Notices over Christmas:

There won’t be a notices sheet between Christmas and New Year. The next one will be the weekend of 4th January. Please make sure Caroline has any items that need to be included.

Meanwhile, we wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year.

This weekend’s Bible readings:

Isaiah 7:10-16 (p 692) Matthew 1:18-end (p 965)

Clergy cover:

Rev Tim Weeks is home from hospital but has instructions from his doctors not to overdo it.

We are very grateful to Archdeacon Janet, who has stepped in to preside at both of our communion services this weekend. Rev Teresa Wynne has agreed to come to All Saints on Christmas Day. Please continue to pray for Tim.

Carol services:

On Sunday evening we will hold our candlelit service of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Mary’s at 6.00 pm. On Christmas Eve at 7.30 we will gather in St Catherine’s for the candlelit Carol Service there, accompanied by the new organ. All are welcome to either or both of these lovely services of music and readings.

New Seasons:

There will be no New Seasons meeting this month. It will resume in the New Year on 15th January in Puckeridge Community Centre at 2pm. Contact Heather on 07909 065550 for more information.

Sunday lunch at The Star:

Our next Sunday lunch will be on Sunday 28th December at The Star in Standon at 12.15pm. Please contact Heather if you would like a place 07909 065550.

28th December:

We’ll be worshipping in Sacombe on 28th December, as is usual on the Sunday after Christmas.

Advent Appeal:

This year’s Advent appeal is for the Buntingford and Villages Food Hub and Community Support. Our cash collections at all three carol services will go to the appeal. If you would like to give at other times, there are appeal envelopes in our churches, or you can give directly using the usual church bank details. Please mark your online donation ‘appeal’. Thank you.

Services for the next few weeks:

Midweek services each week:

Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’s

Wednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’s

Please note that there will be no midweek services on 23rd and 24th, nor on 30th and 31st.

Sunday and Christmas services:

21st December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints

6.00 pm Nine lessons and carols, St Mary’s

24th December 3.00 pm Crib service, All Saints

5.00 pm Crib service, St Mary’s

7.30 pm Candlelit carol service, St Catherine’s

11.30 pm Midnight communion, St Mary’s

25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion, All Saints

25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service, St Mary’s

28th December 10.30 am Morning Worship, St Catherine’s

4th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints

11th January 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Please check the list for service times and places in the next week. There are some variations to our usual pattern, to accommodate our Christmas services.

Dates & meetings coming up:

30th December, 1.30 pm Funeral of Alan Beaton, St Mary’s

12th January, 2.00 pm Funeral of Maurice Debnam, St Mary’s