Church news

Melbourn United Reformed Church

We are grateful to church members and friends in and around the village who have joined us or contributed to a number of special events over the last few months.

Early in October Rosaline Van de Weyer presented an interesting and thought provoking illustrated talk on her visit to Romania as part of an ‘Aid for Romania’ medical team. Money raised on that evening was divided equally between the charity and church funds.

On 21st November 2012, the tools and hymn books collected at Melbourn over our harvest weekend were delivered to the Tools With A Mission centre in Ipswich. The centre was a hive of activity with volunteers busy receiving, sorting and repairing all manner of tools. The next couple of containers of tools were going to Zambia and Uganda. Our thanks to everyone who contributed.

Our ‘Shoebox Sunday’ service was led by our church member and Westminster College student, Martin Belgrove. Martin blessed the 122 shoeboxes collected for Samaritans Purse-Operation Christmas Child. These had been collected from our own congregation and friends, together with friends from Bassingbourn, Buntingford, Fowlemere and Barrington. Many thanks to everyone who supported this unique way of bringing a smile to a child.

This year our ‘Big Christmas Card’ to send greetings to friends locally, was also a way of supporting Ormiston Children and Families Trust. (www.ormiston.org) a charity helping children and young people in the East of England. Christmas Activities

We enjoyed a busy and varied programme of events and services over the Christmas period. Our Christmas Bazaar was held on 1st December, where a number of traditional stalls were set out during the morning. This was followed by a scrumptious festive lunch. On 4th December we held a Christingle Service. The church was filled with candlelight from Christingles made and distributed by the Brownies. It was lovely to share this special service with family members and others who also attended.

Our Women’s Meeting group joined the Mother’s Union for Carols on 11th December, and we joined with the other churches in Melbourn and Meldreth to sing carols in the Black Horse and in the centre of the village to raise funds for the Melbourn branch of Chenobyl’s Children. The latter took place on a very rainy day. Thanks to all who stopped to make a contribution and for the warm welcome at the Coffee Stop where we ended our carol singing for the morning. During December there were weekly Advent Bible Study evenings, our young people presented a Nativity with a contemporary slant and we enjoyed a Candlelit Watch-night Service and early morning service on Christmas Day. Looking Forward

Our Craft and Chat group continues to meet every Thursday between 2-4 pm. in the hall. So far we have knitted blankets and hats to be sent to Jimmy’s Nightshelter and hats and gloves that were added to the Christmas shoeboxes. There are new projects, both group and individual in the pipeline. If you are interested in coming along either to learn a skill, to pass on expertise in a craft, or just for a cup of tea and chat you would be most welcome. For more information please contact Anne Field 01763 220869

Friday Morning Coffee, every week, in the Church Hall from 10.30am. Do drop in.

As Lent and Easter approach, please check our church notice board for details of services and activities.

All Saints Parish Church

The Crib Service is advertised as starting at 3.00 p.m. on Christmas Eve but from long experience the sidesmen on duty know it is wise to be ready an hour earlier and sure enough by then the first villagers are coming up the church path. Gradually the church fills up and by the starting time there is not a seat to be found and people are standing in the aisles! There is great good humour even amongst those who have to stand and the children are eagerly awaiting the first sighting of Noah our very own donkey together with ‘Joseph and Mary’. This year he didn’t leave any ‘calling cards’ that last year had to be swept up but there was some reluctance on his part to enter ‘the stable’ under the tower but with some pushing and prodding he was finally persuaded. Everybody kindly obeyed the sidesmen’s pleas and took their turn to view the ‘living crib’.

Midnight Mass was well attended and the early Communion service on

Christmas morning, and although the main attendance was the 10.00 a.m. Family Communion at Holy Trinity in Meldreth where again it was almost ‘standing room’ only.

And so the congregation slowly dispersed to their homes and on Christmas night the streets of the village were quiet as the bright and cheerful lights behind the curtains spoke of families coming together to enjoy the occasion, to perhaps play with new presents or watch the television together.

And yet not quite deserted for in the car park of All Saints Community Hall a small group of young people stood around. Had they no family to welcome them? Was the cold of the car park preferable to their own homes on this the most ‘family night’ of the year? All Saints’ Community Hall

There have been several innovations recently with a view to improving the facilities for our hirers.

