This weekend’s Bible reading:Matthew 4:1-11 (p 967)Choral Evensong Sunday, 6.00 pm in St Mary’s:As we set out on our Lenten journey, please join us for this centuries old contemplative service, with music led by our benefice choir.The Mundens & Sacombe newsletter wrongly states that Choral evensong will be at Sacombe on Sunday. It will, in fact, be in St Mary’s. Please let anyone know who might be planning to come.Midweek Music in St Mary’s 25th February:Please join us for Midweek Music this coming Wednesday (25th) when we shall be entertained by students from St Edmunds College. As usual refreshments will be served from 11.30 and the concert starts at 12.30.The Real Easter Egg:Marion has a few Real Easter Eggs available for purchase for £5 each. This year there is a new booklet included with the Easter story. Please see Marion if you’re interested.Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs) and the Electoral Roll (ER):The APCMs for each church in the Benefice are scheduled for the weeks after Easter, rather earlier than in recent years. Each church must review and display their ER prior to their APCM, a process that starts approximately 5 weeks before the meeting. Look out for the official notices.If you are not already on the ER, now is a good time to join. Application forms are available from Hugh (All Saints), Carole (St Catherine’s), Wendy (St Mary’s) or at the back of each church.The dates of the APCMs are 12th April (Standon), 14th April (Sacombe), 19th April (The Mundens).Help still needed:This is the last week we will run this appeal for now, but that’s not because all the vacant posts have been filled! Please consider what you might be able to offer to help with the mission and ministry of our churches. Please pray that God will show you where he is calling you to use your gifts and abilities, and then speak to a church warden, a PCC member or to Caroline.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:22nd February 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st March 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints8th March 10.30 am Holy Communion & baptism, St Mary’s15th March 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints22nd March 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Stainer’s Crucifixion, St Mary’s29th March 10.30 am Palm Sunday morning worship, St Catherine’sDates & meetings coming up:25th February, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s4th March, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall5th March, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Mary’s26th March, 9.00 am Roger de Clare Easter service, St Mary’s27th March, 1.15 pm Little Munden School Easter service, All Saints
This weekend’s Bible readings:2 Peter 1:16-end (p 1222) Matthew 17:1-9 (p 984)Ash Wednesday service in St Catherine’s, Wednesday 7.30 pm:In the middle of this coming week, we will enter the season of Lent. Please join us as we mark its start at our Ash Wednesday service in Sacombe church on Wednesday at 7.30 pm.Soup and Snowdrops 21st February at Sacombe:You are warmly invited to Soup & Snowdrops at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday 21st February between 12.00 and 2.00 pm. Come and enjoy some homemade soup, bread and cheese. Proceeds will be for the work of the church.Catering for this week’s funerals:As you know, Julie’s funeral is on Friday at 1pm, and refreshments are being served in St Mary’s afterwards. Sandwiches and savoury finger food are being organised by the family but if anyone would like to bake cakes, please let Marion or Jacqui P know. Please remember no nuts or nut products and if you could pre-cut larger cakes that would be very helpful. Many thanks.We’ll also be serving refreshments after Jim’s funeral on Tuesday, but the family is providing all the catering for that.Next Sunday’s evensong:The Mundens & Sacombe newsletter wrongly states that Choral evensong will be at Sacombe next Sunday. It will, in fact, be in St Mary’s. Please let anyone know who might be planning to come.Lent devotionals:Lizzy is planning to put in an order for some Easter books for the bookstall, including some Lent devotionals. The four which she has been recommended are Everyday Gospel Easter Devotional - Paul David Tripp, The Risen King - Charles H. Spurgeon, ed J.A. Medders, An Ocean of Grace - Tim Chester and Our Radiant Redeemer - Tim Chester. There will be a discount on the prices publicised online. If you would like her to order one for you, please let her know (lizzy@ubsms.org.uk) as soon as possible.Help still needed:This appeal has been running for several weeks now, but the need is still acute. Our thoughts are turning to our coming annual meetings, so there’s also the opportunity to stand for PCC and contribute to the strategic planning for our benefice. Please consider what you might be able to offer to help with the mission and ministry of our churches. There is much to celebrate in our benefice, but much still to do. Please pray that God will show you where he is calling you to use your gifts and abilities, and then speak to a church warden, a PCC member or to Caroline.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’sPlease note there will be no midweek service on Tuesday or Wednesday this weekSunday services:15th February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints22nd February 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st March 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints8th March 10.30 am Holy Communion & baptism, St Mary’s15th February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up:17th February, 12.00 Funeral of Jim King, St Mary’s18th February, 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday service, St Catherine’s20th February, 1.00 pm Funeral of Julie Williams, St Mary’s21st February, 12.00 noon Soup and Snowdrops, St Catherine’s25th February, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s4th March, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall5th March, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible readings:Romans 8:18-25 (p 1135) Matthew 6:25-end (p 971)Soup and Snowdrops 21st February at Sacombe:You are warmly invited to Soup & Snowdrops at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday 21st February between 12.00 and 2.00 pm. Come and enjoy some homemade soup, bread and cheese. Proceeds will be for the work of the church.Catering for Julie’s funeral:As you know, our dear friend Julie’s funeral is on Friday 20th February at 1pm, and refreshments are being served in St Mary’s afterwards. Sandwiches and savoury finger food are being organised by the family but if anyone would like to bake cakes, please let Marion or Jacqui P know. Please remember no nuts or nut products and if you could pre-cut larger cakes that would be very helpful. Many thanks.Knit & Natter group: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, usually on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Tea & cakes will be available. