This weekend’s Bible readings:
Isaiah 40:1-11 (p 723) and Matthew 3:1-12 (p 967)
Advent appeal:
We have supported the foodbank for a number of years, and never has the demand for their services been greater than it is now. Karen and her team support families in our villages as well as in Buntingford and other surrounding villages. Last year, our advent appeal raised enough for us to organise online grocery deliveries well into this year, and that has made a significant difference to the support Karen is able to offer. In the last 12 months, we have funded over £5,000 of those deliveries, as well as the groceries we have collected in the boxes in our churches.
Key facts:
Each box of goods they deliver to a family costs £30-£50; They support approximately 70 families each month - this is increasing month on month; 137 families are currently on the list to receive a Christmas hamper from the Foodbank - this is going up daily
You can support our appeal
- by leaving contributions in the boxes in our churches,
- by collecting an item each day during advent, to be delivered after Christmas (Reverse Advent Calendar),
- by contributing financially online,
- by giving a financial contribution to any of our treasurers or
- by putting financial contributions in the appeal envelopes and into the collection bag.
There are fliers at the back of all our churches. Please ask Caroline if you would like more information.
Libury Hall December Service:
Our Christmas Service at Libury Hall will take place at 2.30 pm this Friday, 9th December. A small group of members of our Benefice congregations regularly support our monthly informal services, but the residents are always pleased to be joined by new faces from our churches. Why not join us for this celebration of Christmas, or even for our regular meetings at Libury Hall on the first Wednesday of each month? For further information please speak to Cliff or Diane G.
Sale of Christmas trees at Sacombe Green:
Christmas trees are available this weekend and next, 3/4 and 10/11 December, between 9am and 4pm at SG12 0JQ. They are organically grown Nordman Firs, of various sizes, and there is no fixed price. Buyers are asked to pay what they consider is a fair amount, and 100% of the proceeds will be divided between the Hertfordshire Community Foundation and St Catherine's Church.
Knit & Natter group:
If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us for a couple of hours in the Sargent room (at the back of Standon village hall) at 2pm usually on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Tea & cakes will be available. The next one is on 8th December 2022. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130 or Marion on 01920 745683.
Christmas crackers:
This is a concert of Christmas music to be held on Thursday 15th December at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, introducing Standon Sing Community Choir together with The Benefice Church Choir and Rib Singers Chamber Choir, directed by David Ranford and Michael Smith. The concert will be free, with a retiring collection for the High Sheriff’s Fund at the Hertfordshire Community Foundation.
Carols round the tree in Standon High Street 20th December:
This year, we will gather at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 20th in Standon High Street to sing carols round the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the date has inadvertently been missed out of the PS magazine, so please let friends and neighbours know when it is. We hope to serve refreshments in church afterwards; if you can help with that, please let Caroline know.
Christingle preparation Friday 23rd December:
We need helpers, please, at 2pm in St. Mary’s church. Please see John if you can help with this. We need lots of helpers to prepare for both services!
Volunteers still sought for school clubs:
We are still looking for volunteers to help out with the clubs at Roger de Clare on Thursdays, at lunchtime and after school. Please speak to John or Caroline.
Sacombe coffee morning 26th November:
Thank you, again, to all who supported the Sacombe coffee morning. Over £1,500 was raised.
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:
4th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
11th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
Christmas services
17th December (Saturday) 6.00pm Carol service, All Saints
18th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Holy communion, All Saints
22nd December (Thursday) 7.00pm Nine lessons & carols, St Mary's
24th December (Saturday) 3.00pm Christingle, All Saints
5.00pm Christingle, St Mary's
7.30pm Carols by candlelight, St Catherine's
11.30pm Midnight communion, St Mary's
25th December 10.30am Christmas worship & communion, All Saints
10.30am Christmas worship, St Mary's
1st January 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints