ELY Ely Cathedral SERVICES for January 28 – February 3 THURSDAY: 7.40am – Morning Prayer; 8am – Holy Communion; 12.10 - Holy Communion; 5.30pm – Evensong. Friday: 7.40am – Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 5.30pm – Evensong. Saturday: 7.40am – Morn

ELY

Ely Cathedral

SERVICES for January 28 - February 3

THURSDAY: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 12.10 - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evensong.

Friday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evensong.

Saturday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evensong.

Sunday: 8.15am - Holy Communion; 10.30am - Candlemas Procession and Sung Eucharist; 4pm - Evensong.

Monday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evensong.

Tuesday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evensong.

Wednesday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evensong.

St Peter's Church

SERVICES for Candlemas (The Presentation of Christ in the Temple):

Sunday: 9.15 am - Sung Eucharist with celebrant Canon Nigel Abbott.

Tuesday: 10am - Holy Communion with celebrant Rev Brian Kerley.

Methodist Church

THE stewards welcomed the congregation to the Sunday service at 10.30am with notices and prayers. The covenant service was led by Rev Canon Graham Thompson with hymns, prayers and Bible readings. The sermon was followed by the offering and Holy Communion was celebrated. The organist was Donald Monk.

Thursday: noon-1.30pm - Shoppers' Lunch.

Friday: 10am - events group meeting.

Sunday: 10.30am - Morning Service with Rev Richard Prior; 6.30pm - evening service with Rev Christopher Bishop. Organists will be Pam Austin and Christopher Folkinghorne.

Countess Church

REV Gordon Lowman led the Sunday morning service and Louise Lomax led the worship. Messy Church welcomed more than 70 people in the afternoon with the theme of detecting. In the evening Holy Communion was celebrated.

Sunday: 10.30am - Steve Dunn from London City Mission will speak and at 5pm and there will be tea followed by a shorter service at 6pm. All welcome.

INFO: countessely.co.uk

The Olive Tree

SUNDAY morning worship was led by the Pastor who spoke on prayer and spiritual warfare, encouraging people to persist patiently in prayer.

Sunday: 10.30am - service including Holy Communion. The speaker will be Billy Onen.

Tuesday: Evening meeting of The Bridge will include prayer and fellowship, continuing study of the fruit of the spirit.

Friday: 10am-noon - Open Door Caf� offers a friendly setting in which to enjoy good company, freshly brewed tea and coffee, and home-made cakes.

INFO: Pastor Patrick Brandon on 01353 612 316.

Ely City WI

THE first meeting of 2010 was held on January 11 when members from Witchford and Stuntney WIs were welcomed. During the business section of the evening, Helena Wilson was awarded the cup for winning the most competition points during 2009.

Bill Morris, who brought a wide selection of his 78rpm record collection, some dating from the very early 1900s, then entertained members. These he played the discs on a record player from the 1960s. Everyone enjoyed the nostalgia and had fun trying to guess who the artists were or the title of the instrumental pieces. Refreshments were served during the interval.

The next meeting will be held on February 8 in the Old Dispensary with a demonstration of jewellery making. Visitors will be most welcome.

CHETTISHAM

Parish Church

CELEBRANT at St Michael and All Angels on Sunday was Margaret Talbot and the preacher was Stephen Talbot. The organist was David Catling. The first lesson was read by Linda Aylott and the offertory was presented by Lee, Kelly and Callum Howard.

Sunday: Sung Eucharist will be held at 9.15am.

HADDENHAM

Baptist Chapel

David welcomed and thanked Rev Mervyn Crawford, who conducted the Sunday morning service. The musicians were Alan, Eddie and David. Ruth led the singing. Josh was on the drums.

We sang a hymn then Rev Crawford spoke to the children about the Death Head Moth and how Jesus can change our lives to something beautiful - like how the moth turns from a chrysalis to a moth. He then read from Peter. Eileen and Pauline took up the offering. This was followed by prayer and open prayer. The theme for Rev Crawford's sermon was "You are the chosen people" and "Are Christians losing their identity?" The service closed with a hymn and saying the Grace.

Sunday: the service will be taken by Peter Firness from Isleham.

LITTLEPORT

St George's Church

ON Sunday, the vicar presided and preached at the 8am Holy Communion and the 10am Parish Eucharist when John Marshall delivered the sermon. The vicar also led and preached at the 6.30pm Evensong.

Saturday: 9.30am to noon - Coffee Morning, with cake stall. All welcome.

Sunday: 8am - Holy Communion with the vicar; 10am - Parish Eucharist.

Tuesday: 12.30pm - Daily Prayer; 1.45pm - Pram Service for pre-school toddlers.

Wednesday: 9.30am - Holy Communion.

Friday: 6pm - Junior Choir Practice; 7.30pm - Senior Choir Practice; 9pm -Compline.

Saturday (February 6): 9am - Mens' Breakfast Club in the Parish Room.

