St Catherine's, Sacombe

Weekly News - 6th November 2022

This weekend’s Bible readings:

1 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 (p 1186)

Luke 20:27-38 (p 1056)

New secretary for The Mundens:

Now that Ray has become treasurer, the secretary role for The Mundens PCC has been taken by Jeremy. Congratulations to Jeremy!

Volunteers sought for school clubs:

Our partners, Red Balloon, would like us to recruit some volunteers from the church family to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. If this is something you would like to be involved in, please speak to John or Caroline. We would ideally like enough to create a rota, so that the same people don’t have to commit every week.

Operation Christmas Child:

It's now just two weeks until the shoeboxes will be collected and taken to the distribution centre to be checked, packed and sent off on their journey. There are currently 109 filled shoeboxes ready to go, but if you would still like to take part, please do speak to Lizzy. You can fill a whole shoebox, provide things to go in a shoebox, or contribute financially to the cost of transportation. Thank you as always for all your support.

Concert for Remembrance, 12th November in St Mary’s:

Our own Michael Smith will conduct Royston Choral Society singing Durufle’s Requiem in Standon next Saturday at 7.30 pm. Posters and fliers are available in our churches, and tickets are available from Caroline.

Remembrance services:

Once again, we will hold services in each of our churches on 13th November. At 9.30, we will meet in All Saints. After the service and a cup of coffee we walk down to the war memorial in the village to join with the Parish Council and local residents for a short act of remembrance at 11.00.
At 10.30 in St Mary’s we will welcome representatives of the uniformed organisations for a special service of remembrance.

At 3.00 we will meet by the memorial in the churchyard at St Catherine’s for a short outdoor service. The Centre will meet, as usual, at 4.00 in All Saints.
All are welcome at any of these.

Midweek Music at St Mary’s:

On Wednesday 23rd November in St Mary’s Standon, there will be a short concert of light piano and organ music played by Michael Smith at 12.30. Coffee and light refreshments will be served from 11.30. Do come along for a coffee and chat and to enjoy the music.

FOSM coffee morning 19th November:

We have two Christmas shopping opportunities coming soon! The FOSM coffee morning and sale will be on 19th November, between 10 and 12. Stalls will include cards, decorations, cakes, plants, books and crafts. Tea, coffee and mince pies will be served. Please come and support this and the Sacombe one the following week!

Sacombe coffee morning 26th November:

Sacombe will hold its annual Christmas Coffee Morning and Sale on Saturday 26th November, 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be cards, cakes, gifts and bric-a-brac available, as well as the opportunity to chat over tea or coffee. Orders will be taken for fresh table decorations, which will be available shortly before Christmas. If you have any unwanted items lurking in your cupboards, any gifts of bric-a-brac etc. for the stall will be gratefully received by members of St Catherine's.

Walking Advent calendar:

Once again, we are inviting people in Standon and Puckeridge to take part in a Walking Advent Calendar. If you’d like to dress a window, please speak to Sue, who is coordinating it. A leaflet is being delivered to everyone in Standon and Puckeridge and spare copies are available at the back of St Mary’s.

FOSM Christmas cards:

The Friends of St Mary’s have commissioned Christmas cards featuring photos of three of the stained glass windows in Standon church. They are on sale from Diana or at the coffee morning on 19th, £1 each or £5 for 6.

Help sought with St Mary’s brasses:

Ann B looks after our brasses at St Mary’s with loving care, but she would appreciate some help with the polishing. Brian did help her, but he is too unwell to continue for now. If you’d like to know more, please speak to Ann.

New bookshop at ANCC:

All Nations and St Andrews Bookshops have joined forces to open a Christian bookshop at All Nations Christian College. It will open this Wednesday, 9th November, initially with limited hours on Wednesday afternoons (1:30-4:30pm) and Saturday mornings (9:30am-12:30pm).

New date for Charlie’s operation:

Charlie has a new date: 17th January 2023. Please pray for Charlie’s health over the busy Christmas period and in the run up to 17th January.

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:

6th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's

10.30am Morning worship, All Saints