This weekend’s Bible readings:Psalm 8 (p 546) Matthew 6:25-34 (p 971)Service on 19th July:This week, our benefice choir is joined by the Little Munden School choir at our communion service at 10.30. Owing to logistical challenges, this service will not be streamed.Midweek Music in St Mary’s 22nd July:Our lunchtime concert this month will be given by The Wild Rose Trio with Catherine Wild, Jane Rose and Michael Smith. There will be a beautiful mix of music for oboe, flute, recorder and piano. As usual, light refreshments are served from 11.30 until the concert at 12.30. There is no charge but any donations will be gratefully received. Come and escape the heat and enjoy some live music.Choral evensong 26th July:We will be welcoming Archdeacon Janet to lead and preach at Choral Evensong on Sunday 26th July at St Mary's at 6pm. All are invited to join us for worship at this special service of music, reflection and prayer.Streaming services in August:We will not be streaming any of our services August. This will allow our team to do some much needed technical maintenance work on the equipment.Wednesday services from September:Our informal service in St Mary’s on Wednesday mornings will take a slightly different format from September. Instead of a conventional sermon, we will be using a Good Book Company study guide to reflect on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. All are welcome. Please speak to Caroline if you would like more information.Notices in August:As usual, we will produce a single notices sheet covering the whole of August. The sheet produced the weekend of 2nd will be the last until 6th September. If you have items for inclusion, please let Caroline have them by 31st July.Bike ‘n’ Hike:This year’s sponsored Bike ‘n’ Hike, organised by the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust, will take place on Saturday 12th September. This is an important fundraiser for BHHCT, who, among other things, support churches (including ours) with grants for capital work. If you would like to cycle, walk or drive around the area visiting churches, please see the poster at the back of our churches for sign up details. If you are able to offer an hour or two to welcome participants to our churches, please speak to the appropriate church warden.Christianity Explored course:This 7 session course is suitable for anyone interested in finding out more or refreshing their knowledge of what our Christian faith is about. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part, please speak to Caroline. There are leaflets at the back of each of our churches.Holiday Bible Club 24th – 27th August ‘God’s People and the Temple of the Rising Son’:Bookings are strong and Caroline is collecting names of any who would like to help. The club runs from 10 – 3 each day; we meet for briefing and prayer at 9.30 each morning. In addition to the all-day volunteers, we need a few chaperones to help accompany the children to Burrs Meadow to eat their packed lunches. If you could spare an hour at lunchtime on any of the days to help, please speak to Caroline.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 Wednesday morning service in August.Sunday services:19th July 8.00 am Public worship with Communion by extension, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th July 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s2nd August 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints9th August 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s16th August 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up:22nd July, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s22nd July, 1.15 pm Little Munden School leavers service, All Saints27th July, 2.30 pm Funeral of Keith Smith, All Saints10th August, 11.00 am Funeral of Anna Miles, St Mary’s22nd August, 3.00 pm Wedding of Kelsey Botten and Shane Gambin, St Mary’s24th – 27th August, 10 – 3 Holiday Bible Club, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible readings:Romans 8:1-11 (p 1134) Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (p 979)Service on 19th July:Next Sunday, our benefice choir will be joined by the Little Munden School choir at our communion service at 10.30. Please join us if you can, to welcome the children and their families. Owing to logistical challenges, the service that day will not be streamed.Choral evensong 26th July:We will be welcoming Archdeacon Janet to lead and preach at Choral Evensong on Sunday 26th July at St Mary's at 6pm. All are invited to join us for worship at this special service of music, reflection and prayer.Bike ‘n’ Hike:This year’s sponsored Bike ‘n’ Hike, organised by the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust, will take place on Saturday 12th September. This is an important fundraiser for BHHCT, who, among other things, support churches (including ours) with grants for capital work. If you would like to cycle, walk or drive around the area visiting churches, please see the poster at the back of our churches for sign up details. If you are able to offer an hour or two to welcome participants to our churches, please speak to the appropriate church warden.Reading challenge:‘10ofthose’ (a Christian publishing company) is running a summer reading challenge, entitled Go All In, to recognise the current National Year of Reading. The challenge is to read 4 Christian books from their extensive collection, and for those who want to enter officially, there's a chance to win book vouchers. More information is at https://uk.10ofthose.com/go-all-in Lizzy is happy to order any books that you are interested in - just speak to her or email lizzy@ubsms.org.ukChristianity Explored course:This 7 session course will run in the autumn on Sunday afternoons. It is suitable for anyone interested in finding out more or refreshing their knowledge of what our Christian faith is about. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part, or if you would like to help support the group, please speak to Caroline. There are leaflets at the back of each of our churches.Holiday Bible Club 24th – 27th August ‘God’s People and the Temple of the Rising Son’:Bookings are strong and Caroline is collecting names of any who would like to help. The club runs from 10 – 3 each day; we meet for briefing and prayer at 9.30 each morning. In addition to the all-day volunteers, we need a few chaperones to help accompany the children to Burrs Meadow to eat their packed lunches. If you could spare an hour at lunchtime on any of the days to help, please speak to Caroline.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 Wednesday morning service in August.Sunday services:12th July 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s19th July 8.00 am Public worship with Communion by extension, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th July 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s2nd August 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints9th August 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:15th July, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare leavers service, St Mary’s16th July, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop22nd July, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s22nd July, 1.15 pm Little Munden School leavers service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings:Romans 7:15-25a (p 1134) Matthew 11:16-end (p 976)Service on 19th July:On 19th July, our benefice choir will be joined by the Little Munden School choir at our communion service at 10.30. Please join us if you can, to welcome the children and their families. Owing to logistical challenges, the service that day will not be streamed.Knit & Natter group 9th July:If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us in the Sargent 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 is on Thursday 9th July. