This Sunday we welcome Rev Tim Weeks, who will preside at our 8.00 communion service in St Mary’s.This weekend’s Bible readings:Hebrews 12:18-24 (p 1211) Matthew 4:1-12 (p 967)Service of Memories, Sunday at 3:This service will be held on 2nd November at 3.00 pm in St Mary’s.There will be an opportunity to remember loved ones, and to light a candle if you would like to do that. All are welcome, so please tell friends and neighbours.Remembrance services this year:There will only be one service on 9th November. However, we will be holding a special service at St Catherine’s on Tuesday 11th at 10.00 am with participation from the Little Munden School Choir. This service will include an Act of Remembrance by the war memorial at 11.00. As with all our services, all are welcome.Concert for Remembrance 9th November, 3.00 pm in St Mary’s:The Priory Singers will perform a concert of music and readings for Remembrance on Sunday 9th November in St Mary’s at 3.00 pm. The concert is free, with a retiring collection. All are welcome.Caroline has volunteered to provide tea and cake; if you would like to help, please speak to her.Contacts during the vacancy:While we have no Rector, if you have any queries or concerns, please speak to any of our church wardens (it doesn’t matter of which church). If you know of someone who needs a visit, please liaise with Jacqui. We do have access to clergy who will help if needed, so please don’t be put off raising a concern. Please note that Rebecca, our administrator, works flexible hours, but she will respond to emails as soon as she can.Across Britain:On Tuesday, Rev Tim Hall preached at Sacombe. He has drawn our attention to ‘Across Britain’. It says: ‘We are asking Christians to go for a walk – and as they walk to pray and re-dedicate the land to God – right Across Britain. Home by home, farm by farm, street by street, declaring this land is God’s land – seeking his blessing on the place we live in.’ More information is available from across-britain.org.uk.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:2nd November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints9th November 10.30 am Remembrance service, St Mary’s11th November 10.00 am Remembrance service, St Catherine’s16th November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints23rd November 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s30th November 10.30 am Morning worship, St Catherine’s6.00 pm Advent service, St Mary’s7th December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsPlease note there will be no service of Choral evensong on 23rd November, but our Advent service of music and readings will take place at 6.00 pm on 30th November in St Mary’s.Dates & meetings coming up:2nd November, 3.00 pm Service of memories, St Mary’s6th November, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop8th November, 2.00 pm Remembrance colour party rehearsal, St Mary’s9th November, 3.00 pm Concert for Remembrance, St Mary’s12th November, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall12th November, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, All Saints14th November, 12.00 Funeral of Jean Aldridge, St Mary’s17th November, 12.30 pm Funeral of Walter King, St Mary’s26th November, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s29th November, 10.30 – 12.30 Coffee morning & sale, St Catherine’s1st, 2nd, 3rd December, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare Christmas concerts, St Mary’s6th December, 10 – 12 FOSM Christmas Fair, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible reading:2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 (p 1197)Choral evensong this evening:During this time of vacancy, it’s particularly important for us to meet together, to worship and to stay close to each other and God. Come and join us this Sunday for our regular service of Choral Evensong, an ancient and contemplative service of words and music.Vacancy update:A group have been working to prepare the profile which is the document prospective applicants will see to tell them more about our benefice and the Rector we are looking for. The profile will be completed and approved by mid November and we plan to advertise the post in early January.In the meantime, if you would like to contribute to the process, please consider these two questions:1) What do you value about the churches’ presence in this benefice?2) What qualities would you look for in our new Rector?Any responses you are happy to share should be sent as brief bullet points by the end of this weekend to Marion Smith: marionsmith1456@gmail.com.Please speak to any of our wardens or to Michael Smith if you have any questions. Your prayers are most vital in this process. Thank you.Feel the Spirit Concert 1st November, 6.30 pm:Next Saturday, 1st November there will be a concert organised by Michael and involving our Benefice Choir and the Harmonaires Choir to celebrate John Rutter’s 80th birthday and Bob Chilcott’s 70th. There is no charge, but a retiring collection will go to Youth Music.Service of Memories 2nd November:This service will be held on 2nd November at 3.00 pm in St Mary’s.There will be an opportunity to remember loved ones, and to light a candle if you would like to do that. All are welcome, so please tell friends and neighbours.Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal:This year marks 30 years of Lizzy’s involvement in the OCC shoebox appeal! She is now filling shoeboxes, ready to send to children in areas affected by war, natural disaster, or other catastrophe. They will be collected in mid-November. There are three ways you can help:- Fill a shoebox with gifts (ask Lizzy for the list of what's allowed and not allowed).- Contribute gifts to be packed - small toys and games, little treats for teenage girls etc.