“So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.” (Ruth 2:17-18, NIV)
Last Sunday, we saw how Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, having heard that there was food to eat. In Ruth chapter 2, we read how Ruth went out to the fields to glean - to gather the leftover barley behind the harvesters. God’s provision for Ruth and Naomi is not just an abundance of food, but so much more. Naomi’s trust in the God who rescues is not misplaced.
I hope that you’ll be able to join us in-person or online this Sunday, as we look at the second chapter of Ruth together. Why not spend some time reading the whole of Ruth before we look at it as a church family.
Sunday Services
With the lifting of ‘Lockdown 2.0’, we are able to meet in-person in our buildings. You would be very welcome to join us at either of our in-person services this Sunday. Please note that we are in Tier 2 restrictions, meaning that there should be no indoor mixing with anyone not part of your household or support bubble.
Our 8:30am Sunday service of Holy Communion resumes in St Thomas, Northaw.
The 10:30am Sunday service will be taking place simultaneously online and in-person at St Andrew. 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.
The live-streamed service will start at 10:30am, and can be accessed directly, found on our website, and is advertised on our Facebook page.
Audio Recordings
Because the service is now live, the audio from the 10:30 service will be available (01707 927907) later in the afternoon, once it has been processed. 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.
Individual Private Prayer
We are permitted to have our buildings open for ‘individual private prayer’. We aim to have St Thomas open from around 9am to around 3pm on Tuesday 31st November, Wednesday 1st, and Thursday December. At the moment, we are not easily able to open St Andrew, but you are welcome to email the vicar (chris@norcuff.com) if you would like to try to arrange a time to pray in St Andrew.
Foodbank
In preparation for the January collection (6th January), you might consider a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’: every day in Advent, put one item aside for the foodbank. By the time we get to January, there will be around 25 items ready to take to the foodbank.
Advent and Christmas
It looks as though outdoor singing will be permitted, however, until there is specific guidance in place, we are still working to the outline plan below. All of our plans are subject to change at short notice.
- Online ‘DIY Christingle’ Service
- Online Carol service, 20th December
- Online Children’s Nativity service, 24th December
- Midnight Service (online, or in person), 24th December
- Christmas Day Celebration, 25th December
- Sunday at St Thomas, 27th December
- Morning Prayer for St Thomas Becket, 29th December
Christmas Online Market
We are not able to hold our usual Christmas fair, so this year a number things are being provided online and to order. More details are available on our website.
- A raffle for a Christmas hamper (worth £50.00) at £2.00 a ticket (on sale from Gill Hall, 01707 874872 & Doreen Sheekey, 07838 919829). Sales close on Saturday 5th December; draw during Virtual Coffee on Wednesday 9th December;
- Christmas marmalade, £2-£2.50 (Kathy Shingles, shingleskathy@gmail.com, 01707 878860)
- Aran knit crossover scarf, £8 (Barbara Young, bbarayng@yahoo.co.uk)
Local Works
There are a few local developments to highlight:
- Station Road in Cuffley will closed at the railway bridge from 9am Monday 14th December until 11am Sunday 27th December (more details);
- The Parish Council are developing a Neighbourhood Plan, and are establishing a community based steering group. If you would be interested in getting involved, please email Councillor.stubbs@northawcuffleypc.org.uk;
- Wells Farm have created a virtual exhibition, showing their plans for the site on Northaw Road (wellsfarmregen.co.uk).
Mission to Seafarers Cards
Because of the lockdown, Audrey Hearn will not be selling Christmas cards on behalf of The Mission to Seafarers this year. She hopes to resume doing so next year. If you would like to make a donation to the Mission, please send it to the charity direct, at: The Mission to Seafarers, St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hall, London, EC4R 2RL (www.missiontoseafarers.org).
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.