Churches Together

Photograph by John Salmon Photograph by Nigel Cox Photograph by Nigel Cox

United Reformed Church

Family Nativity Service

Our Family Nativity Service was held on Sunday 18th December with most of the congregation taking part and dressing up accordingly. There were dramatized bible readings, sketches and carols. We used our new projector for the first time with the Young People’s Presentation which comprised of a series of very powerful, moving pictures.

Carol Singing

Churches Together joined customers at the Black Horse on 14th December for the annual Carol singing evening. This popular event was well attended with everyone joining in the singing and our minister provided the music.

On Saturday 17th December Churches Together sang carols opposite the Cross before retiring to the Coffee Stop for further carols and a warming cup of coffee.

Donations for both events amounted to £150.51 and was given to Friends of Chernobyl’s Children as in previous years.

Duncan’s Open House

Our minister held his annual Open House at the Manse on the 12th December when members and friends from each of his congregations enjoyed an evening of good food and conversation.

Pam Rhodes

Elaine Hanworth and Janet Wedd spent an enjoyable afternoon at Royston Methodist Church on Sunday 25th September 2016 having “Afternoon Tea with Pam Rhodes”. Pam has been a presenter of Songs of Praise for 30 years and she spoke about the programme and her experiences on it and people she has met. The anecdotes and stories were interspersed with hymns and Pam told us the background behind each hymn. Pam talked about the power of prayer, many hymns are prayers and admitted she is a hymn anorak. We sang How Great Thou Art, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord, In Christ Alone and ended with To God Be The Glory.

We were given the opportunity to ask questions and the afternoon ended with a cup of tea and piece of cake during which we could personally meet and chat to Pam. We left feeling uplifted having had a wonderful afternoon which we would not forget. Anniversary

The URC Moderator is leading our service on 7th May which will give us the opportunity to celebrate the 300th year anniversary of our church building. Easter

Our Good Friday Service will be at 10am on 14th April followed by hot cross buns and coffee in the hall. Easter Sunday Service is on 16th April and will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

We can make life a little easier

Local Community Services delivered from Moorlands Court

Homecare : our fully trained carers visit you in your home.

Sitting service : a visit from our experienced sta gives family carers time for themselves.

Day Centre : based at Moorlands Court with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.

Meals service : nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you.

Housekeeping : we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping.

To nd out more, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email : denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk Spring is just around the corner, and over the next three months, the community at All Saints’ are looking forward to a packed calendar of events, which this season, focus on exploring our faith, deepening our discipleship, and looking at ways of how we can serve the community around us.

During Lent this year, we are following the Church of England’s new ‘Pilgrim’ course, in which four groups are looking at aspects of the Christian faith – Turning to Christ, The Lord’s Prayer, the Bible, and the Eucharist.

February also saw our first ‘Messy Church’ at Holy Trinity in Meldreth – with further exciting meetings scheduled throughout the year - we’d love it if you came and joined in!

In March, we are holding a Parish ‘Vision Day’, to which everyone is invited, in which we hope to explore ways of how we can celebrate God’s love, and share that love by serving the communities of Melbourn and Meldreth in different, new, and exciting ways – watch this space!

This spring, we are also holding a ‘Pet Blessing Service’ in All Saints, where everyone is invited to bring along their four, two, or no-legged friends to ask for God’s blessing on them, and upon us, and to say thank you for the joy our animal friends bring into our lives.

As a church, we continue to visit our schools, and are looking forward to building up links between us as we get to know the community afresh.

This season, we’re looking at what God is doing in Melbourn and Meldreth, and we want to find out how we can all join in!

Keep a look out for our new website (soon to be launched) at www.allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk for further details. The Revd Lizzie Shipp, Priest in Charge of Melbourn and Meldreth

Supporters of All Saints (SOAS)

There is in Melbourn a thirteenth century treasure at the heart of the village – it is All Saints Parish Church. It is our oldest building. Floodlit during the hours of darkness it is a glorious sight which never ceases to thrill me as I turn off the bypass on returning home. Having assisted in a small way with the recent work of putting our parish registers into digital format it came home to me how many thousands of Melbourn villagers have been through its doors. The registers start in the mid 1500’s – how many more not recorded during the previous 300 years!

Living just across the road, I enjoy when out in the garden hearing the church clock strike the hours and quarters. The tower was added in the mid 15th century and up until the early 20th century, whilst noise pollution hardly existed, the church clock would have been heard throughout the village and beyond. We were then an agricultural society and not many people would have owned a watch; the church chimes would mark the end of a day’s work in the fields and orchards of Melbourn.

Because the East Anglian flint dressed churches are so expensive to maintain it was decided in 1994 to form the

Head Office: Melbourn, Royston SG8 6DS Tel: 01763 661334 Showroom: Coton Orchard Garden Centre, Cambridge CB23 7PJ Tel: 01954 211662

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We charge arrangement fees of up to £995. We will also be paid commission from the lender. the lender. After 10 years of running the highly successful Coffee Stop, Sue Toule and Mike Scriven's handed over the keys. Left: Cindy Davison presenting a bouquet of flowers.

The Coffee Stop is open Saturdays 10.30–12 noon All welcome

Supporters of All Saints (S.O.A.S.) with the object of raising money which would only be spent on the upkeep of the building and its furniture. On the strength of this the Charity Commissioners awarded us charity status.

Many of our supporters are not members of the church’s congregation but just concerned that the building should continue to stand at the heart of the village. SOAS raises money through subscriptions and fundraising events and how that money is spent is controlled by the committee. We have an annual individual membership subscription of £5 and a “household” subscription of £7 against which members are offered reductions on the cost of events.

Our Membership Secretary is Colin Limming at 4 Chapmans Close, Melbourn SG8 6AH or 01763 260072.

If, like me, you would like to think of the historic centrepiece of the village still here for centuries to come, please join us. George Howard (v/chairman SOAS) 01763 260686.

SOAS 100 Club

The December draw was made by Anna Taylor on 31st December. The first prize of £27 goes to Jane Stevens at 3 Water Lane and the second of £13.50 to Angela Leach at 32 Hale Close.

The January draw was made on 28th January by Anna Taylor. The first prize goes to Bob Tulloch at 25 Hale Close and the second of £14 to Janet Batchelor at 14 Elm Way.

The Word of God from David Burbridge

John Newton, converted slave trader of the 17th century, wrote, when Vicar of St. Mary Woolnoth in London City: The religion of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is not the effect of imagination. It springs from an enlightened understanding. Christianity is friendly to the best interests of mankind. It is the source of peace, tenderness, kindness and every human spirit. It is of influence to soothe the savage temper, and to shrink the selfish spirit. Christians have compassion upon those who slander their belief.