This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 Peter 1:17-23 (p 1217)Mayday in Standon High Street: The usual Mayday celebrations will take place in Standon on 1st May and we are still looking for helpers, please. We need people to welcome in church, to make cakes, to help with teas in the village hall and to prepare and / or serve salads. There’s a sign-up sheet at the back of St Mary’s, or you can contact Caroline (vegetarian salads), Stephanie (teas) or Keith or Angie (welcoming in church). We’re asking people to commit to an hour at a time, so don’t worry that you’ll be stuck for the whole afternoon (unless you choose to be!)May Day Music in St Mary’s Standon Monday 1st May:1.30pm Piano duets played by Marion and Michael Smith2.00pm The church bells will be rung2.30pm Standon Sing directed by David Ranford3.00pm Organ music played by Thomas Martyn Stephens3.30pm Members of the choir of our United Benefice will sing songs and anthemsNew sermon & discussion series midweek: We are about to start a new series of talks and discussions in our weekday service at St Catherine’s on Tuesdays and in St Mary’s on Wednesdays at 9.30 am. We will be looking the seven sayings in John’s gospel known as the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus, which invite us to think carefully about who he is. Everyone is welcome.APCM reports: If you would like copies of the Standon papers by email (saving on paper and photocopying) please email either Lizzy at lizzy@ubsms.org.uk or Caroline by replying to the email sending this sheet.Visitors in St Mary’s: welcomers sought: The Hertfordshire Geological society and The East Herts Geology Club will be visiting on Saturday 13 May, arriving at about 11 am. They will be looking at the pudding stone, but plan to visit St Mary’s too. It would be good if someone could be there to welcome them. If you would like to do that, please speak to John.“A lifetime in the making” All Saints Church, morning and afternoon Saturday 27th May: Barbara Springate will be showing and speaking about the silk quilt she has been making for a lifetime! The quilt includes silk that was in the Abbey for the Queen’s coronation in 1953. Barbara also helped make the Archbishop of York’s cope for the occasion. She will tell her story twice on 27th May. In the morning, tea and coffee (and cake, of course!) will be served from 10.30 and Barbara will speak at 11.30. In the afternoon, refreshments will begin at 2.00 and Barbara will speak at 3.00. Donations will be invited for All Saints.Two events for garden lovers on 10th June: The annual Open Gardens event will take place in Standon, starting at 11.00 am and finishing at 5.00 pm. Posters and fliers are available in all our churches.Then at 7.00 pm the same evening Sacombe will be hosting a talk by Graham Burton who is the gardener at Sacombe House. It will be titled ‘Restoring a Devon Garden’ covering his previous job in doing exactly that. There will be refreshments afterwards. More details will follow nearer the time.Oasis Women’s Morning 17th June: we will host a morning of renewal, refreshment, worship, Bible study and testimony from 10.00 until 1.00 on Saturday 17th June in All Saints Church. Why not step aside and come together with others to spend some time with God? More details are available from Gaby (07821 546518) or Deborah (07956 686749).Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page can’t currently be reached but you can find the three churches individually by going to https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/ and clicking the links there.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:30th April 10.30am Holy communion, St Catherine's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints7th May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints14th May 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints21st May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints28th May 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Songs of Praise, St Mary's
This weekend's Bible readings:10.30: 1 Peter 1:17-23 (p 1217)6.30: 2 Timothy 2:3-13 (p 1195) and John 15:18-21 (p 1083)Lily to be baptised: Please welcome Lily Roberts, with her family and friends. Lily will be baptised in our 10.30 family service.Pop-Up shop 23rd April: The pop up shop will be in St Mary's after the 10.30 service this Sunday. There will be various items for sale, including Christian gifts and second hand Christian books. You can also order items from Marion at any time and the website will be displayed. All profits go to the Buntingford Foodbank.Choral Evensong to mark the coronation: We will be marking the coronation with a special choral evensong this weekend at 6.30 pm on Sunday in St Mary’s. The music will include 'The mountains shall bring peace', written for the occasion by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.Midweek Music at St Mary’s 26th April: Our next recital is on Wednesday. Light refreshments will be served from 11.30 and the recital by Peter and Nick Hudson will take place at 12.30. All are welcome.Florence and our youth work: Florence has recently left Red Balloon and will be resuming her work as a nanny. I know that recently this has been a time of overwork for her and a reduction of workload will be for her benefit. We are