This weekend’s Bible readings: Exodus 16:1-5 (p 73) and John 6:25-35 (p 1070)Harvest appeal: This weekend’s is the last of our harvest services, and our collection at All Saints will go towards our harvest appeal towards a minibus for the Place of Grace in Bangkok. If you’d rather give online, please use the reference ‘harvest’.Knit & Natter 10th October: 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.Sarah’s memorial service: Sarah’s memorial service will be held in St Mary’s on the afternoon of Saturday 26th October. We’ll let you know the exact time when we have it.Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather's next Sunday lunch will be on 27th October at 12.15pm at The Star in Standon. Please contact Heather on 07909 065550 if you would like to book a place.Old shoes wanted! We are inviting donations of old shoes people are happy to be recycled for the activity at the November family service, where we’ll be thinking of ‘how beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News’. Odd ones are fine. Please note: we don’t need hundreds of them, so please don’t inundate us!Events coming up:Lunchtime concert 12th October: Thank you to those who came to support the lunchtime concert at St Mary's on Saturday. It was a lovely occasion, despite the low numbers present. We hope that more people will be able to join us on Saturday 12th when the Rib Singers directed by David Ranford will entertain us. Delicious home made soups and bread and cheese lunches available from 12 noon and after the concert. Please spread the word!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:6th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Harvest morning worship, All Saints13th October 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's20th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints27th October 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Choral evensong, St Mary's3rd November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints10th November 9.30am Morning worship followed by Act of Remembrance at Dane End war memorial, All Saints10.45am Remembrance service, St Mary's3.00pm Act of Remembrance, St Catherine's
This weekend’s Bible readings: Psalm 8 (p 546) and Matthew 6:25-33 (p 971)Please join us if you can for a picnic lunch after the 10.30 service. If the weather cheers up, we’ll migrate outside, but otherwise we’ll be in the church. Bring your food, but hot and cold drinks will be provided.Harvest appeal: This weekend, our collection at St Catherine’s will go towards our harvest appeal. If you’d rather give online, please use the reference ‘harvest’. This year, we are supporting the Robinsons’ efforts to raise enough money to purchase a minibus for their work at The Place of Grace, where they work with children from the slums of Bangkok. More information on their work can be found on our benefice website.Sad news: As most of you know by now, very sadly, our good friend and sister in Christ, Sarah Baker, died suddenly and unexpectedly last Saturday. She was on her own land, tending to her animals, and the manner of her death was as she had always wished it would be. Please pray for Mike, Helen and Hannah, and for all Sarah’s family and those who loved her as we all come to terms with this enormous shock.Events coming up:Lunchtime concerts 5th and 12th October: The first lunchtime concert is next Saturday, 5th October in St Mary’s. A soup and cheese lunch will be available from 12 and after the concert, which will take place at 12.30.The concerts this year are:5th October A10 Strings, directed by David Boarder 12th October Rib Singers, directed by David RanfordWhat’s been happening recently:Choral workshop last weekend: Last Saturday, 50 choristers gathered in St Mary’s for a workshop led by composer Philip Stopford, culminating in a sing-through to friends and family who came along at the end of the day to listen. The day was not only enjoyable but informative, as Philip shared anecdotes about how some of the pieces our benefice choir sings regularly came to be composed. Thank you to all the support team who helped make sure the day (with its many tea and coffee breaks!) ran smoothly. Especial thanks to Michael, who organised the day and invited Philip. As ever, our hospitality was complimented by our visitors.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:29th September 10.30am Harvest morning worship, St Catherine's6th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Harvest morning worship, All Saints13th October 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's20th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints27th October 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Choral Evensong, St Mary's3rd November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible reading: Isaiah 55:6-13 (p 742)This weekend we welcome Harriet and her family and supporters to St Mary’s. Not only is it Harriet’s first birthday, but she will be baptised in our family service. Please pray for her and her sponsors as she embarks on her new life as a member of God’s world-wide Church.Please join us if you can for our special harvest choral evensong at 6.00, also in St Mary’s.Harvest appeal: This weekend, we launch our harvest appeal. This year, we are supporting the Robinsons’ efforts to raise enough money to purchase a minibus for their work at The Place of Grace, where they work with children from the slums of Bangkok. More information on their work can be found on our benefice website. If you would like to contribute to the appeal, please put your donation into one of the special envelopes available in the pews at St Mary’s, or directly into the collection bag at St Catherine’s next week, or All Saints on 6th October.Events coming up:Midweek Music 25th September: This coming Wednesday at 12.30 in St Mary’s Standon, the midweek concert 'Harvest Home' will be given by John Witchell, piano; Robin Pegna, baritone and Ros Holbrow, clarinet. Refreshments will be served from 11.30am and all are welcome. Any donations are shared with the whole Benefice.Sacombe picnic 29th September: We are invited to bring a picnic lunch to the Sacombe service on 29th, to enjoy in the churchyard (or in the church if weather dictates). Drinks will be provided, but please bring a chair if you can.What’s been happening recently:Little Munden Quiz Night: Thank you to all who helped make the quiz night on 7th September such a resounding success, both socially and financially. Everybody seemed to have had a lovely time, with an excellent quiz master and beautifully presented Ploughman's Platters. The bar ran dry and emergency supplies had quickly to be sourced. The event will certainly be repeated in 2025. The amount raised was £1,465.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:22nd September 10.30am All age harvest worship, St Mary's6.00pm Harvest Choral Evensong, St Mary's29th September 10.30am Harvest morning worship, St Catherine's6th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Harvest morning worship, All Saints13th October 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's20th October 8.00am Holy Communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints27th October 10.30am All age worship, St Mary's6.00pm Choral Evensong, St Mary's
This weekend’s Bible readings: James 3:1-12 (p 1214) and Mark 8:27-end (p 1012) Events coming up:Pop-Up Shop 22nd September: The fairtrade pop up shop is back next Sunday. Marion will be taking advance orders for Advent calendars and candles.Benefice bookstall 22nd September: The bookstall will also be back next week. Lizzy plans to have Christmas stock for the end of October, so if there’s something in particular that you know you would like her to order, please let her know.Sunday lunch at the Star 22nd September: Heather is organising our next Sunday lunch at the Star, next Sunday at 12.15pm. For more information, please contact Heather 07909 065550.Diocesan vacancies: The Diocese is advertising for two part-time administrators to work with the Education Team at Holywell Lodge, and has asked that we highlight this. Further details are available on their website at https://www.stalbansdiocese.org/vacancies-role/diocesan-roles/ .What’s been happening recently:Children’s groups: Little Angels returned for the new academic year on Friday. We were thrilled to welcome 13 pre-school children with their parents/carers. A fun time was had by all! At the café, we now have two groups for children. Lizzy S and Luke are both coming each week, and the older children have more focussed Bible study in the Upper Room while the younger ones continue with the activities downstairs. One of the older group described this week’s session as his best day ever! And, at collective worship in both schools this week, those who had attended our HBC could show that they remembered several key points from the teaching they received there. Please continue to pray for all our outreach work.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:15th September 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints22nd September 10.30am All age harvest worship, St Mary's6.00pm Harvest Choral Evensong, St Mary's29th September 10.30am Harvest morning worship, St Catherine's6th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Harvest morning worship, All Saints13th October 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's20th October 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints
