Royston Parish Church (Herts)

Royston Parish Church News - Sunday 16th November 2025

2025-11-18 notice sheet.pdf Download

ROYSTON PARISH CHURCH - where all are welcome and God's love is shared

You can download the paper copy of our news sheet from the link at the side of this page.

If you would like regular copies of the Notice Sheet emailed to you please email the parish office at admin@roystonparishchurch.org.uk.

Diary

Friday 14th November

17:30 - 18:30 Cheese & Wine fundraising Set up

19:00 - 21:30 Cheese & Wine fundraising for ACT

Saturday 15th November

10:00 - 11:30 Church Café (Tea / Coffee / Hot Chocolate only £2 - Free Biscuits)

12:00 -17:00 Royston Choral Society Concert set up

18:00 - 23:00 Royston Choral Society Concert

Sunday 16th November

09:00 - 09:45 Communion Service that is quiet and reflective

10:30 - 11:40 Communion Service with music/choir, children's groups/toy area, followed by refreshments

Tuesday 18th November

09:00 - 09:30 Morning Prayer (incorporating prayer requests that have been left in church)

Wednesday 19th November

11:00 - 11:25 Communion Service that is quiet and reflective, followed by refreshments

13:00 - 15:30 Knit and Natter (where all are welcome to meet and chat)

18:00 - 19:15 Chorister Practice

18:30 - 20:00 Choir Practice

Thursday 20th November

09:00 - 11:00 Tots in Church Church

13:00 - 15:00 Cleaner

18:00 - 19:30 Fabric Committee

19:00 - 21:00 Bell Ringers Practice

Friday 21nd November

09:00-17:00 Christmas Tree Arriving

Saturday 23rd November

10:00 - 11:30 Church Café (Tea / Coffee / Hot Chocolate only £2 - Free Biscuits)

Sunday 24th November

09:00 - 09:45 Communion Service in traditional language (BCP)

10:30 - 11:40 Communion Service with music/choir, children's groups/toy area, followed by refreshments

15:30-17:00 Evening Praise Rehearsal

17:00-18:00 Evening Praise

Dates for the Diary/Upcoming Events

UPCOMING EVENTS :There are a number of events coming up over the next few months to look forward to.

8th November 12.30 pm - Remembrance themed lunch time concert. Free entry, retiring collection in aid of Church Funds, refreshments available.

20th November 7 pm -Julian Prayer meeting at 11 Middle Drift

23rd November 5 pm - Evening Praise. An informal time of worship,. If you would like to take part of leading the singing or accompanying the songs, there will be rehearsal at 3 pm. Please contact [email protected] for advance copies of music.

11th December 7 pm -Julian Prayer meeting at 11 Middle Drift

9th February 2026 - The work of Guy Stagg, a local author , the event being organised byBow Books

14th February - Church Quiz

18th April - Cheese and wine evening

2nd & 4th May - Book Fayre

19th June - Hymns and PIMM’ s

Intercessions

We pray for all Christians worldwide:

For all Christians in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia
For all who are worship at Therfield Chapel: Paul Dutton
For the work of our mission partners: CMS

We pray for the community of Royston:
For our local health centres
For all who volunteer and make use of Royston Community Transport

We pray for our world and ECO projects:
UN World Toilet Day on 19th November - billions of people live without access to safe sanitation. We pray that we may be moved to help, for example by participating in Tear Fund's "Toilet Twinning" initiative.

We pray for the sick and suffering:

Lee Cockerill
Pat Pritchard
Harry Sime
Maria Turi
Chris Christou
Paul & Pat Tidey
Mike Brown
Marion
Val Brown
Angie & Ken Rushall
Paula Walker
Keith & Elaine Edwards
Peter Coates
Emma & Phil Heath
Peter Foster
Gwen Simmons
Ann Mulcahy

