“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'” (Mark 9:35, NIV)
Who is the most important? The world around us is full of people fighting to have money. power, and status - to be the most important. Jesus takes the concept of importance, and turns it on its head. The most important is the one who serves, not the one who fights to have prominence and power. As we continue to look at Mark's Gospel this Sunday, we'll see that Jesus is the one who came to serve us. We can also be encouraged that, in God's Kingdom, none of us are insignificant. I hope that you'll be able to join us online, at 8:30, or at 10:30 (details below), as we look at this together.
Sunday Services
Our 8:30am Sunday services of Holy Communion continue in St Thomas, Northaw. More details are available on our website.
The 10:30am Sunday service will be taking place simultaneously online and at St Andrew. These first few weeks are somewhat fluid, as we move from recorded services to a fully live, and live-streamed, service. This week, the service at St Andrew will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion.
Please use this form, or contact me directly (chris@norcuff.com, 07446 516945), to let me know that you are planning to attend.
Details of how to join the online services are on the website and are advertised on our Facebook page.
Audio Recordings
By about 12:00 on Sunday, the audio from the 10:30 service should be available to listen to by calling 01707 927907. As well as the ‘dial-in’ service, audio recordings of all services are also available through SoundCloud.
Church Family Fellowship
After the Sunday service, we’ll have coffee together via Zoom (details on the website); if you’d like to be part of the meeting, please email me.
Harvest Food Donations
This Sunday (4th October), we will be marking Harvest. As in previous years, we will be collecting for Broxbourne Foodbank. Details of what they currently need are on our website, and the foodbank's.
There is also an Amazon wishlist that can be used to donate directly to the foodbank. This will allow people to donate needed items directly, reducing the need for collections and physical contact. How to use the list:
- Visit https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1ZTLXD544R72L?ref_=wl_share
- Add any items to your Amazon basket.
- Checkout and pay.
- Amazon will deliver the items directly to the foodbank.
Harvest Plants
As in previous years, we’d like to be able to give plants out to the bereaved and housebound. Any donations of pot plants, and volunteers to help deliver, would be greatly appreciated.
Annual Church Meetings
Our annual meetings are on 11th October, in St Andrew, following the 10:30 service. In line with the current guidance, these will be kept as short as possible, while still allowing for all the business required to be carried out.
As part of the meetings, we will be electing churchwardens, PCC members, and representatives to the Deanery Synod. Do please be in touch with me, or the churchwardens, if you feel able to support the church family in one of those roles. The Annual Report has been published already, and is in each of the church buildings; if you would like a copy emailing to you, please be in touch with me (chris@norcuff.com).
All Souls Service
With the current restrictions in place, I am very sad that we will be unable to hold our annual 'All Souls' service this year. If we are able to arrange for some kind of memorial service or event, the details will be in these emails and on the website.
Remembrance Sunday
At this point, it is still unclear as to what we will be permitted to do on Remembrance Sunday. There will be, I hope, some kind of Act of Remembrance at the memorial in Northaw, but I'm not sure what that will be, nor how many people will be able to attend.
Advent and Christmas
Advent may be 8 weeks away, however we are starting to plan already. Much is unknown about what we will be able to do, but we will be trying to do as many of our usual services and events as we can. If you would be willing to be part of a 'Christmas Choir', please be in touch with me (chris@norcuff.com).
Praying at Noon
Please can I encourage you, when possible, to stop at noon and spend a few minutes praying - we may be physically separate, but we can still pray together; we’ll email out possible areas for prayer each week. If you would like to make any suggestions, please email prayers@norcuff.com.
How to join us live
The website has the information on how to join our live services and virtual coffee. Do feel free to share the links to our services with friends and relatives; everyone is very welcome to join us, no matter where they are in the world.