This weekend’s Bible readings:1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (p 1144) John 1:29-42 (p 1064)Sad news:As most of you know by now, very sadly, our good friend and sister in Christ, Julie Williams, died this week. Many of you spoke to Julie last Sunday, when there was no sign that she was unwell. She was taken ill on Tuesday and, despite the best efforts of the surgeons, died on Wednesday. Please pray for Julie’s family and those who loved her as we all come to terms with this enormous shock.Choral Evensong Sunday 25th January 3pm (please note the time) St Catherine's:Please join us at St Catherine's next Sunday for a special service of Choral Evensong. Our benefice choir will lead us in worship as we mark the arrival of the new organ. The service will be followed by refreshments. This replaces our usual 6pm 4th Sunday Choral Evensong at St Mary's which returns on Sunday 22nd February.Sunday lunch at The Star:Our next Sunday lunch will be Sunday 25th January in the Star. Please contact Heather to book your place: 07909 065550.Help needed:In this new year, please consider what you might be able to offer to help with the running of our churches. All Saints is in need of volunteers to help with cleaning; the café is looking for volunteers; we would welcome more people willing to take part in our services and many of our teams are short on personnel. Please pray that God will show you where he is calling you to use your gifts and abilities, and then speak to a church warden, a PCC member or to Caroline.Vacancy update:The advertisement for our new Rector is now live on the St Albans Diocese website. It will be in the Church Times on Friday. If you wish to see it and read the Parish Profile, there is a link to the information on our website. Alternatively you can look at the St Albans Diocese Vacancies page. Please pray for the person God is calling to be our new Rector and for all of those involved in the recruitment process. If you have any questions please speak to one of our Parish Representatives: Michael, Angie, Ray, Hugh, Derek or Janet.Food bank update:Our Advent appeal was, once more, to support the food bank, and we raised £1,584, but please remember we can give to the food bank all year round either directly through the church bank accounts or by marking any donations for that purpose.In a recent email, Gemma writes: ‘We are now at the Seth Ward community centre , we were given a room to work out of. It certainly has its benefits (heat and light!) but we can’t access it at weekends, which is when we usually hand out food deliveries as more volunteers are on hand! Going forward we will be hoping to get people to collect from us instead of us delivering. Also, I am looking for someone to take over the running as of March as I have a new job starting and I can’t really commit to both, so that’s going to prove tricky! We have a fabulous band of volunteers who help out with deliveries, collections and sorting food so it’s running really well currently. Thanks as ever to you and the parishioners for your continued support.’Please continue to pray for Gemma and her team.FOSM Quiz Night:This year, the Quiz Night, always on the last Saturday in January, is on 31st. Doors will open at 7.00 for a 7.30 start. Tickets are £15 per head. FOSM is working hard to replenish its funds after grantng most of its reserves to the tower project. Tables of up to 8 can be booked with Caroline.Kisiizi Hospital parcels:Thank you to everyone who knits for Kisiizi hospital. In 2025 we sent 36 boxes of knitted items, including 286 vests, 196 hats, 24 blankets and 73 teddies.Services for the next few weeks: Midweek services each week: Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’s Wednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’s Sunday services: 18th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints 25th January 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s 3.00 pm Choral evensong, St Catherine’s 1st February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints 8th February 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s15th February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints Please note the change of time and church for this month’s choral evensong to mark the arrival of the new organ at St Catherine’s.Dates & meetings coming up: 19th January, 7.30 pm FOSM committee meeting, 40 South Road 21st January, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall 28th January, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s 31st January, 7.30 pm FOSM Quiz Night, Community Centre 4th February, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall18th February, 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday service, St Catherine’s
