This weekend’s Bible readings:8.00 Romans 15:4-13 (p 1141) Matthew 3:1-12 (p 967)10.30 Malachi 3:1-4 (p 961) Matthew 3:1-12 (p 967)We welcome Archdeacon Janet to our 8.00 service this week. She will preach and preside.Christmas Crackers, 11th December, 7.00pm:Our benefice choir will join with Standon Sing and Rib Singers on Thursday for a concert of Christmas music. Entry is free, but there will be a retiring collection for Isabel Hospice. FOSM will provide interval refreshments – proceeds from those will go to FOSM’s funds.Sacombe coffee morning:Thank you to all who supported the coffee morning last weekend. £1,470 was raised.Next Sunday:Next Sunday, 14th, we will hold our candlelit carol service in All Saints at 6.00 pm. The Little Munden School Choir will be joining us, singing on their own as well as with the benefice choir. All are welcome to this lovely service of music and readings.Knit & Natter group 11th December:If you like knitting or crocheting, come and join us in the Sargant room (at the back of Standon village hall) any time between 1pm and 3.30pm on Thursday. Tea & cakes will be available. For more information please contact Marion on 01920 745683.New organ for St Catherine’s:The St Catherine’s organ has gone to its new home in St Edmunds College, where it will be used both for recitals and for teaching. If all goes to plan, the new St Catherine’s organ will be delivered and installed this week.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.News on the Vicarage:The Vicarage has been let, and the new tenants have taken possession. Please pray for them as they settle in our community.And news from John and Basma:We have heard that, sadly, John and Basma’s fox terrier, Bob, has died. He has been unwell for some time, but the end came quickly and he was out walking with John the day before he died. Please pray for John, Basma and Jack.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:7th December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints14th December 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’sChristmas services:14th December 6.00 pm Carol service, All Saints21st December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion (said service), All Saints6.00 pm Nine lessons and carols, St Mary’s24th December 3.00 pm Crib service, All Saints5.00 pm Crib service, St Mary’s7.30 pm Candlelit carol service, St Catherine’s11.30 pm Midnight communion, St Mary’s25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion, All Saints25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:9th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s11th December, 7.00 pm Christmas Crackers concert, St Mary’s16th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s17th December, 6.30 pm Carols round the tree, Standon High Street18th December, 9.00 am Roger de Clare Christmas service, St Mary’s19th December, 1.15 pm Little Munden School Christmas service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings:Romans 13:11 - end (p 1140) Matthew 24:36 - 44 (p 994)Our service this Sunday morning is at St Catherine’s, so there will be no live stream.Advent carol service this Sunday:Our choir-led service of music and readings for Advent will take place this Sunday, 30th November, at 6.00 in St Mary’s. Come and join us as we reflect on what the period of Advent is really about.FOSM Christmas Fair 6th December, 10.00 – 12.00:Please come and support the annual FOSM Christmas Fair next Saturday. There will be more stalls than ever, as well as books and bric-a-brac, cakes and refreshments. Flute Cocktail will provide live Christmas music.Advent Appeal:This year’s Advent appeal will, once again, be 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’sWednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’sSunday services:30th November 10.30 am Morning worship for Advent, St Catherine’s6.00 pm Advent service, St Mary’s7th December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints14th December 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’sChristmas services:14th December 6.00 pm Carol service, All Saints21st December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion (said service), All Saints6.00 pm Nine lessons and carols, St Mary’s24th December 3.00 pm Crib service, All Saints5.00 pm Crib service, St Mary’s7.30 pm Candlelit carol service, St Catherine’s11.30 pm Midnight communion, St Mary’s25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion, All Saints25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:1st, 2nd, 3rd December, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare Christmas concerts, St Mary’s6th December, 10 – 12 FOSM Christmas Fair, St Mary’s9th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s11th December, 7.00 pm Christmas Crackers concert, St Mary’s16th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s17th December, 6.30 pm Carols round the tree, Standon High Street18th December, 9.00 am Roger de Clare Christmas service, St Mary’s19th December, 1.15 pm Little Munden School Christmas service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible reading:Luke 23:33 - 43 (p 1060)Midweek Music at St Mary's:On Wednesday 26th November, the Amici Cantate choir will be coming to give a concert directed by James Davey and accompanied by Michael Smith. This will be the last one this year in our series of Wednesday lunchtime concerts. There is no concert in December as there are so many other events that month. The concert will start at 12.30 and light refreshments will be served from 11.30am.Advent carol service next Sunday:Our choir-led service of music and readings for Advent will take place next Sunday, 30th November, at 6.00 in St Mary’s. In the midst of the highly commercialised run up to Christmas, come and join us as we reflect on what the period of Advent is really about.Sacombe Advent coffee morning and sale 29th November, 10.30 – 12.30:Please come and support the annual Sacombe coffee morning and Bring and Buy sale next Saturday. There will be gifts, books, jigsaws, cakes and much more, and this is one of Sacombe’s main fund-raisers.Our service next Sunday morning is at St Catherine’s; if you can spare a little time to help clear things away after the coffee morning, please speak to one of the Sacombe folk, who will be very grateful!Little Munden School Christmas Fair:Due to a change of the school date, this is also next Saturday, between 2 and 5 in the afternoon. If you still have the energy, you would be welcome there too!FOSM Christmas Fair 6th December, 10 - 12:The following Saturday, FOSM will be holding its annual Christmas Fair in St Mary’s. We have more stalls than ever, as well as books and brick-a-brac, cakes and refreshments. Flute Cocktail will provide live Christmas music.