Welcome back to John, who returns from holiday this weekend. Charlie will be away for some weeks after this weekend, as she undergoes surgery and takes time to recuperate. Caroline will be taking the harvest service at Furneux Pelham on Sunday morning.
Thank you:
To all those who did so much for our churches and the communities we serve in the period following the death of the Queen: those who took part in special services in word and music, those who welcomed visitors into our churches to pray and to sign condolence books, our bell ringers, flower arrangers and those who ensured flags were flown as appropriate. It was much appreciated by so many people.
This weekend’s Bible readings:
10.30 am: Matthew 6:25-33 (p 971);
6.30 pm: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (p 203); Revelation 14:14-18 (p 1243)
Baptism coming up:
This Sunday, at 3.00 in the afternoon, we will be holding a service of baptism by full immersion in the river! Please meet at St Mary’s between 2.30 and 2.50, and we will walk across the fields to the river. There will be a short act of worship at the riverside (on the water meadows in Standon) before we all move back to St Mary’s. All are welcome; please come and support Niall and Lisa.
Harvest Appeal:
Our harvest appeal this year is for our mission partners, the Ellis and McGoldrick families.
Catherine McGoldrick grew up locally. With her husband Stephen she trained at All Nations, and they are now serving with WEC International in Burundi with frequent visits to the Congo. They have two adopted sons, Asher & Jacques.
Andrew and Samara Ellis were placed at All Saints and St Catherine’s by the College some years ago. They live and work in Harare, Zimbabwe, leading the River of Life church as well as Youth discipleship and Church leaders development. See https://www.riveroflifechurch.co.zw/ for more information on the River of Life church.
Members of the Benefice provide regular support to both families for their work in the Gospel, and this Appeal is to provide them with essential funds for healthcare, travelling, education and general living costs. Please give generously. Whatever we receive will be divided equally between the two families.
Our harvest services will take place on 25th September (at 10.30 am and 6.30 pm in St Mary’s) and 2nd October (at 8.00 am in St Mary’s and 10.30 am in All Saints), but donations may be made at any time. Please use the special envelopes in our churches and put your donation in the collection bag or give it to one of our treasurers or church wardens. Online donations should use the reference ‘harvest’, please.
Mothers’ Union meeting:
The next meeting of Braughing with Standon MU is on Wednesday at 2.30pm in the Old Boys School Braughing. Marilyn Grover will talk about Child Contact Centres. Everyone is invited to this meeting. Please ring Diane on 01920 821130 if you need or can offer a lift or for more information.
New series at Sacombe:
This week, we embark on a new sermon series on Tuesday mornings, on ‘Christ and the Law’. We’ll be looking at parts of Leviticus through the lens of the good news of Jesus. Everyone is welcome to join us for this communion service – 9.30 every Tuesday morning.
Rotas of all sorts:
As summer comes to a close and we start planning for the autumn and winter, please consider whether you can spare some time for our churches. All our rotas have space for more volunteers: cleaning, coffee making, baking for and helping with the café, ringing bells; the list is extensive. If you’d like to know more, please ask!
BGWM is looking for new members:
The next meeting of the Benefice Group for World Mission will be at 2pm on Tuesday 4th October at All Saints. The group keeps up to date with news from our mission partners around the world and supports them with prayer. It brings to our attention particular prayer needs, through the ‘Pray for our mission partners and the world’ section of this sheet, and it makes recommendations to PCC about our regular appeals. They would love to see some new faces joining them. For more information, please speak to Peter A.
October lunchtime concerts:
Our lunchtime concert season starts on Saturday! This year we have:
Saturday 1st October Bella Cora ladies Choir
Saturday 8th October A musical miscellany with Marion and Michael Smith
Saturday 15th October A10 Strings directed by David Boarder
Concerts begin at 12.30pm (retiring collection). Lunch (suggested donation £5) is available from 12 noon.
Choir singing in Canterbury cathedral:
Our choir has been invited to sing Evensong in Canterbury Cathedral on Friday 28th October at 5.30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity. There will be a coach travelling to Canterbury, leaving Puckeridge at 10am and returning by about 8pm. If anyone would like to travel with the choir and enjoy visiting the cathedral and hearing Evensong then please speak to Marion.
Website:
Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page is: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/benefice. Please visit it to see the range of information there.
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
Sunday services:
25th September 10.30am All age harvest service, St Mary's
3.00pm Baptism in the river, Standon water meadows
6.30pm Harvest Choral evensong, St Mary's
2nd October 8.00am Harvest holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Harvest morning worship, All Saints
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
9th October 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
16th October 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's
10.30am Holy communion, All Saints
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
23rd October 10.30am All age service, St Mary's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
6.30pm Choral evensong, St Mary's
At 6.30pm on Sunday 25th September in St Mary's there will be a special service of Evensong for Harvest including hymns, music, prayers and readings. Do join us for this lovely time of worship.