford. It will rehearse in St Mary’s, starting this Wednesday at 7.30 pm. Any are welcome to come along and try it out. The new choir will take part in a concert sponsored by the High Sheriff on 15th December in St Mary’s.Concert at St Michael’s, Bishop’s Stortford 29th October: This concert will take place at 7.00 pm on Saturday 29th October. Theo Tinkler will play J. S. Bach Cello Suite no.1 in G major and there will be music by Domenico Gabrielli and Dall'Abaco. There is a poster at the back of church.Concert for Remembrance, 12th November in St Mary’s: Our own Michael Smith will conduct Royston Choral Society singing Durufle’s Requiem in Standon on 12th November at 7.30 pm. Posters and fliers are available in our churches, and tickets are available from Caroline.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:23rd October 10.30am All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Choral evensong, St Mary's30th October 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's6th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints13th November 10.30am Holy Communion, St Mary'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 All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Advent service, St Mary's
Richard Prince will be playing the organ for our service in All Saints. Please make him welcome.This weekend’s Bible readings: Psalm 121 (p 622); Luke 18:1-8 (p 1052)Change in financial procedures for Standon: Sadly, Robin is now in Isabel Hospice in Welwyn and cannot continue in his role as assistant treasurer. If you need to deliver money or submit expenses claims to Standon, please give them to Caroline rather than to Robin. Please pray for Robin and those who are caring for him. Pray, too, for the person whom God is preparing to take on this role. If you would like to know more about what is entailed, please speak to Caroline.Retreat at Sacombe: Harlow Pentecostal Church is holding a retreat in St Catherine’s this weekend. Please pray for them as they take time out to be with God in this special space.Half term break: There will be no Little Angels session on Friday 28th October, and no café on 26th, because of half term.A pop-up shop to start on 23rd October at St Mary's: Marion is starting a pop-up shop selling Traidcraft products and Christian books and gifts. Traidcraft sells handmade, ethical & fair trade products, from home furnishings and fashion items to yummy chocolate and biscuits, ensuring that the producers are fairly paid. The other books and gifts on sale will be sourced from Eden, an online Christian shop. So many Christian Bookshops are sadly now closing down that we hope this will be of use. You will also be able to order further Christian books and gifts and Traidcraft items via Marion. We are hoping that this will be on a monthly basis with the first pop up shop will be being after the 10.30 service at St Mary's on Sunday 23rd October. Any profits made will go to the local foodbank. Please support this if you can.Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather’s next Sunday lunch at the Star will be on 23rd October. If you would like to book a place please let Heather know by Monday 17th October on 07909 065550 or heatherjackson24@yahoo.co.uk.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.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: Lizzy is now packing shoeboxes of gifts to be sent abroad to children in places where Christmas is not going to be easy, because of war or natural disaster. If you’d like to know more about the Samaritan’s Purse scheme, please speak to Lizzy. Filled boxes, empty boxes or anything to go into boxes can be left with Lizzy or Caroline, or in St Mary’s for her to pick up.Concert at St Michael’s, Bishop’s Stortford 29th October: This concert will take place at 7.00 pm on Saturday 29th October. Theo Tinkler will play J. S. Bach Cello Suite no.1 in G major and there will be music by Domenico Gabrielli and Dall'Abaco. There is a poster at the back of church.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:16th October 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints23rd October 10.30am All age service, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Choral evensong, St Mary's30th October 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's6th November 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints13th November 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
Once again this weekend, we are providing cover for our friends in neighbouring parishes. Steve Bate (Rector of Much Hadham, Little Hadham and Albury) has tested positive for Covid, so Charlie is taking services in Much Hadham and Little Hadham, and Caroline is in Braughing, as previously planned. Please pray for Steve’s swift recovery.Edward Dodge will be playing the organ for our service in St Mary’s. Please make him welcome.This weekend’s Bible readings:2 Timothy 2:8-15 (p 1196); Luke 17:11-19 (p 1051)Change in financial procedures for Standon:Sadly, Robin is not well enough to continue in his role as assistant treasurer and has stood down. If you need to deliver money or submit expenses claims to Standon, please give them to Caroline rather than to Robin. Please pray for Robin and those who are caring for him. Pray, too, for the person whom God is preparing to take on this role. If you would like to know more about what is entailed, please speak to Caroline.Congratulations!Cliff’s son, Matthew, is being licensed this weekend as a Reader in Nottingham. Please pray for Matthew and the other Readers being licensed this weekend.October lunchtime concerts:Thank you to all who have supported the lunchtime concerts so far.The remaining concert is on Saturday 15th October: A10 Strings directed by David Boarder.The concert begins at 12.30pm (retiring collection). Lunch (suggested donation £5) is available from 12.00.Retreat at Sacombe:Harlow Pentecostal Church will be holding a retreat in St Catherine’s from 14th-15th and maybe 16th October. They have invited everyone who is interested to their Saturday morning session and lunch afterwards. Please speak to Derek for more information.A pop-up shop to start on 23rd October at St Mary's:Marion is starting a pop-up shop selling Traidcraft products and Christian books and gifts. Traidcraft sells handmade, ethical & fair trade products, from home furnishings and fashion items to yummy chocolate and biscuits, ensuring that the producers are fairly paid. The other books and gifts on sale will be sourced from Eden, an online Christian shop. So many Christian Bookshops are sadly now closing down that we hope this will be of use. You will also be able to order further Christian books and gifts and Traidcraft items via Marion. We are hoping that this will be on a monthly basis with the first pop up shop will be being after the 10.30 service at St Mary's on Sunday 23rd October. Any profits made will go to the local foodbank. Please support this if you can.Sunday lunch at the Star:Heather’s next Sunday lunch at the Star will be on 23rd October. If you would like to book a place please let Heather know by Monday 17th October on 07909 065550 or heatherjackson24@yahoo.co.uk.Will you take his call:St Albans Diocese is hosting its annual event ‘Will you take His call?’ on Saturday morning, 5th November in Colney Heath, St Albans. It is aimed at anyone who is reflecting on God’s call in their life, whether that may be to a role within your church community or to a wider ministry. Following a keynote address from Bishop Richard there will be a range of short introductory talks from ordained and lay ministers and people working in paid and volunteer lay roles, with opportunities to ask questions of each of them. Refreshments and lunch are provided. More information is available on the Dioceses website. The event is free but people do need to register via Eventbrite https://willyoutakehiscall2022.eventbrite.co.uk.Concert at St Michael’s, Bishop’s Stortford 29th October:This concert will take place at 7.00 pm on Saturday 29th October. Theo Tinkler will play J. S. Bach Cello Suite no.1 in G major and there will be music by Domenico Gabrielli and Dall'Abaco. There is a poster at the back of church.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.