extremely sorry to lose her from all of our youth and children’s work, but pray for God’s blessing on her as she moves forward. Of course Red Balloon will continue to service all the work we do with other members of staff, initially Luke and Lizzy whom we know well.FOSC change of date: The Friends of Standon Churchyard will meet a week early this month, on 29th April. Not only does this avoid the date of the coronation, but it means our churchyard will look at its best for our Mayday visitors. The team is always looking for more volunteers to help keep the churchyard tidy. Please speak to Mike B or just come along at 9.30 on Saturday.Mayday in Standon High Street: The usual Mayday celebrations will take place in Standon on 1st May and we are looking for helpers, please. We need people to welcome in church, to make cakes, to help with teas in the village hall and to prepare and / or serve salads. There’s a sign-up sheet at the back of St Mary’s, or you can contact Caroline (salads), Stephanie (teas) or Keith or Angie (welcoming in church). We’re asking people to commit to an hour at a time, so don’t worry that you’ll be stuck for the whole afternoon (unless you choose to be!)May Day Music in St Mary's Standon Monday 1st May:1.30pm Piano duets played by Marion and Michael Smith2.00pm The church bells will be rung2.30pm Standon Sing directed by David Ranford3.00pm Organ music played by Thomas Martyn Stephens3.30pm Members of the choir of our United Benefice will sing songs and anthems“A lifetime in the making” All Saints Church, morning and afternoon Saturday 27th May: Barbara Springate will be showing and speaking about the silk quilt she has been making for a lifetime! The silk comes from the Queen’s coronation in 1953 and she has made the quilt from it. Barbara also helped make the Archbishop’s cope for the occasion. More details to follow.APCM reports: Time is running out to send reports to the secretaries! Many of the annual reports are shared across the benefice, and need to be collated and on display in advance of the meetings. Please let our secretaries have them as soon as possible.Two events for garden lovers on 10th June: The annual Open Gardens event will take place in Standon, starting at 11.00 am and finishing at 5.00 pm. Posters and fliers are available in all our churches.Then at 7.00 pm the same evening Sacombe will be hosting a talk by Graham Burton who is the gardener at Sacombe House. It will be titled ‘Restoring a Devon Garden’ covering his previous job in doing exactly that. There will be refreshments afterwards. More details will follow nearer the time.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page can’t currently be reached but you can find the three churches individually by going to https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/ and clicking the links there.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:23rd April 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Coronation choral evensong, St Mary's30th April 10.30am Holy communion, St Catherine's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints7th May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints14th May 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints21st May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Holy communion, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (p 1217) and John 20:19-31 (p 1089)APCM reports: It’s time to send reports to the secretaries! Many of the annual reports are shared across the benefice, and collating them takes time. Please let our secretaries have them in good time.Choral Evensong to mark the coronation: We will be marking the coronation with a special choral evensong next Sunday, 23rd April at 6.30 pm in St Mary’s. The music will include 'The mountains shall bring peace', written for the occasion by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.Sunday lunch at the Star: Heather’s next Sunday lunch will be on Sunday 23rd April at 12.15pm at The Star Standon. If you would like to join them please let Heather know by Monday 17th April. Tel 07909 065550.Midweek Music at St Mary’s 26th April: Our next recital is on Wednesday week. Light refreshments will be served from 11.30 and the recital by Peter and Nick Hudson will take place at 12.30. All are welcome.Mayday in Standon High Street: The usual Mayday celebrations will take place in Standon on 1st May and we are looking for helpers, please. We need people to welcome in church, to make cakes, to help with teas in the village hall and to prepare and / or serve salads. There’s a sign-up sheet at the back of St Mary’s, or you can contact Caroline (salads), Stephanie (teas) or Keith or Angie (welcoming in church). We’re asking people to commit to an hour at a time, so don’t worry that you’ll be stuck for the whole afternoon (unless you choose to be!) The benefice choir will be singing in St Mary’s at 3.30 pm.APCMs and Electoral Roll Revisions: In advance of our annual meetings the formal revision of the Electoral Roll is underway in each of our churches. This year the review is a tidying up of the roll. Being on the Roll allows you to attend the APCM, have your say and play a part in how the church is run. It is also a declaration of support for your church. Paper copies of the enrolment form are available at the back of the churches. Completed forms should be handed to one of the Welcomers or Churchwardens who will make sure it is passed on to the appropriate Electoral Roll Officer.Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship: There is a meeting of the DEF in Luton on 27th April at 9am for any who are concerned about the direction taken by the last General Synod. All three of our Bishops will be there. For anyone interested in attending, see John.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page can’t currently be reached but you can find the three churches individually by going to https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/ and clicking the links there.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:16th April 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints23rd April 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Coronation choral evensong, St Mary's30th April 10.30am Holy communion, St Catherine's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints7th May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints14th May 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings: Acts 10:34-43 (p 1104) and Matthew 28:1-10 (p 1000)APCM reports: It’s time to be sending reports to the secretaries! Many of the annual reports are shared across the benefice, and collating them takes time. Please let our secretaries have them in good time.Knit & Natter group 13th April: If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us for a couple of hours in the Sargant room at the back of Standon village hall at 2pm, usually on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Tea & cakes will be available. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 13th April 2023. For more information please contact Diane on 01920 821130 or Marion on 01920 745683.Choral Evensong to mark the coronation: We will be marking the coronation with a special choral evensong on Sunday 23rd April at 6.30 pm in St Mary’s. The music will include 'The mountains shall bring peace', written for the occasion by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.Mayday in Standon High Street: The usual Mayday celebrations will take place in Standon on 1st May and we are looking for helpers, please. We need people to welcome in church, to make cakes, to help with teas in the village hall and to prepare and / or serve salads. There’s a sign-up sheet at the back of St Mary’s, or you can contact Caroline (salads), Stephanie (teas) or Keith or Angie (welcoming in church). We’re asking people to commit to an hour at a time, so don’t worry that you’ll be stuck for the whole afternoon (unless you choose to be!) The benefice choir will be singing in St Mary’s at 3.30 pm.Break for Easter: Several of our groups are taking a break over the holiday. Little Angels will meet next on 21st April, and our benefice choir will rehearse next on 20th. The café will also rest while the schools are out.Some news about Charlie: After much thought and deliberation, Charlie has come to the difficult decision that she will need to finish her curacy elsewhere after her family moves to St Albans in July, and diocesan authorities have agreed with this. The journey to UBSMS from their new home would be around 50 minutes each way and, much as she would dearly love to see her curacy through to its conclusion here, she has realised it would not be sustainable. Her last Sunday will be 9th July.APCMs and Electoral Roll Revisions: Before our annual meetings there will be a formal revision of the Electoral Roll in each of our churches. The Electoral Roll is completely renewed every 6 years, next due in 2025. This year the review is a tidying up of the roll. APCM time is a good time to join the Electoral Roll of any of the churches within the Benefice. Being on the Roll allows you to attend the APCM, have your say and play a part in how the church is run. It is also a declaration of support for your church. Paper copies of the enrolment form are available at the back of the churches. Completed forms should be handed to one of the Welcomers or Churchwardens who will make sure it is passed on to the appropriate Electoral Roll Officer.Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship: There is a meeting of the DEF in Luton on 27th April at 9am for any who are concerned about the direction taken by the last General Synod. All three of our Bishops will be there. For anyone interested in attending, see John.Website: Our benefice website is on the www.achurchnearyou.com platform. The benefice page can’t currently be reached but you can find the three churches individually by going to https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7825/ and clicking the links there.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:9th April 10.30am Easter holy communion, St Mary's16th April 8.00am Ante communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints23rd April 10.30am Family worship, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints6.30pm Coronation choral evensong, St Mary's30th April 10.30am Holy communion, St Catherine's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints7th May 8.00am Holy communion, St Mary's10.30am Morning worship, All Saints4.00pm The Centre, All Saints14th May 10.30am Holy communion, St Mary's4.00pm The Centre, All Saints
