Bible readings:8.00: Luke 1:1-4 (p 1025) Acts 1:1-11 (p 1092)10.30: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (p 1186) Matthew 22:15-22 (p 990)News from café:We have had some encouraging news after Wednesday's café. It went “extremely well” with lots of children, many doing crafts with Jane. Lizzy brought some year sixes from the school to help with setting up. Jo, one of the managers at Libury Hall, brought one of their residents, Jane, to help. She was a natural with the children, and enjoyed it very much. In addition, another new recruit, Alison, from Nasty, was also very helpful and “so willing to do anything. It was a fantastic afternoon!” Please continue to pray for this important outreach, and the dedicated team that makes it possible.Christmas is approaching:The dates and time of our Christmas services will appear soon on our website, but we thought it might be helpful to let you know that all our carol services, apart from Sacombe’s, will be at the new time of 4pm. It will still be dark enough for candles, but we hope this will enable more people to attend. This will apply to the Advent Carols service on 29th November and the two Christmas carol services on 13th December in Little Munden and 20th in Standon.Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal:This weekend, Lizzy will be clearing her attic of all the shoeboxes and gifts she and others have collected during the year, ready to send to children in areas affected by war, natural disaster, or some other catastrophe. There are three ways you can help:1. Fill a shoebox with gifts (ask Lizzy for the list of what's allowed and not allowed) and leave it in St Mary's or give it to Lizzy or Caroline.2. Contribute gifts to be packed - Lizzy is always short of small toys and games, little treats for teenage girls (eg hair accessories, eye shadow, keyrings) and small toys for toddlers.3. Donate money so that Lizzy can use it to buy things she is missing for boxes, or to pay for the travel costs.Cash can be given to Lizzy or Caroline, or transferred to the Standon PCC bank account, reference "OCC".Thank you - every box filled is another child who will know someone cares this Christmas.Little Angels help:We could do with another person or two on the rota of helpers at Little Angels, especially as winter bugs start to appear. Helpers arrive at 9 to set up, welcome the children and their carers, make tea or coffee, prepare the children’s snack and clear up the church afterwards. We are usually finished a few minutes after 11. If you think you would like to help, please speak to Caroline or Cate.Floodlights at St Mary’s:The floodlights at St Mary’s are still in the process of being repaired and currently they aren’t operating properly. Please take great care if you’re accessing or leaving the church in the dark.Some of the fluorescent tubes in the vestries are also awaiting replacement, so please bear with us if you’re affected.Making St Mary's Sparkle on Saturday:The St Mary’s cleaning teams are planning a Spring Clean on Saturday 24th October, 10.00 - 11.00 followed by refreshments. All the equipment needed will be available, and all are welcome! If you are able to join one of the teams in any of our churches, please speak to us.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’sOn Tuesday 10th November, the Little Munden School choir will join us again for our Sacombe service of Remembrance at 9.30. All are welcome.Sunday services:18th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints25th October 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st November 8.00 am Communion by extension, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints3.00 pm Service of Memories, St Mary’s8th November 10.30 am Remembrance Sunday service, St Mary’s15th November 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up:20th October, 12.00 Funeral of Pamela Harwood, All Saints22nd October, 10.00 am Youth team meeting, The Old Top Shop24th 10 – 11 am Spring clean of church, St Mary’s28th October, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s28th October, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop30th October, 11.00 am Funeral of Audrey Morton, All Saints1st November, 3.00 pm Service of memories, St Mary’s
Bible readings:Philippians 4:1-9 (p 1180) Matthew 22:1-14 (p 990)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 15 October. For more information please contact Marion on 01920 745683.Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal:In the next week or so, Lizzy will be clearing her attic of all the shoeboxes and gifts she and others have collected during the year, ready to send to children in areas affected by war, natural disaster, or some other catastrophe. There are three ways you can help:1. Fill a shoebox with gifts (ask Lizzy for the list of what's allowed and not allowed) and leave it in St Mary's or give it to Lizzy or Caroline.2. Contribute gifts to be packed - things Lizzy is always short of are small toys and games, little treats for teenage girls (eg hair accessories, eye shadow, keyrings) and small toys for toddlers.3. Donate money so that Lizzy can use it to buy things she is missing for boxes, or to pay for the travel costs.Cash can be given to Lizzy or Caroline, or you can transfer it to the Standon PCC bank account with the reference "OCC".Thank you in advance for your support - every box filled is another child who will know someone cares this Christmas.Little Angels help:We could do with another person or two on the rota of helpers at Little Angels, especially as winter bugs start to appear. Helpers arrive at 9 to set up, welcome the children and their carers, make tea or coffee, prepare the children’s snack and clear up the church afterwards. We are usually finished a few minutes after 11. If you think you would like to help, please speak to Caroline or Cate.Floodlights at St Mary’s:The floodlights at St Mary’s are still awaiting a repair and currently they aren’t operating. Please take great care if you’re accessing or leaving the church in the dark. Some of the fluorescent tubes in the vestries are also awaiting replacement, so please bear with us if you’re affected.Making St Mary's Sparkle:The cleaning groups do a wonderful job but at a recent meeting of the St Mary’s cleaning teams, we felt a Spring Clean would add that extra sparkle. All the equipment needed will be available, and all are welcome! It will be on Saturday 24th October, 10.00 - 11.00 followed by refreshments.If you are able to join one of the teams in any of our churches, please speak to the church wardens.