This weekend’s Bible readings:Acts 1:6-14 (p 1092) John 17:1-11 (p 1085)Mayday thanks:A huge thank you to everyone who helped on Mayday in Standon. The church was busy all afternoon, and the plant stall almost sold out. In the Village Hall, Stephanie and her team used 26 pints of milk, making tea and coffee and serving home-made cake. All this is only possible because of the time and effort of many people. Thank you.Standon Open Gardens 13th June:Now that Mayday is over, we turn our attention to Standon Open Gardens, FOSM’s biggest fundraiser of the year. It will take place once again on the second Saturday in June, 11 - 5. If you would like to help, please speak to one of the FOSM committee. If you can bake for the teas in the Village Hall or at Diana’s, please let Stephanie or Diana know. If you could help serve lunches in church, please speak to Caroline. Posters and fliers are available in St Mary’s; please help yourself if you have somewhere to display one. They are available electronically from Caroline.Concert in All Saints 14th June:Fund-raising is an important part of all our churches’ financial health. Victoria Smith, whose whole family has contributed in the past to our ‘For One Night Only’ concerts in All Saints, will be performing with other local musicians in All Saints on 14th June at 3.00. This concert will count towards her Gold Arts Award. Entry will be free, with a retiring collection for the church. There will be refreshments served after the concert. Please come and support V if you can.Holiday Bible Club 2026 ‘God’s People and the Temple of the Rising Son’:Bookings are now open for our Holiday Bible Club, which will run from 24th to 27th August. Luke and Lizzy S will lead it again, with help from Jenny and the home team. Please pass the word to any children (reception to Y6) you know, and if you would be willing to help on some or all of the days, please speak to Caroline. A link to the booking form is on our website.M&Ms take a break:The M&Ms home group will be taking a break during May and will resume in June.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:17th May 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Public worship with Communion by extension, All Saints24th May 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s31st May 10.30 am Morning worship, St Catherine’s7th June 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints14th June 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s21st June 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All SaintsPlease note there will be no choral evensong in May.Dates & meetings coming up:20th May, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop24th May, 3.00 pm Wedding rehearsal, St Mary’s26th May, 12.30 pm Wedding of Elizabeth Whomsley & Sam Brown, St Mary’s27th May, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s2nd June, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Catherine’s3rd June, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall6th June, 1.00 pm Wedding of Mary Williams & Ben Jepps, All Saints13th June, 11 – 5 Standon Open Gardens, Standon14th June, 3.00 pm V Smith concert, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings:Acts 17:22-31 (p 1113) John 14:15-21 (p 1082)Roof work completed at All Saints:Praise God, the work on the roof at All Saints has been completed successfully, without significant complications, and on time. The protection inside the church has been removed and the scaffolding will come down as soon as the architect has inspected the work. Our thanks go to Ray, who has overseen the work and taken care of the team of roofers during the project.Knit & Natter group: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 14th May. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130.Holiday Bible Club 2026 ‘God’s People and the Temple of the Rising Son’:Bookings are now open for our Holiday Bible Club, which will run from 24th to 27th August. Luke and Lizzy S will lead it again, with help from Jenny and the home team. Please pass the word to any children (reception to Y6) you know, and if you would be willing to help on some or all of the days, please speak to Caroline. A link to the booking form is on our website.M&Ms take a break:The M&Ms home group will be taking a break during May and will resume in June.Standon Open Gardens 13th June:FOSM’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Standon Open Gardens will take place once again on the second Saturday in June. If you would like to help, please speak to one of the FOSM committee. If you can bake for the teas in the Village Hall or at Diana’s, please let Stephanie or Diana know.Concert in All Saints 14th June:V Smith, whose whole family has contributed in the past to our ‘For One Night Only’ concerts in All Saints, will be performing with other local musicians in All Saints on 14th June at 3.00. This concert will count towards her Gold Arts Award. Entry will be free, with a retiring collection for the church. There will be refreshments served after the concert.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:10th 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’s7th June 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints14th June 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no choral evensong in May.Dates & meetings coming up:20th May, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop24th May, 3.00 pm Wedding rehearsal, St Mary’s26th May, 12.30 pm Wedding of Elizabeth Whomsley & Sam Brown, St Mary’s27th May, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s2nd June, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Catherine’s
This weekend’s Bible readings:Acts 7:55 – 8:1 (p 1100) John 14:1-14 (p 1082)Thank you:Thank you to all who took part in or attended the memorial service on Thursday for Ronnie. Jo has written from Libury Hall: ‘I wanted to personally say a huge heartfelt thank you for the most beautiful service that was held yesterday for Ronnie. The service was a huge testament as to how much Ronnie impacted all our lives. The contributions from all the church members was lovely. Please pass on my utmost thanks.’Mayday in Standon:Mayday is this Monday, and we are still welcoming offers of help. 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 signup sheet in the back of St Mary’s, or you can speak to Marion to volunteer to help in church, or to Stephanie if you can bake for or help in the Village Hall.M&Ms take a break:The M&Ms home group will be taking a break during May and will resume in June.Concert in St Mary’s, Ware, Monday 12.30 pm:Hugh Legg will be singing Vaughan Williams' song cycle, On Wenlock Edge, with the Ambrose Quartet and Paul Guinery (piano) at this concert on Monday.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:3rd 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’s7th June 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsPlease note there will be no choral evensong in May.Dates & meetings coming up:4th 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 Shop24th May, 3.00 pm Wedding rehearsal, St Mary’s26th May, 12.30 pm Wedding of Elizabeth Whomsley & Sam Brown, St Mary’s27th May, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s2nd June, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Catherine’s
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
