This weekend’s Bible readings: James 5:1-8 (p1216) and Matthew 25 :31-46 (p995)Advent service: Our annual service of readings and music for Advent will take place this weekend, on Sunday at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s. Please join us if you can, to reflect on this time of waiting and anticipation as we hear the ancient prophecies and listen to the benefice choir as they lead our worship.Christmas Crackers 14th December: Once again, our benefice choir will be performing along with the Standon Sing Community choir and the Rib Singers in a concert of Christmas music, on 14th December in St Mary’s. Entry will be free, but there will be a retiring collection for Carers in Hertfordshire. FOSM will be selling mulled wine and soft drinks in the interval.Christingle preparation in St Marys, 23rd December, 2pm: Please let John know if you can help with this. All are welcome!Sending greetings across the benefice: In All Saints church during December there will be a little Christmas tree with some shiny stars . You can write your Christmas greetings to one another on these and hang them on the tree, giving a donation for the Foodbank.In St Mary’s, the Christmas post box is once more in use. Please remember to collect any cards there for you, as well as using it to leave cards for any other benefice members.Thank you from the Foodbank: We have had an email from Gemma who runs the Buntingford Foodbank, thanking us for our support. She is delivering more and more food packages each week, and is expecting it to get even busier towards Christmas. We have been making sure she has plenty of items for children’s packed lunches, and will be contributing to the Christmas hampers she will be putting together in the next few weeks.Kisiizi Hospital parcels: Thank you to everyone who knits for Kisiizi hospital. We are now in need of boxes. Those that hold 5 reams of A4 paper are ideal. If you can help, please leave them in St Mary’s church.EHCCA Evensong 30th December: EHCCA is planning to sing Choral Evensong at St Albans Cathedral on Saturday 30th December at 5pm. All are welcome to attend.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform.The benefice page can be reached via this link: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/benefice/32-240BF/. The forward from https://ubsms.org.uk should point to that page.Services for the next few weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sPlease note there will be no midweek services on 26th or 27th December.Sunday services:3rd December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Advent service, St Mary's10th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints17th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion (said service), All Saints6.00pm Carol service, All Saints24th December There will be no morning service - please see the list of Christmas services below31st December 10.30am Morning worship, St Catherine's7th January 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: Ezekiel 34:17-24 (p 866) and Matthew 25:31-46 (p 995)Pop Up Shop this week: The pop up shop is back this weekend after the 10.30 morning service at St Mary's, Standon. There will be some Christmas cards for sale, along with fair trade chocolate and other food products, various gifts and jewellery. This is the last pop up shop this year so come and see what is available.All Saints@6: We’re delving into Psalm 87 this week at All Saints @6. There’s a warm welcome for all.Mothers’ Union: The next meeting of Braughing with Standon Mothers' Union will be on Wednesday 29th November and will start at 2.30pm in the Old Boys School Braughing. This will be our Christmas Social with carols, Secret Santa & Christmas nibbles. However it will be our last meeting as a branch and before the social we will be discussing whether to meet in 2024 as a group of Diocesan members. Please ring Diane on 01920 821130 for more information.Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes: Our boxes are on their way to Ukraine this year. Unfortunately, the situation in the Holy Land is too volatile just now to be able to send Samaritan’s Purse volunteer drivers there.November coffee mornings and sales: Thank you to those who supported Sacombe coffee morning and sale this weekend. We will report on the amount raised as soon as the cash is counted and the sums completed.The FOSM one last weekend has raised £1,350.Advent service: Our annual service of readings and music for Advent will take place on Sunday 3rd December at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s. Advent can sometimes get a bit lost, as Christmas hurtles towards us in December; please join us if you can, to reflect on this time of waiting and anticipation as we hear the ancient prophecies and listen to the benefice choir as they lead our worship.Art Exhibition in St Catherine’s 1st December: Deborah Holder-Baxter-Burton will be hosting a viewing of her colourful paintings in St Catherine’s on Friday evening between 6 and 8 pm. All are welcome.Christmas Crackers 14th December: Once again, our benefice choir will be performing along with the Standon Sing Community choir and the Rib Singers in a concert of Christmas music, on 14th December in St Mary’s. Entry will be free, but there will be a retiring collection for Carers in Hertfordshire. FOSM will be selling mulled wine and soft drinks in the interval.Kisiizi Hospital parcels: Thank you to everyone who knits for Kisiizi hospital. We are now in need of boxes. Those that hold 5 reams of A4 paper are ideal. If you can help, please leave them in St Mary’s church.