As we approach the Fourth Sunday of Advent, our hearts and prayers are drawn once more to Mary and to her courageous, hope-filled “yes” to the Holy Spirit. In a world that often values control, certainty, and self-reliance, Mary’s response to God is quietly radical. She trusts, she listens, and she makes space for God to act in and through her life. That same invitation is held out to us as Christians today: to say “yes” to God’s presence, even when the path ahead is unclear, and to allow Christ to be born anew in our own lives and communities. This final stretch of Advent also turns our gaze toward the joy and wonder of Christmas itself. In this update you’ll find details of our Christmas services across the group of churches —opportunities to gather in worship, welcome friends and family, and celebrate the good news of God-with-us. Whether you come regularly or simply find your way to church at Christmas, you are warmly invited. Christmas is also a season that calls us outward in generosity and compassion. Alongside our celebrations, we are reminded of those in need, both close to home and across the world. This update highlights several important charitable causes we are supporting this Christmas, offering practical ways to share God’s love through giving, prayer, and action—details in this update. And as joy begins to spill out into song and celebration, one final word: let the carolling begin — at Marden and Sutton St Nicholas tonight. We hope you can join us as we lift our voices together and rejoice in the coming of Christ. With every blessing Paul Worship in the Maund Group This Week Sunday 21st December Advent 4 Liturgical colour: Purple 9.30am Holy Communion at Bodenham 11.15am Holy Communion at Marden 11.15am Christmas Carol Service at Preston Wynne 3.00pm Christmas Carol Service at Sutton St Nicholas Next Week See below for Christmas Services Sunday 28th December Christmas 1 (Holy Innocents) Liturgical colour: White / Gold 10.30am Holy Communion at Amberley No Zoom Morning Prayer next week We gather each Friday at 9.15am to pray for the Benefice and the world, and give thanks for God's goodness Zoom Link In your prayers Please do pray for the following people and situations on Sunday and in the coming week ahead. In this third week of Advent, as we wait for the coming of light, may our hearts be open to welcome, to wisdom and to wonder. the peoples of Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran, and Sudan; Those in farming under financial or emotional strain, for us to hold in prayerful awareness those who will provide our Christmas feasts. those ill or housebound: Gérard Aynsley, Gill Batchelor, Sally Bennett, Ken and Celia Clutterbuck, Gill Davies, Louise Edwards, Angela and Roy Gillham, Mike Henderson, Sylvia Hulme, Margaret Netherway, David Parsons, Alan Seabrook, Margaret Simcock, Malcolm Smith, Rhoda Woodcock and all under the care of St Michael’s Hospice. For the souls of Winifred (Nancy) Ricketts and Joan Williams News and Events Events this weekend and in the coming week Christmas service times Carol Services 21st December 11.15am Preston Wynne; 3pm Sutton St Nicholas 24th December 6.30pm Amberley The collection at Preston Wynne on Sunday will support the work of Vennture - an independent Hereford based charity dedicated to helping people in difficult situations make a fresh start. It is committed to supporting our community whether it's in the home, on the streets, in prisons and schools or in its Safe Hub, providing hope and support where it is needed. Family Crib Services 22nd December 4pm - Bodenham Parish Hall 23rd December 4pm - Sutton St Nicholas 24th December 4pm - Marden Christmas Eve / Christmas Day 24th December 11.15pm - Bodenham Church Midnight Mass 25th December 9am, Sutton St Michael and Felton, 10.30am Bodenham and Marden TONIGHT! A chance to get in the festive spirit in Sutton St Nicholas and Marden. Marden Parish Council host their annual Christmas Cracker outside at the Parish Hall. "Just Wing It" are coming along with their Food Truck selling Pizzas, Wings and Loaded Fries and "Donut Delights" doing their fresh hot Loaded Donuts to go along with FREE Hot Chocolate and Mulled Wine and homemade Mince Pies! And we're bringing back the Bailey's Irish Cream if you want your Hot Chocolate Boozy with your Marshmallows! Christmas Carols at 7:15 led by Marden Church. Come along, chat with your neighbours and friends. All residents and their families and friends of Marden Parish are welcome. And Carol Singing Around the Village returns to Sutton St Nicholas on the same evening - meet at the Village Hall at 6pm, and the evening will finish at St Nicholas Church with hot drinks at refreshments. All are very welcome - bring warm clothing and a torch. Other News CHILDREN’S SOCIETY Julia Smith would be very grateful if box holders could kindly bring their boxes into one of the Bodenham Church services over the next few weeks. She is happy to arrange collection where this presents a difficulty. We are very grateful to everyone who supports the great work of the Children’s Society in this way and Julia is very happy to supply a box to anyone else who may be interested, 2025 Maund Benefice Advent Appeal Once again this year the Advent Appeal will go to Muheza Hospice Care. Last year you may remember the appeal was for Asnat and Asma Said who were grossly malnourished despite being born HIV negative. The hospice has been feeding them for the past year and they are now thriving and doing well so thank you so much to all the people who gave so generously to the appeal. This update picture taken in August 2025 shows the difference regular feeding makes! This year’s appeal will support the mothers club to feed families like this and keep the vital transport going to visit them at home. HIV positive mothers are often deserted by their husbands or partners and left with no income to support the new-born. When they attend mother’s club they are able