This weekend’s Bible readings:
James 5:1-8 (p1216) and Matthew 25 :31-46 (p995)
Advent service:
Our annual service of readings and music for Advent will take place this weekend, on Sunday at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s. Please join us if you can, to reflect on this time of waiting and anticipation as we hear the ancient prophecies and listen to the benefice choir as they lead our worship.
Christmas Crackers 14th December:
Once again, our benefice choir will be performing along with the Standon Sing Community choir and the Rib Singers in a concert of Christmas music, on 14th December in St Mary’s. Entry will be free, but there will be a retiring collection for Carers in Hertfordshire. FOSM will be selling mulled wine and soft drinks in the interval.
Christingle preparation in St Marys, 23rd December, 2pm:
Please let John know if you can help with this. All are welcome!
Sending greetings across the benefice:
In All Saints church during December there will be a little Christmas tree with some shiny stars . You can write your Christmas greetings to one another on these and hang them on the tree, giving a donation for the Foodbank.
In St Mary’s, the Christmas post box is once more in use. Please remember to collect any cards there for you, as well as using it to leave cards for any other benefice members.
Thank you from the Foodbank:
We have had an email from Gemma who runs the Buntingford Foodbank, thanking us for our support. She is delivering more and more food packages each week, and is expecting it to get even busier towards Christmas. We have been making sure she has plenty of items for children’s packed lunches, and will be contributing to the Christmas hampers she will be putting together in the next few weeks.
Kisiizi Hospital parcels:
Thank you to everyone who knits for Kisiizi hospital. We are now in need of boxes. Those that hold 5 reams of A4 paper are ideal. If you can help, please leave them in St Mary’s church.
EHCCA Evensong 30th December:
EHCCA is planning to sing Choral Evensong at St Albans Cathedral on Saturday 30th December at 5pm. All are welcome to attend.
Website:
Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform.
The benefice page can be reached via this link: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/benefice/32-240BF/. The forward from https://ubsms.org.uk should point to that page.
Services for the next few weeks
Midweek services each week:
Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine's
Wednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary's
Please note there will be no midweek services on 26th or 27th December.
Sunday services:
3rd December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
6.00pm Advent service, St Mary's
10th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's
6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints
17th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Holy communion (said service), All Saints
6.00pm Carol service, All Saints
24th December There will be no morning service - please see the list of Christmas services below
31st December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's
7th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints