This weekend’s Bible reading:John 10:1-10 (p 1076)Choral Evensong Sunday 26th April, 6pm at St Mary’s:Please join us at St Mary’s this Sunday for our regular service of Choral Evensong. Our benefice choir will lead us in this reflective service of word and music.Service to celebrate Ronnie’s life, Thursday 3.00 pm in All Saints:Many of us remember Ronnie Scales, who attended our services faithfully over many years. Ronnie was cremated privately, but we will celebrate his life with a short service on Thursday afternoon. Ronnie doesn’t have any family who can attend, and only a few Libury Hall residents are able to be there, but his friends in the benefice family or in the village are all welcome to attend. There will, of course, be tea and biscuits (and possibly cake) afterwards!Mayday in Standon:Mayday is next weekend, and we are signing up helpers. As usual, there will be various displays and live music in St Mary’s. We will need welcomers in church, and FOSM will be serving teas in the Village Hall. There is a sign up sheet in the back of St Mary’s, or you can speak to Marion or Angie to volunteer to help in church, or to Stephanie if you can bake for or help in the Village Hall.Thank you to Keith:At St Mary's APCM, Keith Plummer stepped down as Churchwarden after two six year periods as warden. Keith was publicly thanked for his wonderful service to God and the people of our Benefice through his work. Particularly valued during his terms of office are the attention to detail of health and safety matters, the comprehensive research and records of burials in Standon Churchyard and his unstinting oversight of various building works, notably the recent extensive work on the tower. We are indebted to Keith and Jacqui for all they have given and will continue to give to us. They are a blessing. We wish Keith a well deserved restful retirement. A presentation was made to Keith on behalf of us all.APCM appointments:All are annual meetings have been held now, and our new officers and PCC members have been elected. They are:Sacombe: Church Wardens Janet Armstrong & Lizzie Bacon; Secretary Peter Hudson; Treasurer Ralph Paddock; Deanery Synod representative Lizzie Bacon; elected PCC members Hilary Andrews, Diane Gale, Carole & Peter Hudson, Angela McMullen, Ralph Paddock.The Mundens: Church Warden Derek Wheeler; Secretary Rebecca Legg; Treasurer Ray Salmons; Deanery Synod representatives Hugh & Rebecca Legg; elected PCC members Jackie Bray, Chris Brown, Heather Jackson, Colin & Gaby Jenkinson, Hugh & Rebecca Legg, Ray Salmons.Standon: Church Wardens Marion Smith & Angie Adamson; Secretary Lizzy Franks; Treasurer Caroline Franks; Deanery Synod representatives Diane Moss & Angie Adamson; elected PCC members Cliff & Stephanie Beeston, Sue Geddes, Derek & Margaret Goodall, Jan Price, Wendy Rogers, Michael Smith.Derek has moved from Sacombe PCC to take on the church warden role for The Mundens. He has done this to support All Saints, but that doesn’t mean we can relax now. We are still one CW down. Please continue to ask God to show you where he is calling you to serve, whether in an official role or in some other way.Please pray for all our officers and PCC members.Feedback from Bishop Jane:Bishop Jane has written to thank us for welcoming her to our Holy Week and Easter services. She commented on how well we work together as a benefice, and that has been underlined in Derek’s stepping across from Sacombe to act as church warden for The Mundens.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:26th April 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s3rd May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints10th May 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s17th May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints24th May 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s31st May 10.30 am Morning worship, St Catherine’sPlease note there will be no choral evensong in May.Dates & meetings coming up:29th April, 12.45 pm Renewal of wedding vows of John & Sarah Jane Yates, St Mary’s30th April, 3.00 pm Service to celebrate the life of Ronnie Scales, All Saints4th May, all day Mayday celebrations, Standon High Street6th May, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall7th May, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop20th May, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop26th May, 12.30 pm Wedding of Elizabeth Whomsley & Sam Brown, St Mary’s27th May, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible readings:Acts 2:14a, 36-41 (p 1093) Luke 24:13-35 (p 1061)APCMs (Annual Parochial Church Meetings):Our last APCM (for The Mundens) will be held this weekend, after the 10.30 service. Please try to attend if you can, as we review last year and look forward to the next one. If you feel called to do more in our benefice, please speak to one of the PCC