Next week’s notices:
There will be no notices sheet next weekend. All the information about Christmas services etc are included in this one. We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas, and look forward to seeing you at one or more of our special services.
This weekend’s Bible readings:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (p 1188) and John 1:6-8, 19-28 (p 1063)
Sunday morning service:
This Sunday morning’s 10.30 service in All Saints will be a said service of Holy Communion. The Little Munden carol service will be at 6.00.
Midweek Music at St Mary's:
This month's concert is on Wednesday 20th December at 12.30, when Marion and Michael will be entertaining you with seasonal music on the piano and organ.
They will also be introducing Naomi Boot (known to some of you as Jenny and Jo's daughter!), who is a mezzo soprano studying at the Royal College of Music. She will sing two Christmas songs for us.
Do come and support the performers if you can. Even at this busy time of year, treat yourself to 30 minutes of peace to recharge those batteries! Entry is free, and refreshments are served from 11.30am.
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.
Advent appeal for the Foodbank:
Another order of almost £1,000 was delivered to the food bank on Monday. It included some Christmas treats: chocolate biscuits, Christmas puddings, seasonal snacks etc.
Our Advent appeal is once more to support this important work. Special envelopes are available in St Mary’s; please put your donation in one of those if it’s going in the Standon collection bags. In All Saints and St Catherine’s, the entire offering at the carol services will go to the appeal. Alternatively, bank transfers can be made to any of our church bank accounts, using the reference ‘Appeal’ or ‘FB’.
Little Angels - helpers needed:
Little Angels, our carer and toddler group in St Mary’s on Friday mornings between 9 and 11 is becoming more and more popular and we need some more helpers! All that’s required is to help with refreshments and help putting out and away the children’s equipment (it’s not heavy!). There will be a rota so it doesn’t mean every week. Please contact Basma if you can help.
Carols round the tree, Wednesday at 6.30 pm:
Carols round the tree in Standon High Street will be led this year by our community choir, Standon Sing. We will be providing refreshments in St Mary’s afterwards, as usual. All are welcome.
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:
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
14th January 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's
6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints
21st January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Holy communion, All Saints
6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints