News from the Pews - 14 October 2025
Dear Friends
Early News this week, partly because I didn't have time to send anything last week...
...and also to remind you that we are invited to St Andrew's Church Chesterton CB4 1DT at 10.30am this coming Saturday 18 October to hear about the Equiano Family project and see the recently discovered footstone of Anna Maria Vassa's grave (Anna Maria being the elder daughter of Olaudah Equiano and Susannah Cullen who married in St Andrew's Soham in 1792). It'd be helpful to have an idea of numbers so I can pass them on to the refreshment-providers at Chesterton, and also to know if anyone needs/could offer a lift. Please could you let me know asap if you plan to come? Thank you!
Looking backwards, some time ago a number of you kindly offered to go on the rotas of people who read the first reading, and/or write and read the prayers of intercession and/or make and pour coffee at 10am Sunday services. My emails passing on your offers seem to have got lost in cyberspace, so I wonder if you could please let me know again asap, please, if you'd like to help with any of these things. Likewise, if you didn't offer the first time and would like to offer, please let me know. Separately, Madeleine is co-ordinating an expanded team of welcomers for 10am Sunday services, and it's not too late to join in! If you'd like to help with that, please let her know via revdmadeleinealbert@gmail.com Thank you!
Still looking backwards, on Harvest Sunday I let those of you who came to church know that we need to find £6K between now and the end of this year if we are to break even this year. I also talked about how helpful it would be if, going forward into 2026, regular financial donations to church funds could be made by the Parish Giving Scheme, and, if at all possible, increased by the price of a latte per week by those of us who already give via this scheme, meaning we could budget for 'break even' in 2026. Ironically the Parish Giving Scheme is out of action for the next fortnight, having some sort of revamp, so more on that when it's back online. One off donations to help meet this year's deficit can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/standrewschurchsoham , or via a cheque made payable to Soham PCC. Every little helps! Thank you (hopefully).
And now looking forward, to Christmas(!), with a message from John Cole:
A Christmas meal has been arranged for Thursday 11th December at 6.30pm at the Cherry Tree. All the information and sign up sheets are at the back of church.
And finally: the readings for Sunday's 10am service will be Genesis 32: 22-31 and Luke 18: 1-8.
That's all folks for this week!
Best wishes
Eleanor