or to Caroline.Midweek Music at St Mary’s 22nd April:This coming Wednesday, we welcome music scholars from Heath Mount School. Refreshments will be served from 11.30 and the concert starts at 12.30. There is no charge but any donations will be shared between all three of the churches in our United Benefice.Choral Evensong Sunday 26th April, 6pm at St Mary’s:Please join us at St Mary’s next Sunday for our regular service of Choral Evensong. Our benefice choir will lead us in this reflective service or word and music.Lindsey Moss licensing:We have also received an invitation from Lindsey Moss, who was curate here some years ago, to her licensing on Monday 20th at St Andrew’s Church, Slip End, Bedfordshire. If you would like to go, please speak to Carole, Peter, Derek or Margaret, who will give Lindsey an idea of numbers.Wednesday café:We are still appealing for help with the café, which runs in All Saints on Wednesday afternoons during term times. Sadly, we have lost some key members of the team in recent months, and we are starting to worry that we might not be able to carry on this important and effective outreach. If you could spare a couple of hours every now and again, or provide cake from time to time, please speak urgently to Carole or Lizzie B.Mayday in Standon:Mayday is fast approaching, and we are signing up helpers. As usual, there will be various displays and live music in St Mary’s. We will need welcomers in church, and FOSM will be serving teas in the Village Hall. There is a sign up sheet in the back of St Mary’s, or you can speak to Marion or Angie to volunteer to help in church, or to Stephanie if you can bake for or help in the Village Hall.Free fraud and cybercrime advice sessions in Ware:Herts Constabulary is offering residents free fraud and cybercrime advice sessions at Ware Library. The event, organised and delivered by specialist Cyber Protect officers from the Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, is scheduled for Monday 20th April between 11am and 2.15pm. These sessions are free and provide practical tips for avoiding the most common types of fraud and cybercrime. Tea and biscuits are also provided.11:00-12:00 - Rogue Traders & Scams - Trading Standards12:00-12:15 - Fraud against the Council - HCC SAFS12:15-13:15 - Cyber crime & Fraud Prevention - Herts Police13:15-14:15 - Scams & Victim Support - Beacon/Victim CareServices for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:19th April 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th April 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s3rd May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints10th May 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s17th May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints24th May 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no choral evensong in May.Dates & meetings coming up:19th April, 11.30 am The Mundens APCM, All Saints20th April Licensing of Lindsey Moss at Slip End St Andrews Slip End22nd April, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s24th April, 7.30 pm FOSM AGM, St Mary’s30th April, 3.00 pm Service to celebrate the life of Ronnie, All Saints4th May, all day Mayday celebrations, Standon High Street6th May, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall7th May, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop20th May, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop
This weekend’s Bible readings:Acts 10:34-43 (p 1104) Matthew 28:1-10 (p 1000)Thank you:Thank you to all who have helped this week, by organising, welcoming, reading, singing, making refreshments or in any other way. Bishop Jane has very much enjoyed being part of all our Holy Week services, and we welcome her as she shares our Easter Day communion with us. Thank you, too, to our flower arrangers and cleaners, and all who have worked to make our churches ready for Easter. And, not least, thank you to our Standon ringers, who have checked the bells and cleaned the ringing chamber after all the building work, in readiness for our tower to ring us to church on Easter Day.Notices double edition:There will be no notices sheet next weekend (Caroline is having a few days’ break).Midweek services:Please remember that our regular Tuesday and Wednesday midweek services will not take place this week.APCMs (Annual Parochial Church Meetings):The APCMs for our benefice churches will be held in the next two weeks, after our usual services. Please try to attend if you can, as we review last year and look forward to the next one. If you feel called to join one of our PCCs, please ask our secretaries for an application form.Some paper copies of Standon’s APCM papers are available at the back of St Mary’s this morning, but if you’re willing to receive the papers electronically, whichever electoral roll you belong to, please let your secretary know. There