NEWSLETTER
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Mandy's Musings
And so.... Advent comes around again and we all seem to shift up a gear as we make way for December. It's also a time of year when, despite being the end of the year, new things happen and on Saturday 29th November, four people from congregations across our Benefice are going to be confirmed at Ely Cathedral , on the Eve of Advent Sunday. It has been an enormous privilege to have had studies with this lovely group of people as they have explored their faith and had one or two revelations along the way🙂. One of the things we have talked about recently has been about 'gifts', in particular the gift of God given to us. And that is what Advent is all about - getting excited about the gift that is coming to us. I know it is Black Friday today and we are supposed to be able to pick up bargains so that we can give good gifts for Christmas (?!) but I hope our focus is not on spending money on expensive presents to give to our nearest and dearest but, this Advent, I do hope we will spend some time thinking about the gifts that we have already been given by God, and that he views us as valuable and precious gifts to the world. Most of all, this Advent, I hope we can turn our focus towards the greatest gift that God gave to us - the gift of Himself, born as a baby to dwell and live amongst us and then to give himself up for us so that we could receive His free gift of forgiveness and life forever. So.... many blessings to our newly confirmed four who are just starting out on their journey of faith. May we, like them, get excited about the discovery of God's gifts in our lives this Advent and beyond.
Every blessing,
Mandy
Concert: The Orsino Singers
6pm Saturday 29 November, All Saints', Harston
Elgar's beautiful Scenes From The Bavarian Highlands form the centrepiece of this choral concert. Written after a family holiday in the Bavarian Alps, this suite of songs was inspired by the pretty villages and mountain scenery the Elgars visited during their stay, and influenced by the words and rhythms of the region's folksongs and dances.
Musical traditions also inspired Vaughan Williams as he took Five English Folk Songs and arranged them for a mixed choir. The melodies range from sprightly (Just As the Tide Was Flowing) to lilting (The Spring Time of the Year). The concert concludes with a mix of familiar - the uplifting How Can I Keep from Singing - and new pieces, including John Rutter's 2023 carol, I too shall walk to Bethlehem.
Refreshments will be on sale during the interval.
Ely Diocesan Safeguarding Audit
Please complete the survey by 2nd December.
https://difference.rln.global/
www.ineqe.com/churchofengland/ely
Confirmations
Congratulations to Abigail, Julie, Nisha and Megan on their confirmation this weekend. Please pray for them as they continue in their journey of Christian faith.
Mandy’s days
Mandy’s working pattern has changed. Her work for the Diocese is now on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, meaning that she is available for parish work on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Christmas crafts, Harston
Please come along and join us for Christmas Crafts at the Christmas Fair in Harston Village Hall on Saturday 6 December from 10.30 - 12.30.
All children welcome (please bring an adult with you) to come and make cards, Christmas decorations and small gifts.
Free activity but donations welcome.
Coffee and Chat
7.45 pm, Thursday, 18 December
10 The Limes, Harston.
Bring a prose and/or poetry reading suitable for the festive season of Christmas. There may be an alternative to 'Coffee'!
In Conversation 2026
Save the dates
7pm for 7.30pm, All Saints’, Harston
28 January 2026, Tom Heap
26 February, Simon Woolley
25 March, Julie Spence
5 June, Evelyn Glennie
Food Hub
Wed & Sat 11.30-12.30pm in Harston Baptist Church email: harstonfoodhub@gmail.com
Harston Community Food Hub has two separate sections that operate in different ways and have different aims.
FOOD BANK
The ‘Food Bank’ provides emergency food support to residents of Harston and the surrounding villages (mainly Hauxton, Foxton, Newton, Haslingfield, Barrington and Shepreth). It is part of a network of food banks that operate in South Cambridgeshire. Bags of non-perishable food are made up using food donated or bought with donations. Support from the food bank is intended to help people through a crisis.
FRESHFOOD LARDER
The ‘Fresh Food Larder’ distributes fruit, vegetables and bread and is part of an initiative that helps to avoid food waste. Donations of surplus stock are picked up from local supermarkets and farm shops by volunteers (often the night before) or brought in by local growers. Whilst much of the food is collected by people visiting the food bank, food from the fresh food larder is available to everyone no matter where they live or the circumstances they are in.
Trumpington Memory Cafe
Every third Wednesday of the month,10am-12 noon at The Pavilion, Paget Road, (opposite Anstey Way), Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9JF
Run jointly by Trumpington Parish Church and the Rotary Club.
A place where people with varying forms of memory loss can visit with their carers and support each other and have fun. Call 01223 840268 to book a place and please give your name(s).
Free admission to Ely Cathedral
All electoral roll members are eligible for a free pass to Ely Cathedral. If you would like one, please fill in this form and ask Mandy or a churchwarden to sign it. You can then present the form at the Cathedral to get your pass.