All Saints’ Church Weekly Email

Sunday 14th December

Third Sunday of Advent

09.45 - Sunday Saints

10.00 - Sung Eucharist

Music:

Introit: The Advent Prose (v3)

Setting: Todd (Kyrie) and Aston (Sanctus, Benedictus & Agnus)

Anthem: Advent message - Martin How

Hymns:

26 – Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding
93 – When Jesus came to Jordan
213 – Christ is the world’s light
362 – Tell out my soul

Voluntary: Finale in d minor - Eric Thiman

Readings for the Eucharist here

15.00 - Christingle Service

Monday 15th December

11.30 - All Saints’ Unity Lunch Club at Masonic Hall

Tuesday 16th December

09.00 - Morning Prayer

10.00 - St Gilbert’s Carol Service

NO Bible Study Group - resumes in the New Year

Wednesday 17th December

09.00 - Morning Prayer

17.30 - Evening Prayer in church

19.30 - Final session of the Advent Course at The Rectory, Pinfold Lane

Thursday 18th December

09.00 - Morning Prayer

10.00 – Said Eucharist followed by coffee in The Crown

NO Little Saints at Unity Centre, resumes 8th January

Friday 19th December

10.00 - 14.00 - Coffee bar

18.45 - Adult Choir Practice

Next Sunday - Sunday 21st December

Fourth Sunday of Advent

09.45 - Sunday Saints’

10.00 - Sung Eucharist

19.00 - Carols by Candlelight

Notices:

Appeal update

Thank you to everyone in the congregation who has donated or sponsored the project so far. We are delighted that over 50 people have responded to the appeal, but it isn’t too late if you are able to assist us, every penny raised makes a difference. Why not make it a Christmas gift that will keep on giving, keeping the church warm and well-lit for decades to come?

We have also heard the brilliant news that the Garfield Weston Foundation have awarded us a grant of £30,000 which brings us ever closer to meeting our fundraising target.

You may have noticed that the contractors have made a good start on undertaking preliminary works over the last few weeks, fuelled by Clare’s bakes! This means that they will be off to a flying start when the scaffolding goes up after Christmas.

Finally, if you are interested in buying one of the existing lighting chandeliers they will be available for purchase in January, please speak to Clare Camp for details.

The Heating and Lighting Team

Peregrine Calendars

Stuart Wilson, one of the Peregrines For People team, has produced a Stamford Peregrines 2026 Calendar. They will be on sale at Friday Coffee Bar and after the service for £10, with £3 from each calendar going to All Saints’ church funds.

All Saints’ Unity Lunch Club

Thank you for all the red box items left in Church on Sundays, we are very grateful, they are always put to good use. We are also extremely grateful to the Masonic Hall who have offered to host us on the 15th of December and provide us with a Christmas Lunch on the 22nd. I know those who attended last year are looking forward to this year's meal-Christmas jumpers to the ready! The Unity Lunch Club will open again on the 5th of January 2026 at the Unity Centre. Please continue to donate into the red box on Sundays. Donations can also be dropped off on Friday mornings during the coffee bar hours 10:00-14:00.

Thank you, Unity Lunch Club.

Arrangements for January - March

Starting on Thursday 8th January the Said Eucharist will take place in the Conference room at 10am at The Crown Hotel. Access will be through the side gate.

From Sunday 4th January Sung Eucharist will take place in the Stamford Endowed Schools’ Chapel. The staff team have visited the site which is warm and leak free. We have been planning the move and resources to make sure that the services will be as welcoming and as joyful as usual. Tea and coffee will be served as usual after the service provided, very kindly, by the school.

There is step free access from the car park on East Street - marked 3 on the map below. This is the best car park for those with limited mobility. Regular parking please use Star Lane or Brazenose Lane, either on the road or, if spaces, in the school car park - marked 4.

We hope to see as many of you as possible on the 4th January. Please talk to any of the staff team if you have concerns.

Jigsaw and Games

Please join us for our two day Jigsaw, games etc sale. There will be coffee bar on both days - Friday 12th and Saturday 13th December between 10.00 and 15.00. There’s still time to drop off a puzzle or two into church.

Thank you.