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:23rd November 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s30th November 10.30 am Morning worship for Advent, St Catherine’s6.00 pm Advent service, St Mary’s7th December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints14th December 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no service of Choral evensong this weekend, but our Advent service of music and readings will take place at 6.00 pm on 30th November in St Mary’s.Christmas services:14th December 6.00 pm Carol service, All Saints21st December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion (said service), All Saints6.00 pm Nine lessons and carols, St Mary’s24th December 3.00 pm Crib service, All Saints5.00 pm Crib service, St Mary’s7.30 pm Candlelit carol service, St Catherine’s11.30 pm Midnight communion, St Mary’s25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion, All Saints25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:26th November, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s29th November, 10.30 – 12.30 Coffee morning & sale, St Catherine’s1st, 2nd, 3rd December, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare Christmas concerts, St Mary’s6th December, 10 – 12 FOSM Christmas Fair, St Mary’s9th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s11th December, 7.00 pm Christmas Crackers concert, St Mary’s16th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s17th December, 6.30 pm Carols round the tree, Standon High Street18th December, 9.00 am Roger de Clare Christmas service, St Mary’s19th December, 1.15 pm Little Munden School Christmas service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings:8.00: 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - 13 (p 1190) Luke 21:5 – 19 (p 1056)10.30: 2 Timothy 1:1-14 (p 1195)Special visitor this weekend:On Sunday, we welcome Jon Scamman from CPAS who will preside and preach at our 10.30am Communion service in All Saints. Jon is already known to members of our PCCs who met with him and the other patrons at the recent Vacancy meeting. Jon will be involved in the recruitment process for our new Rector, including the interviews. We do encourage as many as possible to come along to All Saints this week and listen to Jon speak, to pray for him and chat with him after the service.Vacancy Update:Our PCCs met last Wednesday. At their meetings they approved the Profile document which has been prepared by a team with input from all PCC members, one of our patrons, our Archdeacon and members of our church family. This is the document that will be available to prospective applicants for the job of Rector in our benefice. Do speak to Marion if you wish to know more about this.The PCCs also agreed that the following members would be our Parish Representatives who will be involved in the recruitment process, including the interviews:- Derek and Janet (St Catherine's)- Hugh and Ray (All Saints)- Angie and Michael (St Mary's)We expect to advertise in January with interviews taking place in March. Please pray for all those called to serve at this time that they may have strength and wisdom to discern God's plans for us. Please also pray for the person God is even now preparing to be our new Rector.Children’s and youth work update:A group of our church family have taken on the provision of outreach to our young people while we decide what to do about finding a youth worker. Jane, Derek, Margaret, Rob, Lizzy and Caroline, assisted by Lorraine and Emma, will cover the work at café and in Roger de Clare, and will lead the services on Christmas Eve. Please pray for them as they undertake this important work.Contacts during the vacancy:While we have no Rector, if you have any queries or concerns, please speak to any of our church wardens (it doesn’t matter of which church). If you know of someone who needs a visit, please liaise with Jacqui. We do have access to clergy who will help if needed, so please don’t be put off raising a concern. Please note that Rebecca, our administrator, works flexible hours, but she will respond to emails as soon as she can.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:16th November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints23rd November 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s30th November 10.30 am Morning worship, St Catherine’s6.00 pm Advent service, St Mary’s7th December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints14th December 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’sPlease note there will be no service of Choral evensong on 23rd November, but our Advent service of music and readings will take place at 6.00 pm on 30th November in St Mary’s.The schedule of Christmas services will appear in next week’s notices sheet.Dates & meetings coming up:17th November, 12.30 pm Funeral of Walter King, St Mary’s26th November, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s29th November, 10.30 – 12.30 Coffee morning & sale, St Catherine’s1st, 2nd, 3rd December, 5.00 pm Roger de Clare Christmas concerts, St Mary’s6th December, 10 – 12 FOSM Christmas Fair, St Mary’s9th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s11th December, 7.00 pm Christmas Crackers concert, St Mary’s16th December, 5.30 pm Beavers in church, St Mary’s17th December, 6.30 pm Carols round the tree, Standon High Street18th December, 9.00 am Roger de Clare Christmas service, St Mary’s19th December, 1.15 pm Little Munden School Christmas service, All Saints
