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's

Wednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary's

Sunday services:

8th December 100.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's

15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's

10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints

6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints

22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's

6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's

29th December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's

5th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's

10.30am Morning worship, All Saints