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 12th February. For more information please contact Marion on 01920 745683.Lent devotionals:Lizzy is planning to put in an order for some Easter books for the bookstall, including some Lent devotionals. The four which she has been recommended are Everyday Gospel Easter Devotional - Paul David Tripp , The Risen King - Charles H. Spurgeon, ed J.A. Medders , An Ocean of Grace - Tim Chester and Our Radiant Redeemer - Tim Chester. There will be a discount on the prices publicised online. If you would like her to order one for you, please let her know (lizzy@ubsms.org.uk) by Wednesday 11th February (orders after that are also fine, but won't be here in time for the start of Lent).Help needed:In the last few weeks, we’ve been appealing for more help in our churches. The need is becoming even more acute as we go on in 2026; please consider what you might be able to offer to help with the running of our churches. All Saints is in need of volunteers to help with cleaning; the café really needs more volunteers; we would welcome more people willing to take part in our services and many of our teams are short on personnel. All Saints has no church warden. There is much to celebrate in our benefice, but much still to do. Please pray that God will show you where he is calling you to use your gifts and abilities, and then speak to a church warden, a PCC member or to Caroline.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’sPlease note there will be no midweek service on Tuesday 17th FebruarySunday services:8th February 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s15th February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints22nd February 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st March 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints8th March 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’sDates & meetings coming up:11th February, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop17th February, 12.00 Funeral of Jim King, St Mary’s18th February, 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday service, St Catherine’s20th February, 1.00 pm Funeral of Julie Williams, St Mary’s21st February, 12.00 noon Soup and Snowdrops, St Catherine’s25th February, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s4th March, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall5th March, 7.30 pm PCC meetings, St Mary’s
This weekend’s Bible readings:Hebrews 2:14-18 (p 1202) Luke 2:22-40 (p 1028)Church family news:Jim’s funeral will be on Tuesday 17th February at 12.00 midday in St Mary’s. Julie’s will be on Friday 20th February at 1.00 pm, also in St Mary’s.Soup and Snowdrops 21st February at Sacombe:You are warmly invited to Soup & Snowdrops at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday 21st February between 12.00 and 2.00 pm. Come and enjoy some homemade soup, bread and cheese. Proceeds will be for the work of the church.Help needed:In the last few weeks, we’ve been appealing for more help in our churches. The need is becoming even more acute as we go on in 2026; please consider what you might be able to offer to help with the running of our churches. All Saints is in need of volunteers to help with cleaning; the café really needs more volunteers; we would welcome more people willing to take part in our services and many of our teams are short on personnel. All Saints has no church warden. There is much to celebrate in our benefice, but much still to do. Please pray that God will show you where he is calling you to use your gifts and abilities, and then speak to a church warden, a PCC member or to Caroline.Support for the Food Bank:Our commitment to supporting our local foodbank continues, and another Sainsbury’s delivery of £1,485 worth of groceries was sent this week. However, the way it operates has changed slightly since they moved to a new base in Seth Ward Community Centre, and it has become more difficult to drop items off to them. We have decided, therefore, to remove the collection boxes from our churches, and ask that you either donate money through the Standon bank account towards our deliveries (please mark any donations with ‘Foodbank’) or drop off goods at Co-op Buntingford, where there is a collection bin for Gemma’s team. Thank you for your continuing support for this important work.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:1st February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints8th February 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s15th February 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Holy Communion, All Saints22nd February 10.30 am All age worship, St Mary’s6.00 pm Choral evensong, St Mary’s1st March 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s10.30 am Morning worship, All SaintsDates & meetings coming up:3rd February, 2.00 pm Funeral of Leslie Gentry, All Saints4th February, 2.15 pm Libury Hall service, Libury Hall11th February, 5.00 pm Benefice finance committee meeting, The Old Top Shop17th February, 12.00 Funeral of Jim King, St Mary’s18th February, 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday service, St Catherine’s20th February, 1.00 pm Funeral of Julie Williams, St Mary’s21st February, 12.00 noon Soup and Snowdrops, St Catherine’s25th February, 12.30 pm Midweek Music, St Mary’s