- Donate money so that Lizzy can use it to buy things, or to pay for the travel costs.Thank you for your support - every box filled is another child who will know someone cares this Christmas.The Real Advent Calendar:Please preorder these from Marion asap if you would like one of these Fairtrade Advent calendars, which come with a little book of the Christmas Story. They are no longer stocked in supermarkets. She needs 18 orders to get a price of £5.50 each and the profits will go to the local Food Bank.Remembrance services this year:There will only be one service on 9th November. However, we will be holding a special service at St Catherine’s on Tuesday 11th, with participation from the Little Munden School Choir. This service will include an Act of Remembrance by the war memorial at 11.00. As with all our services, all are welcome.Concert for Remembrance 9th November, 3.00 pm in St Mary’s:The Priory Singers will perform a concert of music and readings for Remembrance on Sunday 9th November in St Mary’s at 3.00 pm. The concert is free, with a retiring collection. All are welcome.Diocesan Vacancies:The Diocese is advertising a number of administrative jobs again. Details are available on the Diocesan website.Contacts during the vacancy:While we have no Rector, if you have any queries or concerns, please speak to any of our church wardens (it doesn’t matter of which church). If you know of someone who needs a visit, please liaise with Jacqui. We do have access to clergy who will help if needed, so please don’t be put off raising a concern.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:6th October 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s2nd November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints9th November 10.30 am Remembrance service, St Mary’s16th November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints23rd November 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s30th November 10.30 am Morning worship, St Catherine’sPlease note there will be no service of Choral evensong on 23rd November, but our Advent service of music and readings will take place at 6.00 pm on 30th November in St Mary’s.Dates & meetings coming up:29th October, 5.00 pm Benefice Finance Committee meeting, The Old Top Shop1st November, 6.30 pm Feel the Spirit concert, St Mary’s2nd November, 3.00 pm Service of memories, St Mary’s9th November, 3.00 pm Concert for Remembrance, St Mary’s12th November, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall12th November, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, All Saints14th November, 12.00 Funeral of Jean Aldridge, St Mary’s26th November, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s29th November, 10.30 am Coffee morning & sale, St Catherine’s
This weekend, we welcome Rev Robert Riley-Braley, who will preside at our 8.00 service in St Mary’s. Our 10.30 service will be Public Worship with Communion by Extension, led by Caroline.This weekend’s Bible readings:2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 (p 1197) Luke 18:1-8 (p 1052)Vacancy update:On Wednesday last week, we had an informative meeting with our PCCs and other leaders, our three patrons, the Area Dean Designate and Archdeacon Janet. The recruitment process for a new Rector was outlined and we spent some time considering the challenges and opportunities facing whoever God is preparing to join us.A group have been working to prepare the profile which is the document prospective applicants will see to tell them more about our benefice and the Rector we are looking for. The profile will be completed and approved by mid November and we plan to advertise the post in early January.In the meantime, if you would like to contribute to the process, please consider these two questions:1) What do you value about the churches’ presence in this benefice?2) What qualities would you look for in our new Rector?Any responses you are happy to share should be sent as brief bullet points to Marion Smith, who is coordinating the group preparing the profile: marionsmith1456@gmail.com. Responses should be with her by Sunday 26th October at the latest.Please speak to any of our wardens or to Michael Smith if you have any questions. Your prayers are most vital in this process. Thank you.Contacts during the vacancy:While we have no Rector, if you have any queries or concerns, please speak to any of our church wardens (it doesn’t matter of which church). If you know of someone who needs a visit, please liaise with Jacqui. We do have access to clergy who will help if needed, so please don’t be put off raising a concern.Midweek Music Wednesday 22nd October:On Wednesday 22nd October, we will be entertained by our local musicians, Hugh Legg, Rebecca Watts and Michael Smith with voice, harp and piano in an exciting programme of music from the world of film and musicals. Refreshments are served from 11.30am and the concert is at 12.30. Do come and bring a friend - and maybe a friend who hasn’t been before. Donations made are shared between our three benefice churches.Feel the Spirit Concert 1st November, 6.30 pm:On 1st November there will be a concert organised by Michael and involving our Benefice Choir and the Harmonaires Choir to celebrate John Rutter’s 80th birthday and Bob Chilcott’s 70th. There is no charge, but a retiring collection will go to Youth Music.Service of Memories 2nd November:This service will be held on 2nd November at 3.00 pm in St Mary’s. There will be an opportunity to remember loved ones, and to light a candle if you would like to do that. All are welcome, so please tell friends and neighbours.Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal:This year marks 30 years since Lizzy was first involved in the OCC shoebox appeal! She is now filling the shoeboxes she has collected during the year, ready to send to children in areas affected by war, natural disaster, or some other catastrophe. The boxes will be collected around mid-November. There are three ways you can help:- Fill a shoebox with gifts (ask Lizzy for the list of what's allowed and not allowed) and leave it in St Mary's or give it to Lizzy or Caroline.- Contribute gifts to be packed - things Lizzy is always short of are small toys and games, little treats for teenage girls (eg hair accessories, eye shadow, keyrings) and small toys for toddlers.