to get support but those living at a distance, like the twins above were discovered by chance when the hospice was visiting a patient in their remote villa Thank you all for your continued support. www.muhezahospicecare.com For further information about the work of Muheza Hospice Care please contact Richard or Karilyn Collins karilynandrichard@googlemail.com Advent Course Our Advent Course continues on Tuesday evening in Advent at 7pm, in the meeting room at Sutton Village Hall. To discuss the book together. I also suggest we meet on 6th January to reflect back on advent and to see if the group would like to continue to meet. Please let me know if you would like to take part, and / or if a daytime session would suit you better. Bishop Richard's Weekly Message In his final video of the year, Bishop Richard reflects on Joseph’s quiet righteousness and reminds us that at the heart of Christmas is God’s grace, forgiveness, and the hope of renewal in Christ. News and Events from around the Diocese Housing appeals to donate to this winter Last winter, Housing Justice found places for almost 5,000 people nationally in their winter night-shelter network. If your church or group is looking for a charity to support with Advent and Christmas service offerings, you can read more about their work here. Closer to home, St. Laurence's church in Ludlow runs Stephen House, the first facility of its kind in South Shropshire, offering those in need a warm welcome and a listening ear. As part of the mission programme of St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow Stephen House has been created to help the lonely, the homeless, those facing financial difficulties and those who feel they have nowhere else to turn. Lee’s Place in Hereford is a volunteer-run, community-powered space providing a warm welcome, hot meals, and vital support for anyone experiencing homelessness or hardship in Hereford. And Vennture, also in Hereford, provides a wraparound service for the under-housed and those needing extra support. They say, "Welcome to Vennture, where compassion meets action. Our mission is simple: to support those in need and ignite positive change. From lending a helping hand on the streets of Hereford and nurturing families in their homes, to supporting individuals through life's challenges. Join us in making a difference, one person at a time." 2026 Visitation Dates for Churchwardens' diaries The Bishop's office has announced the following Episcopal Visitation dates for 2026; these will be Bishop's Visitations rather than Archdeacons' Visitations, and all Churchwardens are strongly encouraged to attend a convenient date/location. You can now register for these on Eventbrite. 3rd June Pontesbury, St George's 2pm 10th June Church Stretton, St Laurence's 7pm 17th June Hereford Cathedral 11.30am 24th June Dore Abbey 7pm 30th June Bromyard, St Peter's 3pm It is a legal requirement for ALL Churchwardens, whether newly elected or continuing, to be sworn into office each year and this happens at a Visitation Service. All Visitation Services in 2026 will be led by the Bishop and are therefore Episcopal Visitations. Grant deadlines for churches in December and early 2026 It's worth looking ahead to grant opportunities coming up and making a note if any of these might be a good fit for your project. Parishes will need to ensure they have the appropriate level of Faculty consent in place before applying for grants. Contact our Property Team for more advice on this. Shropshire Historic Churches Trust 15th December, 2025 and 15th March, 2026: (Ludlow Archdeaconry) – repairs, conservation and improvements, max grant £10k. Grants considered quarterly. Lasletts 5th January, 2026: – repairs, conservation and improvements, max grant £5k. Grants considered quarterly. Church Care interiors and churchyard structures – maximum grant £10,000 5th January, 2026: - paintings and wall paintings 26th January, 2026: - bells and bell frames 23rd February, 2026: - stained glass 16th March, 2026: - clocks/turret clocks 13th April, 2026: - organs 5th May, 2026: - books and manuscripts, church plate, churchyard structures, monuments, monumental brasses and decorative metalwork, wooden objects Congregational and General Charitable Trust 22nd January, 2026: – capital projects involving building work such as repairs, improvements or extensions. Maximum grant £25k. Grants considered quarterly. Leche Trust 26th January, 2026: – historic objects, works of art and architectural decorations and fittings of artistic merit, which date prior to 1837. Max grant £5k. Sharpe Trust 1st February, 2026: – repair of bells, grants no more than £700. National Churches Trust 3rd March, 2026: – Small & medium grants up to £10k for urgent and essential maintenance and repairs up to £80k, and project development and investigative work, next deadline 16th December 2025. Large grants up to £50k for major urgent structural repair or £up to £30k for new kitchens and accessible toilets. Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust (Hereford Archdeaconry) 15th March, 2026: – repairs, conservation and improvements, max. grant £10k. Grants considered twice a year. William and Jane Morris Church Conservation Grants 31st March, 2026: - conservation of decorative features and monuments. Maximum grant £5k. Grants considered twice a year. ON Organ Fund 30th April, 2026: – the installation, renewal, rebuilding, improvement, maintenance, preservation and restoration of pipe organs. Max. grant £1,000. Grants considered twice a year. William A. Cadbury Charitable Trust May, 2026: - community projects and projects which address the impact of climate change and the preservation of buildings of historic importance and local interest. Small grants up to £2k considered monthly, deadline for larger grants up to £25,000 TBC, but Trustees meet next in in May. Contact our Parish Giving Advisor Mark to register to access the full grants database on Cornerstone.