We pray for those whose anniversaries fall at this time:
John Doughton

NOTICES

Christmas Jumper/Bauble Swap event: Please dig out your Christmas decorations early this year and give them a dust off and sort through. Royston Environmental Group will be in church with us on 28th and 29th November for their Christmas Jumper and Decoration swap. They will collect donations of seasonal clothing or tree decorations in advance or on the day. Simply exchange your donation for a swap token and take away something new to you. It may also be possible to "swap" something for a cash donation if you don't have any- thing to donate, depending on stock. If you fancy a different look this year, for yourself or for your tree, bring along your old seasonal clothing or tree decorations and swap them for something new to you. Make this Christmas green not white! You can swap decorations for socks, or a jumper for baubles. If you have donations of good quality, clean clothing or deco- rations you would like to have collected or drop off in advance, please contact [email protected] or 07968 006018 to arrange.

HELP WANTED! - The church will be open on Saturday 29th November for the switching on of our Christmas tree lights, with mulled wine and mince pies. If you're able to spare an hour to help serve refreshments, please sign up on the sheet at the back of
church. Thanks in advance from the Events Committee

HELP NEEDED PLEASE: We have Christmas Tree bits to bring down from the attic in the vestry on Saturday 15th November from 10 am. Richard Marias is coordinating this, but would be very grateful for some extra hands to make it a lot easier. If you can offer this help please contact Richard on 07533 669100. Thank you.

ALSO: Chris is looking for helpers to dress the Christmas Tree starting from Saturday 22nd November to Friday 28th November., ready for the light up on Saturday 29th. If you available to help from Monday 24th until Friday morning please contact Joanne for more information and times. Thank you.

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE - We will be having a Christmas raffle to raise money for church funds, and need donations of goods that will be used to make a selection of luxury Christmas food and drink hampers. Items need to be well within date, as the raffle will be drawn in December. Please can donations be left in the kitchen before Saturday 22nd November, as that's when the hampers will be assembled. Thanks in advance from the Events committee. We are planning on 3 hampers for the raffle, so please help as much as you can, to bring items in before 22 November. Thank you

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE TICKETS are now on sale. They'll be available after church services (with the exception of the Remembrance Sunday morning service), Saturday Coffee, and during events at the end of November. Tickets are £1 each, prizes include Christmas Hampers, and all proceeds go to church funds.

MINCE PIES- The Events committee is seeking donations of boxes of mince pies for events throughout Advent. Please make sure they have a good shelf life. They can be left in the kitchen. Many thanks.

PUMPKIN SOUP: Please return by Friday 28th November evening where the soup will be used to welcome visitors into the church. Thank you in anticipation!

IS CREATION CARE MISSION OR MISSION DRIFT? That is the theme for this year's London Institute for Contemporary Christianity’s John Stott London Lecture. We have an online ticket to the event which will be shown at The Vicarage. It is taking place on Thursday 20th November at 7pm. Please email Steven if you would like to watch this lecture with him.

PARENT AND CARER CHRISTMAS CRAFT NIGHT: Royston Parish Church - Monday December 1st at 7.30 pm Christmas crafts to make , mince pies , mulled wine and Christmas treats. come and join us. Book at: https://tickets.myiknowchurch.co.uk/gb/NzcwMi0yNQ/t or speak to Yvonne.

SUNDAY READING SHEET 16th November 2025 2nd SUNDAY before ADVENT

A Reading from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

GOSPEL

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’ They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them. ‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls. Luke 21:5-19

The Diocese’s Living God’s Love Prayer:

Living God, draw us deeper into your love;
Jesus our Lord, send us to care and serve;
Holy Spirit, make us heralds of good news.
Stir us, strengthen us, teach and inspire us
To live your love with generosity and joy,
Imagination and courage;
for the sake of your world and
in the name of Jesus, Amen.

STAFF TEAM

Vicar: Revd Steven Sivyer (rest day MONDAY)

Telephone no. 01763 580242

Email: [email protected]

Curate: Jaime Roberts (rest day FRIDAY)

Telephone: 01763 580241

Email: [email protected]

Assistant Priest: The Reverend John Fidler

Telephone no. 01763 241886

Email: [email protected]

Reader: Emma Sivyer - On holiday until 3rd September

Telephone no. 07851 688610