A very happy New Year to everyone, and welcome to the first notices sheet of 2025.This weekend’s Bible readings: Isaiah 60:1-7 (p 746) and Matthew 2:1-12 (p 966)Midweek services: Please note that our midweek services are back this week, starting a new series looking at the middle chapters of Acts. All are welcome, and maps will be provided!Thank you: Thank you to all who have worked so hard to make the Christmas services and events so special this year. Our choir, organists, bell ringers, flower arrangers, church cleaners, Christingle makers and so many more have given hours of their time so that we can celebrate the coming of the baby, the Prince of Peace. As we start out on a new year, please pray for his peace across our hurting world.And thinking ahead: Please remember as the cards are taken down, that Lizzy saves used stamps for the EDS Society and the St Catherine’s folk recycle cards to create new ones. Either can be left at the back of our churches if you don’t see those people.Midweek Music 5th Wednesday this month: Please note that Midweek Music is on 29th January. Refreshments will be served from 11.30 and the concert will take place at 12.30.Rotas: As we enter this new year of 2025, please bear in mind that many of our rotas of helpers are running short-handed. Please consider whether you can help, whether with cleaning our churches, making coffee, arranging flowers, helping at café or in the churchyard or in any other way. Without people to undertake these tasks, we can’t do our core work of sharing the gospel. If you can spare a couple of hours, or if you’re willing to help out on Sundays, please speak to one of the church wardens, or anyone you see doing it at the moment!Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather is organising our next Sunday lunch at the Star on 26th January. If you would like a place please let Heather know by Monday 20th January (07909 065550).Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:5th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints12th January 10.30am Holy Communion, St Mary’s19th January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30am Holy Communion, All Saints26th January 10.30am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00pm Choral Evensong, St Mary’s2nd January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
This weekend, we are delighted to welcome Teddy and his family and supporters to our 10.30 service, where Teddy will be baptised. Please pray for Teddy, his parents and his God-parents as they take this important step.This weekend’s Bible readings: Isaiah 12:2-6 (p 697) and Luke 1:46-55 (p 1026)Carol Services coming up: After a lovely carol service last weekend at Little Munden, this Sunday we have our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 6.00 in Standon, and on Tuesday at 7.30 we have our Carols by Candlelight at Sacombe. Please invite anyone you know who might like to come along.Please see the lists below to remind you what else is happening over the next two few days. There are lots of services yet to come!Christingle preparation: A team will be making Christingles on 23rd December at 10.30 am in St Mary’s. If you can help, please speak to Basma.Midweek services: Please note there will be no midweek services this week (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) or next (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day). After that, we will start our series looking at the middle chapters of Acts. Maps will be provided!Midweek Music: Please note that there is no Midweek Music concert this month. The next one will be on Wednesday 29th January.Two weeks’ notices sheet: Please also note that this sheet will cover two weeks. There will not be one on 29th December.And thinking ahead: Please remember as the cards arrive and, in time, as they are taken down, that Lizzy saves used stamps for the EDS Society and the St Catherine’s folk recycle cards to create new ones. Either can be left at the back of our churches if you don’t see those people.New Year resolutions: As you consider your plans for 2025, please bear in mind that many of our rotas of helpers are running short-handed. Please consider whether you can help, whether with cleaning our churches, making coffee, helping at café or in the churchyard or in any other way. Without people to undertake these tasks, we can’t do our core work of sharing the gospel. We’ll include a list of particular needs in the New Year. (So, if you coordinate a team that needs more volunteers, please let Caroline know and she’ll add it to the list!)Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather is organising our next Sunday lunch at the Star on 26th January. If you would like a place please let Heather know by Monday 20th January (07909 065550). There will not be a lunch in December.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sPlease note there will be no midweek services on 24th or 25th, 31st or 1st! Sunday services:10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's29th December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's5th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints12th January 10.30am Holy Communion, St Mary’s19th January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30am Holy Communion, All Saints26th January 10.30am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00pm Choral Evensong, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible readings: Isaiah 12:2-6 (p 697) and Luke 1:46-55 (p 1026)Christmas Crackers: Our combined choirs performed a joyful and enjoyable concert on Thursday evening.The retiring collection for the Buntingford and Villages Food Hub raised £700 for this important work.Carol Services and other events coming up: Our first carol service is this weekend, at 6.00 on Sunday at Little Munden. Please invite anyone you know who might like to come along.Please see the lists below to remind you what else is happening over the next two weeks. There are lots of services and events!Christingle preparation: A team will be making Christingles on 23rd December at 10.30 am in St Mary’s. If you can help, please speak to Basma.Midweek Music: Please note that there is no Midweek Music concert this month. The next one will be on Wednesday 29th January.Next week’s notices sheet: Please also note that next week’s sheet will cover two weeks. There will not be one on 29th December.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's29th December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's5th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints12th January 10.30am Holy Communion, St Mary’s19th January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30am Holy Communion, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 John 2:28-3:3 (p 1226) and Mark 13:32-37 (p 1019)Christmas trees: Please remember that Christmas trees are on sale this weekend at Sacombe Green, with proceeds going to St Catherine’s. Come and see what is available!Christmas Crackers 12th December, 7.00 pm: Our combined choirs concert will take place in St Mary’s on Thursday evening at 7.00 pm. Please join us as the Standon Sing Community Choir, the Rib Singers and our own Benefice Choir join forces for this celebration of Christmas. The concert is free, with a retiring collection for the Buntingford and Villages Food Hub and Community Support (previously the Buntingford Food Bank). FOSM will serve mulled wine and mince pies in the interval.Little Christmas Angels 14th December: The Little Angels Christmas event will take place on Saturday between 10 and 12 in St Mary’s. Children of all ages are welcome with their grown-ups, and they will be making lanterns that they can use at Carols round the tree or our Christingle services.And Carol Services coming up: Please take fliers for our Christmas services and invite friends and neighbours to celebrate with us. Lots of people love a carol service, and we would love to welcome them to our churches.Christingle preparation: A team will be making Christingles on 23rd December at 10.30 am in St Mary’s. If you can help, please speak to Basma.Café Christmas break: This week’s will be the last Wednesday café at Little Munden before the holiday.Building work at St Catherine’s: The scaffolding has gone up at St Catherine’s! The work has started on the quinquennial recommendations, and the scaffolding will be in place for several months. We also have some scaffolding up at All Saints, for more minor works. Please take care as you approach our churches at this busy time.Sacombe coffee morning: The recent Advent coffee morning at St Catherine’s raised £1,700. Thank you to all who supported it. We are still a little short of the funds required for the building work, but we hope that by the time the money is needed it will be raised.Trees in our churchyards: Tree surgeons will be working in both Standon and Little Munden churchyards over the weeks to come, so please take care.Knit & Natter 12th December: The group will meet on Thursday at 2pm in the Sargant room (at the back of Standon village hall). Tea & cakes will be available. For more information please contact Marion on 01920 745683.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:8th December 100.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's29th December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's5th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