Exciting Coffee Bar News
The Crown have very kindly offered to let us use part of their restaurant to run Coffee Bar while we are closed because of the Heating and Lighting Project . We will operate from The Jewel, the back room at The Crown, on Tuesdays starting on 13th January from 10.00- 13.00. We are also booked in for the 27th January and if it is a success they will offer us future dates.
The Crown are letting us use this room free of charge and will provide the tea and coffee while we sell our usual bakes. We will still sell everything on a donation basis and any money we make will go to All Saints’. I am so very grateful to The Crown for their amazing generosity. So cake will continue - hurrah! Clare

Advent Course

Revd Jenny is leading the Advent Course this year, which will run on Wednesday evenings in place of the Bible study on the 26th November, 3rd, 10th and 17th December. The course is focused on exploring Advent themes through meditations and informal discussions on a selection of sacred art, music, poetry and prose readings.

The Advent course will be hosted 7.30-9pm at the St Martin's Rectory (Pinfold Lane, PE9 2LS). If you are interested, could you please message Jenny at curate@stamfordallsaints.org.uk so she has a sense of numbers in advance. If you can only make some but not all of the sessions, that is completely fine too - each session has its own distinct focus. David Bond will be integrating artistic materials from the Advent Course into the Tuesday Bible Study (10.30am at Paul and Doreen’s house) from the end of November as well, so there is another daytime opportunity for any interested participants. If you would like to join that group, please be in touch with David Bond at david@dbond.me.uk.

Materials to read at home:

The Church of England booklet ‘The 12 Joys of Christmas’ is at the back of church. Please take one and,if you can, make a donation.

Central Theme: "Joy" is the core message for the 2025 Advent and Christmas season for the Church of England.
The booklet is written by Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury, exploring earthly joys (like Christmas jumpers, walks) as pointers to heavenly joy.
The booklet offers daily themes, readings, prayers, and challenges from Christmas Day to the Eve of Epiphany.
It aims to be a light, thoughtful guide, acknowledging that perfect Christmas expectations can be stressful, but God's joy is a free gift.

Retreat Day 2026

"PARISH QUIET DAY, SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2026

Join us for an opportunity to step into silence and a gentle exploration of The Nicene Creed at Edenham Retreat House which is set in attractive grounds that encourage short walks and contemplation. The day will consist of brief talks, discussion, silence and a shared lunch.

Book the date! More details later, including shared transport".

Volunteers Needed – Café Church (Starting January!)

We’re excited to share that plans are underway for our new ‘Café Church’, launching in January, and taking place on the third Sunday of each month. This will be a relaxed, family/child-friendly service designed to welcome newcomers and help people explore faith in an informal, engaging way, over coffee and cake.

To make this vision a reality, we need volunteers to help with a variety of roles, from setting up tables and serving refreshments to welcoming guests, and helping with children’s activities.

If you’d like to get involved we’d love to hear from you! Please speak to Niamh Holman or email niamh.holman@stamfordallsaints.org.uk to find out more.

Christmas Cards

Hannah Dunnett Christmas cards are now on sale at the back of church. All profits to All Saints’ Church.
£2.50 each or 3 for £6.00.

John Bungay Painting

We will be selling the original John Bangay painting of All Saints' Church at Christmas to raise funds for the heating and lighting project. See the photo below.

John was a member of our congregation when he died in January this year.

The painting will be on display in church this Sunday. If you are interested in buying it, please place your bid, along with your name and contact details, in a sealed envelope and hand to one of the church wardens by 12th December.

Communion

If getting to the altar to receive communion is a problem, please speak to one of the wardens at the start of the service and you can receive communion in the pew.

When you receive Communion please do not dip the host into the cup. You may receive in one kind.

Father Neil

Monthly Prayer Meeting

The next prayer meeting takes place Monday, 12th January at the Unity Centre at 15.00.

Diary Dates

Friday 12th and Saturday 13th December - Jigsaw and Board games sale 10.00 - 15.00 in church with Coffee Bar on both days.

Sunday 14th December - Come and be a chorister! at 14.00 followed by Christingle at 15.00.

Thursday 16th December - St Gilbert’s Carol Service at 10.00.

Sunday 21st December - Bellringers will be ringing a Quarter Peal before the Carols

Sunday 21st December - Carols by Candlelight at 19.00.

Wednesday 24th December - Crib Service at 15.00.

Wednesday 24th December - Midnight Mass at 23.30

Sunday 28th December - our final service in church at 10.00 before the heating and lighting project closes the church for 3 months.