will not be enough paper copies at the meetings for everyone!Wednesday café:Once again, we are appealing for help with the café, which runs in All Saints on Wednesday afternoons during term times. Sadly, we have lost some key members of the team in recent months, and we are starting to worry that we might not be able to carry on this important and effective outreach. If you could spare a couple of hours every now and again, or provide cake from time to time, please speak urgently to Carole or Lizzie B.Knit & Natter group:If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us in the Sargant room (at the back of Standon village hall) any time between 1pm and 3.30pm, usually on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Tea & cakes will be available. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 9th April. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no midweek services on 7th or 8th April.Sunday services:5th April 10.30 am Easter Day communion service, St Mary’s12th April 10.30 am Morning worship, St Mary’s19th April 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th April 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s3rd May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsBishop Jane will join us for Easter Morning.There is no 8.00 service, and our 10.30 service will be in St Mary’s.Dates & meetings coming up:12th April, 11.30 am Standon APCM, St Mary’s14th April, 10.30 am Sacombe APCM, St Catherine’s19th April, 11.30 am The Mundens APCM, All Saints22nd April, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s30th April, 3.00 pm Service to celebrate the life of Ronnie, All Saints6th May, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall
Please remember the clocks go forward this weekend!This weekend’s Bible readings:Isaiah 50:4-9a (p 737) Matthew 21:1-11 (p 988)Notices double edition next week:Next week’s notices sheet will cover two weeks (Caroline is having a few days’ break) so please let her have anything that needs to be publicised before the weekend of 19th.Vacancy update:Following the recent interview process for our new Rector we have to let you know that we have been unsuccessful in making an appointment. This is obviously a disappointment but we have to trust in God’s hand in all of this. The post will be readvertised and a new date set for interviews. Please continue to pray for our parish representatives and for all those who are carrying significant responsibility at this time to ensure that the life, mission and witness of our Benefice continues.APCMs (Annual Parochial Church Meetings) and the Electoral Roll (ER):The APCMs for our benefice churches will be held after Easter. The ER for each church is now closed until after the APCMs and the lists are posted, or will be soon, in each church. If you think your name should be there, please check that it is, and let the ER officers know if not: Hugh (All Saints), Carole (St Catherine’s), Wendy (St Mary’s).APCM papers:If you are responsible for writing the APCM report for your group, please send it this weekend to Lizzy (for benefice wide reports) or to the appropriate secretary.If you’re willing to save time, paper and copying by receiving the papers by email, please contact the appropriate secretary: Lizzy for Standon, Rebecca for The Mundens, Peter H for Sacombe.Stan being confirmed:Stan, whom John baptised last year, will be confirmed with a number of others in a service at Thorley on 19th April at 4.00 pm. Any who would like to support Stan are very welcome to attend.Services for the next few weeks:Midweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no midweek services on 7th or 8th April.Sunday services:29th March 10.30 am Palm Sunday morning worship, St Catherine’s5th April 10.30 am Easter Day communion service, St Mary’s12th April 10.30 am Morning worship, St Mary’s19th April 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th April 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s3rd May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsHoly Week Services:Tuesday 31st March 9.30 am Holy Communion, St Catherine’sWednesday 1st April 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sThursday 2nd April, 7.30 pm Maundy Thursday communion, St Catherine’sFriday 3rd April 10.30 am Service at the Cross, All SaintsFriday 3rd April 2.00 pm Reflective Hour, St Mary’sSunday 5th April 10.30 am Easter Day communion service, St Mary’sBishop Jane will join us for all of our Holy Week services.There will be no 8.00 service on Easter Sunday, and our 10.30 service will be in St Mary’s.Dates & meetings coming up:1st April, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall12th April, 11.30 am Standon APCM, St Mary’s14th April, 10.30 am Sacombe APCM, St Catherine’s19th April, 11.30 am The Mundens APCM, All Saints22nd April, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s