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform.The benefice page can be reached via this link: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/benefice/32-240BF/. The forward from https://ubsms.org.uk should point to that page.Services for the next few weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:26th November 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All SaintsPlease note our usual 4th Sunday Choral Evensong service won’t happen in November, as 3rd December is Advent Sunday and we will have our Advent service of music and readings at 6.00 pm that day.3rd December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Advent service, St Mary's10th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints17th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion (said service), All Saints6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints24th December There will be no morning service - please see the list of Christmas services below
This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (p 1188) and Matthew 25:14-30 (p 994)Confirmation service 22nd November: Di and Nicky, who have just completed the Christianity Explored course, will be confirmed in Buntingford on Wednesday at 7.30 pm. Nicky will be baptised in the same service. Please come and support them if you can, and pray for all the Christianity Explored participants.Midweek Music at St Mary's on Wednesday: This month's concert is on Wednesday 22nd November and we shall be welcoming students from St Edmunds College. We are excited to be able to give this opportunity to young musicians to perform in public, an experience which will stand them in good stead for the future. Do come and support them if you can. Entry is free, as are the refreshments which will be served from 11.30, the short concert following at 12.30.Pop Up Shop next week: The pop up shop is back on Sunday 26th November after the 10.30 morning service at St Mary's, Standon. There may be a few Real Advent Calendars left along with fair trade chocolate and other food products, various gifts and jewellery and some Christmas cards. This is the last pop up shop this year so come and see what is available.November coffee mornings and sales: Thank you to those who supported St Mary’s coffee morning and sale this weekend. We will report on the amount raised as soon as the cash is counted and the sums completed. Sacombe’s coffee morning will be next Saturday, 25th November, 10.30 – 12.30. Please support this if you can.To round off your day, you can also visit Little Munden School next Saturday. Their Christmas bazaar will take place in the afternoon, from 2 until 5 pm.Advent service: Our annual service of readings and music for Advent will take place on Sunday 3rd December at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s. Advent can sometimes get a bit lost, as Christmas hurtles towards us in December; please join us if you can to reflect on this time of waiting and anticipation as we hear the ancient prophecies and listen to the benefice choir as they lead our worship.Beryl’s scooter: As most of us know, Beryl had a very high spec and sturdy mobility scooter that carried her round the village. Her family is looking for a good home for it. If you know anyone who could use it, please speak to John or Caroline.Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather is organising the next Sunday lunch, on Sunday 26th November at the The Star Standon at 12.15pm. Please contact her on 07909 065550 to reserve a place.Christmas Crackers 14th December: Once again, our benefice choir will be performing along with the Standon Sing Community choir and the Rib Singers in a concert of Christmas music, on 14th December in St Mary’s. Entry will be free, but there will be a retiring collection for Carers in Hertfordshire. FOSM will be selling mulled wine and soft drinks in the interval.Mind & Music – songs to aid memory and wellbeing: This group meets at the Standon and Puckeridge Community Centre each Thursday, 2.00 – 3.00. They use music, songs and conversation to see where our memories take us. All are welcome. For information please contact David: ranfordd@gmail.com, 07888 398336, 01920 739762.