This weekend’s Bible readings:Acts 10:33-43 (p 1104) Matthew 3:13-end (p 967)PCC meetings cancelled:The PCC meetings planned for 21st have been cancelled. Any relevant information from the Vacancy Team will be sent by email after their meeting this week. The next PCC meeting will be on Thursday 5th March 7.30pm at St Mary's.Café restarts:The Little Munden café will open again this Wednesday, 14th. We have lost some key people recently and the team is looking for more volunteers, to bake or to help at the café. If you can spare some time on Wednesday afternoons, or you are willing to bake for the café, please contact Carole or Lizzie B. If you’re interested in helping with the children’s work, please speak to Caroline.M&Ms restarts:M&Ms restarts after the break on Wednesday 14th January. We are a group of ladies who meet 2.30-4pm on the 2nd Wednesday and 7-8.30pm on the 4th Wednesday of the month. Sometimes we have Bible Study or we follow a Christian book and we always include prayer. We are all different, hence our name: Marthas and Marys! If anyone is interested in joining us, please contact Marion.New Seasons:New Seasons will start again for the new year on Thursday 15th January in Puckeridge community centre from 2pm. Please contact Heather for information: 07909 065550.Sunday lunch at The Star:Our next Sunday lunch will be Sunday 25th January in the Star. Please contact Heather to book your place: 07909 065550.Help needed:In this new year, please consider what you might be able to offer to help with the running of our churches. All Saints is in need of volunteers to help with cleaning; the café is looking for volunteers; we would welcome more people willing to take part in our services and many of our teams are short on personnel. If you feel that God is calling you, please speak to a church warden, a PCC member or to Caroline.Vacancy update:The advertisement for our new Rector is now live on the St Albans Diocese website. It will be in the Church Times on 23rd January. If you wish to see it and read the Parish Profile, there is a link to the information on the homepage of our website. Alternatively you can look at the St Albans Diocese Vacancies page. Please pray for the person God is calling to be our new Rector and for all of those involved in the recruitment process. If you have any questions please speak to one of our Parish Representatives: Michael, Angie, Ray, Hugh, Derek or Janet.Food bank update:You may have noticed that we weren’t able to collect groceries for the food bank in our churches in the last few weeks of 2025. Unfortunately, they had a flood in their storage unit, and had to look for alternative accommodation. They have found that now, and have moved in, so our collection boxes are operational again. Our Advent appeal was, once more, to support the food bank, and we hope to report next week on the amount raised, but please remember we can give to the food bank all year round either directly through the church bank accounts or by marking any donations for that purpose. We will be sending another large order in the next week or two.FOSM Quiz Night:This year, the Quiz Night, always on the last Saturday in January, is on 31st. Doors will open at 7.00 for a 7.30 start. Tickets are £15 per head. FOSM is working hard to replenish its funds after granting most of its reserves to the tower project. Tables of up to 8 can be booked with Caroline.Services for the next few weeks: Midweek services each week: Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’s Wednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’s Sunday services: 11th January 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 18th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints 25th January 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s 3.00 pm Choral evensong, St Catherine’s 1st February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints 8th February 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’sPlease note the change of time and church for this month’s choral evensong to mark the arrival of the new organ at St Catherine's.Dates & meetings coming up: 12th January, 2.00 pm Funeral of Maurice Debnam, St Mary’s 14th January 12.00 (tbc) Funeral of Christopher Saggers, St Mary’s 15th January, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop 19th January, 7.30 pm FOSM committee meeting, 40 South Road 28th January, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s 31st January, 7.30 pm FOSM Quiz Night, Community Centre 4th February, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall
A very happy New Year to you all!This weekend’s Bible readings:Isaiah 60:1-6 (p 746) Matthew 2:1-12 (p 966)Clergy cover:Rev Tim Weeks hopes to be back with us in two weeks’ time. Thank God for his recovery so far, and continue to pray for him as he recuperates fully. We are grateful to Archdeacon Janet, who will be with us once again at both of our services this weekend.Regular groups and midweek services:Our regular activities will start up again over the next week or two. Our midweek services in Sacombe (Tuesday, 9.30) and Standon (Wednesday, 9.30) will be back this week, as will Little Angels. Our café will start again on 14th in Little Munden and the benefice choir will restart rehearsals on 15th. Please pray for all the teams heading up these and other groups and meetings.Vacancy update:The advertisement for our new Rector is now live on the St Albans Diocese website. It will be in the Church Times this week. If you wish to see it and read the Parish Profile, there is a link to the information on the homepage of our website. Alternatively you can look at the St Albans Diocese Vacancies page. Please pray for the person God is calling to be our new Rector and for all of those involved in the recruitment process. If you have any questions please speak to one of our Parish Representatives: Michael, Angie, Ray, Hugh, Derek or Janet.Christmas cards:As the decorations come down, please remember