This weekend’s Bible readings:

Habakkuk 3:16-19 (p 947) John 6:5-14 (p 1069)

Farewell to John and Basma 28th September:

We will mark John and Basma’s last Sunday with us by holding a Songs of Praise service at St Mary's at 4pm on 28th September, followed by refreshments in church. We hope that as many of the church family and people in our community will join this time of worship and socialising so do spread the word! If anyone can offer to provide a cake for the tea after the Songs of Praise service that would be much appreciated. Please speak to Steph Beeston or Marion Smith or just bring it on the day! It is helpful if cakes are cut into portions and an important reminder not to bring anything that contains nuts. Thank you.

Harvest appeal:

This Sunday is our harvest service in All Saints, Tuesday will be Sacombe’s harvest service and next week we will have our harvest family service in St Mary’s. Our harvest appeal will once again be for our missionary partners, the Ellis and McGoldrick families. In All Saints, the collection this Sunday will be for the appeal, as will the one in St Catherine’s on Tuesday. In St Mary’s there will be special appeal envelopes for your gifts. Alternatively, you can support the appeal by making a transfer to any of the usual PCC bank accounts, using the reference ‘harvest’.

Midweek Music 24th September:

This month’s Midweek Music recital will feature our own Margaret Goodall, with Michael Smith. As usual, refreshments will be available from 11.30, with the concert at 12.30. Donations will go to all three of our benefice churches. Please join us if you can.

FOSM Candlelit Dinner 26th September:

The Friends of St Mary’s will be hosting a candlelit three course dinner in St Mary’s on Friday at 7.30 pm, with live music and seasonal readings between courses. There are still some tickets available at £30 from Diana 07718 734897, but please let her know quickly!

Appeal from Church Café:

The café runs every Wednesday in term time from 3pm - 4.30 pm in All Saints Church. The team who are on the rota arrive at 2.30pm to set up the cafe area with cakes and drinks, and also set the tables in the church with activities, toys etc. The team is very short of volunteers this term. Please consider giving up an occasional Wednesday afternoon to help with this “Blessing of Outreach“ we have been given from God. If you can help in anyway at all (including making cakes occasionally) please speak to Carole H Lizzie B or Deborah O. It really is a wonderful place to be, with time to mix with the children, parents & carers from the school. The atmosphere is amazing and relationships are growing.

Standon Sing concert Autumn Leaves:

Our local community choir rehearses each week in St Mary’s, and has, for the last few years, performed with our benefice choir and the Rib Singers at Christmas. They will be performing a concert with the Rib Singers in St Mary’s on 11th October at 7.00 pm. The concert is free, with a retiring collection for FOSM, who will also provide the bar. All are welcome.

Rutter Birthday Concert 1st November, 6.30 pm:

On 1st November there will be a concert organised by Michael and involving our benefice choir to celebrate John Rutter’s 80th birthday. More details will follow, but please save the date.

Knife Angel in Hertfordshire:

The Knife Angel is a 27-foot-tall, figure, crafted from over 100,000 confiscated knives and blades, a striking piece of art and a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of violent crime. It will be in Welwyn Garden City throughout October, when Herts Police will host community engagements, focusing on knife crime and violence, and its prevention. Please pray for this enterprise.

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:

21st September 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10.30 am Holy Communion for Harvest, All Saints

28th September 10.30 am Harvest All age worship, St Mary’s

4.00 pm Songs of Praise, St Mary’s

5th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints

12th October 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

19th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints

Dates & meetings coming up:

24th September, from 11.30 Midweek Music, St Mary’s

24th September, 7.15 pm PCC meetings, St Catherine’s

25th September, 9.00 am Roger de Clare harvest service, St Mary’s

26th September, 11.30 am Organ tuners in church, St Mary’s

26th September, 7.30 pm FOSM Candlelit Dinner, St Mary’s

1st October, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall

11th October, 7.00 pm Autumn Leaves concert, St Mary’s