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform.The benefice page can be reached via this link:. The forward from https://ubsms.org.uk should point to that page.Services for the next few weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:19th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints26th November 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All SaintsPlease note our usual 4th Sunday Choral Evensong service won’t happen in November, as 3rd December is Advent Sunday and we will have our Advent service of music and readings at 6.00 pm that day.3rd December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Advent carols service, St Mary's10th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints17th December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion (said service), All Saints6.00pm Carol service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: Matthew 5:1-12 (p 968) LM only – 1 Corinthians 13 (p 1153)Archdeacon Janet’s visit: Archdeacon Janet will be leading our Remembrance Day service in St Mary’s and our Act of Remembrance at St Catherine’s this weekend. Please continue to pray for her and her family as they grieve for her Mum.Our service in St Mary’s will not be streamed this week.All Saints@6: This Sunday evening we have the second Christians Together meeting. The first was an upbuilding time of worship, fellowship and prayer, and we hope even more will join us on this occasion. Support from people in the benefice is much appreciated as we meet together for worship, fellowship and vital prayer for the community we live in. All are welcome!Confirmation service 22nd November: Di and Nicky, who have just completed the Christianity Explored course, will be confirmed in Buntingford on 22nd November at 7.30 pm. Nicky will be baptised in the same service. Please come and support them if you can, and pray for all the Christianity Explored participants.Good news for Little Munden School: Little Munden School was visited recently by a SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspector. She spent the day in school, talking to staff and children, parents and Governors. Her findings resulted in a ‘Judgement 1’ report, confirming that the school’s Christian vision and values underpin everything it does. Congratulations to the school, and please pray for staff and students as they learn more about Jesus and living his way.November coffee mornings and sales: Both of our November events are approaching. FOSM’s coffee morning will be next Saturday, 18th November, 10 - 12 and Sacombe’s will be on 25th, 10.30 – 12.30. Please support these if you can.Advent service: Our annual service of readings and music for Advent will take place on Sunday 3rd December at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s. Advent can sometimes get a bit lost, as Christmas hurtles towards us in December; please join us if you can to reflect on this time of waiting and anticipation as we hear the ancient prophecies and listen to the benefice choir as they lead our worship.Beryl’s scooter: As most of us know, Beryl had a very high spec and sturdy mobility scooter that carried her round the village. Her family is looking for a good home for it. If you know anyone who could use it, please speak to John or Caroline.Operation Christmas Child: The pick-up date for the Christmas shoeboxes is next weekend. If you’d like to contribute, you can still do so by wrapping and filling a shoebox yourself (Lizzy will give you a list of what’s allowed) or by donating boxes, wrapping paper or any of the things that will go into one, or, indeed, money for the travel costs. Right now, there are about 130 filled boxes in Lizzy’s living room, and she plans to pack still more. As soon as these ones have gone, she starts to collect for next year, so please keep saving your shoe boxes and bargain hunting!Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather is organising the next Sunday lunch, on Sunday 26th November at the The Star Standon at 12.15pm. Please contact her on 07909 065550 to reserve a place.Mind & Music – songs to aid memory and wellbeing: This group meets at the Standon and Puckeridge Community Centre each Thursday, 2.00 – 3.00. They use music, songs and conversation to see where our memories take us. All are welcome. For information please contact David: ranfordd@gmail.com, 07888 398336, 01920 739762.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform.The benefice page can be reached via this link:. The forward from https://ubsms.org.uk should point to that page.Services for the next few weeksMidweek services each week:Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP), St Catherine'sWednesdays, 9.30am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary'sSunday services:12th November 9.30am Morning worship, All Saints10.45am Remembrance service, St Mary's3.00pm Act of Remembrance, St Catherine's6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints19th November 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints26th November 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All SaintsPlease note our usual 4th Sunday Choral Evensong service won’t happen in November, as 3rd December is Advent Sunday and we will have our Advent service of music and readings at 6.00 pm that day.3rd December 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints6.00pm Advent carols service, St Mary's10th December 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's6.00pm All Saints@6, All Saints