- Donate money so that Lizzy can use it to buy things she is missing for boxes, or to pay for the travel costs. Cash can be given to Lizzy or Caroline, or you can transfer it to the Standon PCC bank account (details on our website, or from Caroline) with the reference "OCC".Thank you in advance for your support - every box filled is another child who will know someone cares this Christmas.The Real Advent Calendar:Please preorder these from Marion asap if you would like one of these Fairtrade Advent calendars, which come with a little book of the Christmas Story. They are no longer stocked in supermarkets. She needs 18 orders to get a price of £5.50 each and the profits will go to the local Food Bank.Remembrance services this year:We haven’t been able to find cover for our Little Munden service this Remembrance Sunday, so there will only be one service on 9th November. However, we will be holding a special service at St Catherine’s on Tuesday 11th, with participation from the Little Munden School Choir. This service will include an Act of Remembrance by the war memorial at 11.00. As with all our services, all are welcome.Concert for Remembrance 9th November, 3.00 pm in St Mary’s:The Priory Singers will perform a concert of music and readings for Remembrance on Sunday 9th November in St Mary’s at 3.00 pm. The concert is free, with a retiring collection. All are welcome.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:19th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Public worship with Communion by extension, All Saints26th October 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s2nd November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints9th November 10.30 am Remembrance service, St Mary’s16th November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints23rd November 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no service of Choral evensong on 23rd November, but our Advent service of music and readings will take place at 6.00 pm on 30th November in St Mary’s.Dates & meetings coming up:22nd October, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s29th October, 5.00 pm Benefice Finance Committee meeting, The Old Top Shop1st November, 6.30 pm Feel the Spirit concert, St Mary’s2nd November, 3.00 pm Service of memories, St Mary’s9th November, 3.00 pm Concert for Remembrance, St Mary’s12th November, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall12th November, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, All Saints14th November, 12.00 Funeral of Jean Aldridge, St Mary’s
This weekend, we welcome Rev Robert Riley-Braley, who will preside at our 10.30 service in St Mary’s.We also welcome Richard Prince, who will play for our service.This weekend’s Bible readings:2 Timothy 2:8-15 (p 1196) Luke 17:11-19 (p 1051)Contacts during the vacancy:While we have no Rector, if you have any queries or concerns, please speak to any of our church wardens (it doesn’t matter of which church). If you know of someone who needs a visit, please liaise with Jacqui. We do have access to clergy who will help if needed, so please don’t be put off raising a concern.Feel the Spirit Concert 1st November, 6.30 pm:On 1st November there will be a concert organised by Michael and involving our Benefice Choir and the Harmonaires Choir to celebrate John Rutter’s 80th birthday and Bob Chilcott’s 70th. There is no charge, but a retiring collection will go to Youth Music.Service of Memories 2nd November:This service will be held on 2nd November at 3.00 pm in St Mary’s. There will be an opportunity to remember loved ones, and to light a candle if you would like to do that. All are welcome, so please tell friends and neighbours.Remembrance services this year:We haven’t been able to find cover for our Little Munden service this Remembrance Sunday, so there will only be one service on 9th November. However, we will be holding a special service at St Catherine’s on Tuesday 11th, with participation from the Little Munden School Choir. This service will include an Act of Remembrance by the war memorial at 11.00. As with all our services, all are welcome.Concert for Remembrance 9th November, 3.00 pm in St Mary’s:The Priory Singers will perform a concert of music and readings for Remembrance on Sunday 9th November in St Mary’s at 3.00 pm. The concert is free, with a retiring collection. All are welcome.Bag to school at Little Munden:There will be a ‘Bag to School’ collection from Little Munden School on Tuesday morning, 14th October. Clothes, paired shoes, hats, bags, jewellery and belts are accepted. Please leave any donations under the covered way at school before 8.00 on Tuesday morning. The school is grateful for our support in the past for this fund-raising initiative, as well as recycling items we don’t need.Diocesan vacancy:The Diocese is currently advertising for a new PA for the Archdeacon of St Albans. Details can be found on the Diocesan website.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:12th October 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s19th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Public worship with Communion by extension, All Saints26th October 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s2nd November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints9th November 10.30 am Remembrance service, St Mary’s16th November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up:15th October, 7.30 pm Meeting of PCCs, Patrons and Bishop Jane, All Saints22nd October, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s29th October, 5.00 pm Benefice Finance Committee meeting, The Old Top Shop1st November, 6.30 pm Feel the Spirit concert, St Mary’s2nd November, 3.00 pm Service of memories, St Mary’s5th November, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall9th November, 3.00 pm Concert for Remembrance, St Mary’s12th November, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, All Saints14th November, 12.00 Funeral of Jean Aldridge, St Mary’s