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’sOn Tuesday 10th November, the Little Munden School choir will join us again for our Sacombe service of Remembrance at 9.30. All are welcome.Sunday services:11th October 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s18th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints25th October 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st November 8.00 am Communion by extension, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints3.00 pm Service of Memories, St Mary’s8th November 10.30 am Remembrance Sunday service, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:15th October, 12.00 Funeral of Terry Thrussell, St Mary’s20th October, 12.00 Funeral of Pamela Harwood, All Saints28th October, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s28th October, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop30th October, 11.00 am Funeral of Audrey Morton, All Saints
Bible readings:Philippians 3:4b-14 (p 1180) Matthew 21:33-end (p 990)FOSM Thank you:Thank you to all who supported the candlelit supper in St Mary’s on Friday evening. The sums are yet to be finalised, but it’s looking as if we raised around £1,400. It was a lovely occasion, with excellent entertainment between courses from David Ranford and Jane Goldstraw.Encouragements in the benefice:Our PCCs met this week and spent some time reflecting on the many blessings in our benefice in this time of vacancy. Amongst other things we heard about the cafe, the Christianity Explored course, the development of the Little Munden School Choir which meets weekly in All Saints, the new Wednesday morning bible study at St Mary's and the recent success of the Holiday Club.Please pray for all involved in the life and witness of our churches and for the next round of recruitment for a new Rector to lead us.Floodlights at St Mary’s:The floodlights at St Mary’s are awaiting a repair and currently they aren’t operating. Please take great care if you’re accessing or leaving the church in the dark. Some of the fluorescent tubes in the vestries are also awaiting replacement, so please bear with us if you’re affected.Making St Mary's Sparkle:The cleaning groups do a wonderful job but at a recent meeting of the St Mary’s cleaning teams, we felt a Spring Clean would add that extra sparkle. All the equipment needed will be available, and all are welcome! It will be on Saturday 24th October, 10.00 - 11.00 followed by refreshments.If you are able to join one of the teams in any of our churches, please speak to the church wardens.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:4th October 8.00 am Communion by extension, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints11th October 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s18th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints25th October 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st November 8.00 am Communion by extension, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints3.00 pm Service of Memories, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:7th October, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall8th October, 10.30 am Funeral of Ryder Duggan-Carr, St Mary’s15th October, 12.00 Funeral of Terry Thrussell, St Mary’s20th October, 12.00 Funeral of Pamela Harwood, All Saints28th October, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s28th October, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop
Bible reading:Luke 10:1-12 (p 1041)Harvest appeal:This weekend completes our series of harvest services for this year. Our appeal this year is to support the work of John and Gillian, who work in the slums of Bangkok. They are fundraising to set up a safe house for boys, to add to their safe house for girls, offering support for children who live in abusive families. Donations can be made to any of our churches’ bank accounts, or given to one of our treasurers.There are special envelopes in St Mary’s for any donations in the service.Harvest Choral Evensong Sunday, 6.00 pm in St Mary’s:Our monthly choral evensong service, this month with a harvest theme, will be back this weekend, after a break in August. Please join us for this centuries old contemplative service, with music led by our benefice choir.Safety reminders:Many have commented how friendly our churches are and how good they always look. That is in large part due to our committed cleaning teams. We are reminded of or Safe Working procedures:- if you find yourself working alone in the church, always phone or tell someone where you are- always welcome visitors and show them the leaflets and information at the back of the churchMaking St Mary's Sparkle:The cleaning groups do a wonderful job but at a recent meeting of the St Mary’s cleaning teams, we felt a Spring Clean would add that extra sparkle. All the equipment needed will be available, and all are welcome! It will be on Saturday 24th October, 10.00 - 11.00 followed by refreshments.If you are able to join one of the teams in any of our churches, please speak to the church wardens.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:27th September 10.30 am Family worship for harvest, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s4th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints11th October 10.30 am Holy communion, St Mary’s18th October 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints25th October 10.30 am Family worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:27th September, 12.30 pm Baptism of Brody McLean, St Mary’s28th September, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Mary’s29th September, 2.30 pm Little Munden School harvest service, All Saints2nd October, 7.30 pm Candlelit supper in St Mary’s, St Mary’s7th October, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall8th October, 10.30 am Funeral of Ryder Duggan-Carr, St Mary’s15th October, 12.00 Funeral of Terry Thrussell, St Mary’s
