This weekend’s Bible readings:
Psalm 80 (p 592) and Matthew 1:18-25 (p 965)
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.
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.
Christmas Crackers 15th December:
Thank you to everyone who supported the concert on Thursday evening. More than £1,000 was donated to the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, and FOSM raised £332 from serving refreshments.
St Mary’s Carol service next THURSDAY:
Please remember that our carol services are not on Sundays this year. The one in St Mary’s is on Thursday evening, 22nd December, at 7.00pm. Please join us if you can for this candlelit celebration of the Christmas story.
Walking Advent calendar:
Have you seen all the Walking Advent Windows yet? Have you or your dog, children or Grandma found and noted where the Baby Jesus are hiding? If not, then there’s time to get out and have a good look again. You'll have the chance to show how observant you are at the Christingle service at St Mary's on Saturday 24th December 5.00pm. A prize is waiting there for the best window. The windows will stay up over the Christmas holiday for your chance to walk off the turkey! https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/page/79423/view/
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.
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!
Stamps and postcards for TLM:
Gwen has received a letter from TLM to let us know that they will no longer be collecting used stamps and postcards after this year.
We suggest that in future stamps could be handed in at the Community coffee morning or at Standon post office who collect for charity, or given to Lizzy, who collects them for EDS research. We don't know of anyone who wants postcards; if you do, please let us know.
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.
Concert in memory of Len Sparks:
We have a new date for the concert which had to be postponed from the autumn. It is 4th February. Tickets will be available in the New Year.
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
Christmas services
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
Sunday services:
1st January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
8th January 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
15th January 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's
10.30am Holy communion, All Saints
4.00pm The Centre, All Saints