This weekend’s Bible readings:Hebrews 2:14-18 (p 1202) Luke 2:22-40 (p 1028) Church family news:Jim’s funeral will be on Tuesday 17th February at 12.00 midday in St Mary’s. Julie’s will be on Friday 20th February at 1.00 pm, also in St Mary’s.Soup and Snowdrops 21st February at Sacombe:You are warmly invited to Soup & Snowdrops at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday 21st February between 12.00 and 2.00 pm. Come and enjoy some homemade soup, bread and cheese. Proceeds will be for the work of the church.Help needed:In the last few weeks, we’ve been appealing for more help in our churches. The need is becoming even more acute as we go on in 2026; 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 really needs more volunteers; we would welcome more people willing to take part in our services and many of our teams are short on personnel. All Saints has no church warden. There is much to celebrate in our benefice, but much still to do. 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.Support for the Food Bank:Our commitment to supporting our local foodbank continues, and another Sainsbury’s delivery of £1,485 worth of groceries was sent this week. However, the way it operates has changed slightly since they moved to a new base in Seth Ward Community Centre, and it has become more difficult to drop items off to them. We have decided, therefore, to remove the collection boxes from our churches, and ask that you either donate money through the Standon bank account towards our deliveries (please mark any donations with ‘Foodbank’) or drop off goods at Co-op Buntingford, where there is a collection bin for Gemma’s team. Thank you for your continuing support for this important work.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: 1st February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints8th February 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s15th February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints22nd February 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s 6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st March 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s 10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up: 3rd February, 2.00 pm Funeral of Leslie Gentry, All Saints4th February, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall11th February, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop 17th February, 12.00 Funeral of Jim King, St Mary’s 18th February, 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday service, St Catherine’s 20th February, 1.00 pm Funeral of Julie Williams, St Mary’s 21st February, 12.00 noon Soup and Snowdrops, St Catherine’s 25th February, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible reading:Matthew 4:12-23 (p 968) More sad news:As most of you know by now, very sadly, another much loved member of our church family, Jim King, died this week. Once more, many of you spoke to Jim last Sunday, when there was no sign that he was unwell. Jim suffered a major stroke on Tuesday and didn’t regain consciousness. Please pray for Shirley and all of Jim’s family, and those who loved him as we all come to terms with this second shock.Julie’s funeral will be on Friday 20th February at 1.00 pm in St Mary’s.Choral Evensong Sunday 25th January 3pm (please note the time) St Catherine's:Please join us at St Catherine's this 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.Midweek Music at St Mary's:The monthly midweek concerts at St Mary's Church, Standon are back after the Christmas break! On Wednesday (28th) Marion and Michael will be giving a concert of music for piano and organ at 12.30. Light refreshments will be served from 11.30 and we look forward to seeing you there.Entry and refreshments are free, but any donations you may wish to make will go towards the work of all three churches in our Benefice. 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 and in the Church Times. 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 ParishRepresentatives: Michael, Angie, Ray, Hugh, Derek or Janet.FOSM Quiz Night:The FOSM Quiz Night will be on Saturday. 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, and there is space for a couple more.Illuminate in the Cathedral:This event is in St Albans Abbey on Saturday 28th February for school years 6-13. The thousand-year-old place of worship will be transformed exclusively for young people, packed with inflatables and activities, art space, discussion zones, prayer space, great food and so much more. Tickets (for both youth and youth leaders) are £10 and include dinner. This event is run by The Collective, a local co-operative of Christian youth work organisations and church-based youth workers. More details on the Diocesan website. 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: 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 22nd February 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s 6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s 1st March 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 weekend’s choral evensong to mark the arrival of the new organ at St Catherine’s.Dates & meetings coming up: 28th January, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s 31st January, 7.30 pm FOSM Quiz Night, Community Centre 3rd February, 2.00 pm Funeral of Leslie Gentry, All Saints4th February, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall18th February, 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday service, St Catherine’s 20th February, 1.00 pm Funeral of Julie Williams, St Mary’s 21st February, 12.00 noon Soup and Snowdrops, St Catherine’s
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
