This weekend’s Bible readings:
Matthew 6:25-34 (p 971)
Farewell to John and Basma 28th September:
This weekend is John and Basma’s last Sunday with us. We will mark the occasion by holding a Songs of Praise service at St Mary's at 4pm, 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. If you’re bringing food, it is helpful if cakes are cut into portions, please, and importantly please remember not to bring anything that contains nuts. Thank you.
Harvest appeal:
This Sunday is our harvest service in St Mary’s. Our harvest appeal will once again be for our missionary partners, the Ellis and McGoldrick families. There will be special appeal envelopes in the pews 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’.
Welcome to Bonnie and Reign:
Thirdly, and very importantly, this weekend we will celebrate with Bonnie and Reign and their family as they are baptised during our family service. Please pray for Bonnie and Reign, and their parents and God-parents as they take this important step.
FOSM Candlelit Dinner 26th September:
Thank you to all who supported the Friends’ candlelit dinner in St Mary’s on Friday. We raised just over £1,000.
Good news (we hope and pray):
It is looking as if we may have found a new youth partner. Various formalities need to be completed, but it’s possible that a member of the Kick organisation may be working in our benefice from after half term. Kick works with schools and churches across the country, teaching children and young people about Jesus. Praise God for this, and pray that everything that needs to dovetail together will do so with ease.
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, which was this week. More details will follow, but please save the date.
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:
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 & baptism, 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
26th October 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s
6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s
Dates & meetings coming up:
1st October, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall
11th October, 7.00 pm Autumn Leaves concert, St Mary’s
15th October, 7.30 pm Meeting of PCCs, Patrons and Bishop Jane, All Saints
22nd October, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s