The CCTV system has been replaced with a newer version that now gives allround views of the area to add to the safety and security. It also enables us to store records of any problems that might occur.

Improvements are being made to the toilet and kitchen facilities and these, together with the improved acoustics, mean that we can offer the Hall for a wide range of users.

Bookings for parties continue to be received as word spreads that the Hall is an ideal venue for both children and adults.

Parties following a christening in church are now becoming regular bookings as parents realise that it is only a short step from the actual service to meeting and greeting relatives and friends.

Our uniformed organisations (Rainbows, Brownies and Guides) meet weekly and we also welcome the church based groups such as Mothers’ Union and Women’s group.

If you are seeking an ideal venue in the village centre with car parking and disabled access then we can perhaps help. Colin Limming, Bookings Secretary / 01763 260072 / hallbookings@live.co.uk

GIGGLES She’s having a fit of the giggles so if you feel grumpy, watch out, for giggles is ever so catching and there’s millions of giggles about. If somebody says “don’t be silly, there’s no earthly reason to laugh!” The giggles come thicker and faster till she shakes herself nearly in half. If the giggles take over completely she’ll collapse on her face in her plate and her mum will get worried and mutter, “it must have been something she ate!” No nobody knows where they comes from, and nobody knows where they goes, but when giggles take over you’re helpless from the tip of your top to your toes. Gillian Shepheard 1928–2012 SOAS 100 Club

The November draw of the SOAS 100 Club was made on 1st December by Mr Mike Rawlings. There were 77 members. The first prize of £25.70 goes to Hilary Warboys (79) at 4 Beeton Close and the second to Zena Hawkin (75) at 21 Greenbanks.

The December draw was made by Rev Andrew O’Brien on 4th January. The number of members was 77. The first prize of £25.70 goes to W A Warden (13) at 10 Thatcher Stanford’s Close and the second to Sue Cane (35) at 6 Carlton Rise. The January draw was made by Rev Andrew O’Brien on 2nd Feb. There were 69 members. The first prize of £23.00 goes to Rosemary Gatward (57) at 94 High Street and the second of £11.50 to Mike Scriven (49) at 22 Saffron Street Royston. Supporters of All Saints (SOAS)

Since our last report SOAS have held two excellent events that have helped to swell the funds that are always need for the maintenance of the Parish Church.

On the 8th December the Orlando Singers gave a concert of Christmas music on an evening we will long remember. Under the baton of our Parish Clerk Peter Horley the singers rendered Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and then in the second half we were invited to join in with some well known carols and hymns. The Singers finished with Handel’s Alleluia Chorus that nearly brought the roof down. As a result of the evening we added £535 to the funds.

On 6th January we accepted the kind offer of Bob & Joan Howard to cook a simple Twelfth Night lunch. This seems to be a tradition in Scotland when on this day the remains of the New Year’s food is used up! A crowded Community Hall enjoyed a simple meal with a glass of wine and a table quiz. There was a homely and cheerful atmosphere as the ladies of the committee served the delicious food. Again we were able to add about £250 to the funds.

On 23rd March we are holding a ‘Bangers and Mash Quiz Night’ ay 7.30pm in All Saints’ Community Hall. Tickets are £7.50 (SOAS members) and £8.00 (non members) and are bookable by ringing George Howard 260686 or Colin Limming 260072.

The rest of the year’s events have still to be finalised but the one certain date at the moment is our Open Gardens Day on 19th May.

All our members are kept in touch with our programme by means of e-mail messages or circulars. If you feel you would like to join in the fun there is a small minimum membership fee of £3.00 for an individual or £5.00 for a household of two adults and two children under 16 years. Colin Limming, Membership Secretary / 260072 / colin.limming@btinternet.com

The Word of God from David Burbridge Sodom and Gomorrha and the cities about them, giving themselves over to fornication, are set forth for an example, suffering eternal fire. In what they knew naturally, they corrupted themselves after their own lusts. Glory be to the only wise God, our Saviour, who is able to keep you from falling. From Jude’s epistle