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130 or Marion on 01920 745683.Bike ‘n’ Hike:This year’s sponsored Bike ‘n’ Hike, organised by the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust, will take place on Saturday 12th September. This is an important fundraiser for BHHCT, who, among other things, support churches (including ours) with grants for capital work. If you would like to cycle, walk or drive around the area visiting churches, please see the poster at the back of our churches for sign up details. If you are able to offer an hour or two to welcome participants to our churches, please speak to the appropriate church warden.Reading challenge:‘10ofthose’ (a Christian publishing company) is running a summer reading challenge, entitled Go All In, to recognise the current National Year of Reading. The challenge is to read 4 Christian books from their extensive collection, and for those who want to enter officially, there's a chance to win book vouchers. More information is at https://uk.10ofthose.com/go-all-in Lizzy is happy to order any books that you are interested in - just speak to her or email lizzy@ubsms.org.ukChristianity Explored course:This 7 session course will run in the autumn on Sunday afternoons. It is suitable for anyone interested in finding out more or refreshing their knowledge of what our Christian faith is about. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part, or if you would like to help support the group, please speak to Caroline.Holiday Bible Club 24th – 27th August:Bookings are going well and Caroline is collecting names of any who would like to help with the 2026 Holiday Bible Club, ‘God’s People and the Temple of the Rising Son’.The club runs from 10 – 3 on each of the four days; we meet for briefing and prayer at 9.30 each morning.The larger the team, the easier it is for everyone. Please consider whether you can help on some or all of the days, and, if so, please speak to Caroline.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 Wednesday morning service in August.Sunday services:5th July 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints12th July 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s19th July 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th July 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s2nd August 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up:15th July, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare leavers service, St Mary’s16th July, 2.00 pm Vacancy team meeting, The Old Top Shop22nd July, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s22nd July, 1.15 pm Little Munden School leavers service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible reading:Romans 6: 12-end (p 1133)An update about the Vacancy:A message from Michael, who is chairing the vacancy committee:I am sorry to have to let you know that we have been informed that our candidate selected to come to the benefice for interview has accepted a post elsewhere and is withdrawing from the interview process.I know this will be disappointing news and I am sad that this second round of recruitment has ended in this way. We will now need to look at a timetable for the third round of recruitment.Please pray for those who are carrying an enormous amount at this time. We know God has this but everyone needs to support each other in prayer and practical action so that our benefice can grow and continue to reach out to our communities as the next months unfold.Michael SmithChoral Evensong Sunday 28th June, 6pm at St Mary’s:Please join us this weekend for our regular service of Choral Evensong. Our benefice choir will lead us in this reflective service of word and music.Thank you:Thank you to everyone for your generous support over the last couple of weeks of events, with totals raised from Open Gardens £9,740, Victoria Smith's concert £371, Midsummer Revels £545 and Midweek Music with Haileybury £250. All of these events have reached out to our communities in different ways, our churches have benefited financially and we are very grateful. A huge thank you, too, to those who have worked so hard to make these events successful.Reading challenge:‘10ofthose’ (a Christian publishing company) is running a summer reading challenge, entitled Go All In, to recognise the current National Year of Reading. The challenge is to read 4 Christian books from their extensive collection, and for those who want to enter officially, there's a chance to win book vouchers. More information is at https://uk.10ofthose.com/go-all-in Lizzy is happy to order any books that you are interested in - just speak to her or email lizzy@ubsms.org.ukNew Seasons 4th July:There will be a meeting of New Seasons bereavement group in All Saints on Saturday, 2 - 4pm. If you have lost your partner, recently or long ago please join us for an informal chat with tea and cake. For more information please phone Heather on 07909 065550 or just come along on the day.Christianity Explored course:Plans are advancing for the Christianity Explored course in the autumn. This is a 7 session course is suitable for anyone interested in finding out more or refreshing their knowledge of what our Christian faith is about. It will take place on Sunday afternoons. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part, or if you would like to help support the group, please speak to Caroline.Holiday Bible Club 24th – 27th August:Bookings are going well and Caroline is collecting names of any who would like to help with the 2026 Holiday Bible Club, ‘God’s People and the Temple of the Rising Son’.The club runs from 10 – 3 on each of the four days; we meet for briefing and prayer at 9.30 each morning.The larger the team, the easier it is for everyone. Please consider whether you can help on some or all of the days, and, if so, please speak to Caroline.Streaming in St Mary’s:We could still do with some more help with streaming in St Mary’s. If that might be you, please speak to Marion, Angie, Michael or Caroline.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 Wednesday morning service in August.Sunday services:28th June 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s5th July 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints12th July 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s19th July 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints26th July 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:29th June, 11.30 am Memorial service for Ann Smith, All Saints1st July, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall4th July, 2.00 pm New Seasons group meeting, All Saints15th July, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare leavers service, St Mary’s22nd July, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s22nd July, 1.15 pm Little Munden School leavers service, All Saints