that the Sacombe folk recycle cards for next year! They can be given to any of the PCC members.FOSM Quiz Night:It’s January; it must be the FOSM Quiz Night! This year, the last Saturday falls on 31st. Doors will open at 7.00 for a 7.30 start. Tickets are £15 per head. FOSM is working hard to replenish its funds after granting most of its reserves to the tower project. Tables of up to 8 can be booked with Caroline.Roof work at All Saints:The contract has been signed for the works to be carried out to the roof at All Saints in the spring. The start date is 2nd March, with completion due by 22nd May. There will be some disruption to our services and other activities, but details of that will follow nearer the time. For now, please pray for the smooth progress of all that needs to be put in place, and for Ray and those who will be steering the project and taking care of everything that needs to be attended to. We have a very small window for the work to take place, because of the bats living in the roof space, and little room for the dates to slip.Services for the next few weeks: Midweek services each week: Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’s Wednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’s Sunday services: 4th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints11th January 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s18th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints25th January 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s 3.00 pm Choral evensong, St Catherine’s 1st February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints Please note the change of time and church for this month’s choral evensong to mark the arrival of the new organ at St Catherine's.Dates & meetings coming up: 7th January, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall12th January, 2.00 pm Funeral of Maurice Debnam, St Mary’s 14th January 12.00 (tbc) Funeral of Christopher Saggers, St Mary’s 15th January, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop 21st January, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, All Saints 21st January, 7.30 pm FOSM committee meeting, 40 South Road 28th January, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s 31st January, 7.30 pm FOSM Quiz Night, Community Centre
Notices over Christmas:There won’t be a notices sheet between Christmas and New Year. The next one will be the weekend of 4th January. Please make sure Caroline has any items that need to be included.Meanwhile, we wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year.This weekend’s Bible readings:Isaiah 7:10-16 (p 692) Matthew 1:18-end (p 965)Clergy cover:Rev Tim Weeks is home from hospital but has instructions from his doctors not to overdo it. We are very grateful to Archdeacon Janet, who has stepped in to preside at both of our communion services this weekend. Rev Teresa Wynne has agreed to come to All Saints on Christmas Day. Please continue to pray for Tim.Carol services:On Sunday evening we will hold our candlelit service of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Mary’s at 6.00 pm. On Christmas Eve at 7.30 we will gather in St Catherine’s for the candlelit Carol Service there, accompanied by the new organ. All are welcome to either or both of these lovely services of music and readings.New Seasons:There will be no New Seasons meeting this month. It will resume in the New Year on 15th January in Puckeridge Community Centre at 2pm. Contact Heather on 07909 065550 for more information.Sunday lunch at The Star:Our next Sunday lunch will be on Sunday 28th December at The Star in Standon at 12.15pm. Please contact Heather if you would like a place 07909 065550.28th December:We’ll be worshipping in Sacombe on 28th December, as is usual on the Sunday after Christmas.Advent Appeal:This year’s Advent appeal is for the Buntingford and Villages Food Hub and Community Support. Our cash collections at all three carol services will go to the appeal. If you would like to give at other times, there are appeal envelopes in our churches, or you can give directly using the usual church bank details. Please mark your online donation ‘appeal’. Thank you.Services for the next few weeks: Midweek services each week: Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’s Wednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sPlease note that there will be no midweek services on 23rd and 24th, nor on 30th and 31st. Sunday and Christmas services: 21st December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints 6.00 pm Nine lessons and carols, St Mary’s24th December 3.00 pm Crib service, All Saints 5.00 pm Crib service, St Mary’s 7.30 pm Candlelit carol service, St Catherine’s 11.30 pm Midnight communion, St Mary’s25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion, All Saints25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service, St Mary’s 28th December 10.30 am Morning Worship, St Catherine’s4th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints 11th January 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s Please check the list for service times and places in the next week. There are some variations to our usual pattern, to accommodate our Christmas services.Dates & meetings coming up: 30th December, 1.30 pm Funeral of Alan Beaton, St Mary’s 12th January, 2.00 pm Funeral of Maurice Debnam, St Mary’s
