This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 John 2:28-3:3 (p 1226) and Mark 13:32-37 (p 1019)Christmas trees: Please remember that Christmas trees are on sale this weekend at Sacombe Green, with proceeds going to St Catherine’s. Come and see what is available!Christmas Crackers 12th December, 7.00 pm: Our combined choirs concert will take place in St Mary’s on Thursday evening at 7.00 pm. Please join us as the Standon Sing Community Choir, the Rib Singers and our own Benefice Choir join forces for this celebration of Christmas. The concert is free, with a retiring collection for the Buntingford and Villages Food Hub and Community Support (previously the Buntingford Food Bank). FOSM will serve mulled wine and mince pies in the interval.Little Christmas Angels 14th December: The Little Angels Christmas event will take place on Saturday between 10 and 12 in St Mary’s. Children of all ages are welcome with their grown-ups, and they will be making lanterns that they can use at Carols round the tree or our Christingle services.And Carol Services coming up: Please take fliers for our Christmas services and invite friends and neighbours to celebrate with us. Lots of people love a carol service, and we would love to welcome them to our churches.Christingle preparation: A team will be making Christingles on 23rd December at 10.30 am in St Mary’s. If you can help, please speak to Basma.Café Christmas break: This week’s will be the last Wednesday café at Little Munden before the holiday.Building work at St Catherine’s: The scaffolding has gone up at St Catherine’s! The work has started on the quinquennial recommendations, and the scaffolding will be in place for several months. We also have some scaffolding up at All Saints, for more minor works. Please take care as you approach our churches at this busy time.Sacombe coffee morning: The recent Advent coffee morning at St Catherine’s raised £1,700. Thank you to all who supported it. We are still a little short of the funds required for the building work, but we hope that by the time the money is needed it will be raised.Trees in our churchyards: Tree surgeons will be working in both Standon and Little Munden churchyards over the weeks to come, so please take care.Knit & Natter 12th December: The group will meet on Thursday at 2pm in the Sargant room (at the back of Standon village hall). Tea & cakes will be available. For more information please contact Marion on 01920 745683.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:8th December 100.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's29th December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's5th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: Hebrews 9:24-end (p 1207) and Mark 13:1-8 (p 1019)Apology: Apologies from the editor for missing the midnight service from the list of Christmas services last week. As you will see, it’s there now! Thank you to all the people who pointed out my mistake.Advent service 1st December: This Sunday, at 6.00 we have our special Advent service. Come and join us for a service of music and readings to mark the start of the Advent season.Services and events for Advent and Christmas: There are lists and fliers in all of our churches; please pick some up if you have someone you can invite along. If you can offer help for any of them, please speak to one of the church wardens or PCC members.Harvest Appeal sent off: We have sent £1,355 to Place of Grace UK towards the costs of the minibus to help John and Gillian’s work in the slums of Bangkok. Thank you to all who contributed.Trees in our churchyards: You may have seen that we have some storm damage in Standon churchyard, with a tree down due to last weekend’s winds, and we have known for some time that two trees at Little Munden need attention. Tree surgeons will be working in both places over the weeks to come, so please take care.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:1st December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Service of music and readings for Advent, St Mary's8th December 100.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's29th December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's
This Sunday is designated as Christ the King, and we welcome Harriet and her family, who come to celebrate Harriet’s baptism in our 10.30 service.This weekend’s Bible reading: Daniel 7:9-14 (p 892)Pop up shop and bookstall: The pop up shop and bookstall will be at our 10.30am service. Please come and browse the Christmas stock.Midweek Music: The next Midweek Music concert is on Wednesday 27th November at 12.30 and we will be welcoming back the ensemble, Flute Cocktail. Do come and support them and enjoy refreshments from 11.30am. Entry is free and any donaons are shared between all three churches in our Benefice. Everyone is very welcome.Advent service 1st December: There is no Choral Evensong this Sunday as we have our special Advent service next week, 1st December.Services and events for Advent and Christmas: Next weekend marks the start of Advent, and we have a plethora of events and services planned between now and Christmas. There are lists and fliers in all of our churches; please pick some up if you have someone you can invite along.School governor vacancies: Roger de Clare school is seeking to recruit some governors. Currently, they have three foundaon governors from church; John, Derek G and Wendy S. This is the required number of foundation governors, although with Sarah they did have four. They are in particular need of someone with experience of finance. David R has composed an advert which will be circulated in various ways. Please look out for it, or, if you’d like to know more, contact David or the school office.Operation Christmas Child: 124 boxes were collected from Lizzy last weekend and are on their way to Ukraine and Malawi. Please pray for all who will be involved in their shipping and distribution.FOSM thank you: Thank you to all who helped with or supported the FOSM Christmas Fair last weekend. We raised just over £1,000.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:24th November 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's1st December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Service of music and readings for Advent, St Mary's8th December 100.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints22nd December 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols, St Mary's
This Sunday is designated as Safeguarding Sunday.This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (p 1188) and Matthew 25:1-13 (p 994)Visit from Samara and Andrew Ellis: Andrew and Sam have contacted us to say they are coming to the UK for Sam’s father’s memorial service on the 23rd November. If Sam’s visa comes in time, they would like to come and see us at the Sacombe service next Tuesday 19th at 9.30am. Pray that it comes in time!Christmas Fairs: Next Saturday, 23rd, Sacombe will hold its annual sale from 10.30 until 12.30, with lots to buy as well as, again, refreshments and cakes.Little Munden School’s Christmas Fayre is in the afternoon, 1.00 until 4.00, in the school. You would be very welcome there too!Pop up shop and bookstall: The pop up shop will be in St Mary’s at the 10.30am service next Sunday, 24th November. This will be the last opportunity to buy The Real Advent Calendar. Stock is very low! Profits go to the Buntingford Food Hub (was Foodbank).The book stall will also be at the service, with plenty of books and activities for Christmas.Bill on Assisted Dying: On 29th November, the Terminally Ill (End of Life) Adults Bill will have its Second Reading in the House of Commons where MPs will likely vote on the proposed law. Please consider writing to your MP. There is information about the topic at the website care.org.uk (a Christian organisation). They have set up an easy-to-use email tool to make writing to your MP simple and effective.Benefice Group for World Mission: Our BGWM group, who meet occasionally and support our missionary partners with prayer constantly would love to welcome new members. If you feel God is calling you to this service, please contact Peter A. Their next meeting is on Friday 29th November at 2 in All Saints.Advent service 1st December: There is no Choral Evensong this month as we have our special Advent service on 1st December. Our Advent service is one of words and music appropriate for the start of the Advent season, as we anticipate the coming of Jesus, which we’ll celebrate at Christmas.Christmas trees in Sacombe Green: Christmas trees will be on sale once more at the Old Rectory, in Sacombe Green, SG12 0JQ on two weekends, 30th November & 1st December, and 7th & 8th December. Trees can be chosen there or pre-ordered from Martyn on 07831 654758. All proceeds will go to St Catherine’s.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:17th November 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion, All Saints24th November 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's1st December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Service of music and readings for Advent, St Mary's8th December 100.30am Holy Communion, St Mary's15th December 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy Communion (said), All Saints6.00pm Carol Service, All Saints