All welcome. INFO: Contact the vicar on 01353 860207.

St John's Methodist Church

Sunday: 10.45am - Morning Service with David Middleton; 6.30pm - Evening Service with Dianne Bright.

Saturday (February 6): 9am-11am - Coffee Morning.

Sunday (February 7): 10.45am - Morning Service with John Seaman; 6.30pm - Evening Service with Chris Bishop including Holy Communion.

All welcome.

Littleport Ely and District Spiritualist (LEADS)

THE service is open to everyone and entry is free.

It is held at the village hall in Victoria Street on Thursdays unless stated in the Ely Standard or on the website.

Doors open at 6.30pm for healing which ends at 7.20pm. This is free to all

who would like to have healing but please arrive early as the healers are busy and do not wish to disappoint those who are in need.

The Divine Service begins at 7.30pm. This week, medium Sharon Hall will attend.

Next Thursday, February 4, medium Dora Sheridan returns to LEADS.

There is a raffle and a goodwill collection, all donations welcomed. The evening is closed with tea/coffee and light refreshments again for which there is no charge and all are welcome.

INFO: www.mjgoodall.co.uk/lead-spirit.htm or contact Wendie: 01353 667300

The Vine Community Church

LIVELY, friendly, non-denominational Christian church meeting at the Regal in Hempfield Road.

Sunday: 10.30am - Family Service followed by a bring-and-share lunch.

Saturday (30): 6pm - New Year's Party with special guests Joe and S�s Gaddis and their family, now resident in Italy.

All welcome. Refreshments served, from 10.15am. Cr�che for the youngest children is open from 10.15am and older children enjoy a separate meeting during the second half of the service. Afterwards, please join us for refreshments and a chance to chat.

We are planning an exciting range of events during 2010, including a New Year's Party in the near future and a week at Sizewell Hall on the Suffolk coast in August.

INFO: Don Gee on 01353 864690 or 01353 860885 or www.thevinelittleport.org.uk

LITTLE THETFORD

St George's Church

THE service of Morning Praise was taken by the Rev Margaret Harper with a sermon about Jesus Mission. On Tuesday evening there will be hymn singing at the church at 6pm, all welcome.

Sunday: there is no service at St George's. We shall join our friends at St James' Church, Stretham at 11am for a belated Plough Service followed by a bring-and-share lunch and collection for the disaster in Haiti. Do join us.

MEPAL

Parish Council

REPORT of January 31, 2010.

Quality Status Parish Council: the application was approved by the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel and will be recommended to the National Association for receipt of the Quality Parish Council Award.

Speedwatch Scheme: volunteers are in place and are learning to use the equipment. Anyone interested in joining the scheme should contact Mike Stacey (parish council chairman) on 07777 688890.

New play facilities for Mepal Recreation Field: work is progressing well with this project.

Parish Maintenance: Further remedial work was undertaken over the Christmas period to rectify the further sinkage of the drainage lines on the recreation field.

Paths: improvements to the network of paths around the village are being undertaken as a result of the parish council's membership of the Parish Paths Partnership Scheme with Cambridgeshire County Council.

Highways: Attempts to reduce the speed limit in Sutton Road have not been successful. A further bid will be submitted when it is hoped that evidence from the Speedwatch Scheme will further support the application.

Setting of the Precept for 2010/11: the parish council resolved to set the final precept figure at �28,845 for 2010/11. This is �300 higher than previously reported and will equate to an increase of 79p per instalment on the Council Tax of a Band D property.

INFO: The next meeting of Mepal Parish Council will be on February 8 at 7.30pm in Mepal Village Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend.

SOHAM

Methodist Church

SUNDAY'S service at 10am was led by Ivan Cox.

At 2.30pm the congregation joined the other churches in the town at the Salvation Hall for a united service to mark the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

At 5pm there was a Circuit United Service at Berrycroft. This marked the end of the Circuit Pilgrimage of Prayer weekend. Rev Canon Graham Thompson, chairman of East Anglia District, gave the address.

Refreshments were served following the service.

Friday: 10am-noon - Coffee Morning at Byways, Barcham Road. Cost: �1.50 including free raffle ticket.

Saturday: Sing for Haiti evening with New Life followed by a faith supper. A collection will be taken to help the disaster.

Sunday: 10am - Morning Service led by Rev Edwin Myers.

Saturday (February 6): 2pm-4.30pm - Tea Dance in aid of Soham Methodist Church. Please note: the new venue, Berrycroft Methodist Hall. Admission �2.50 including refreshments. Prize raffle.

Saturday (February 13): 10am - noon - Valentine's Coffee Morning at Berrycroft Methodist Hall. Raffle, tombola, cake stall, anything stall and a Valentine stall. Proceeds for church funds.

Saturday (March 13): Songs of Praise at Berrycroft Methodist Church with C & A (Ivan Cox & Jim Ames). Proceeds for church funds. Please note: this event takes place in March and not February as stated last week.

January 21, Carol Gilbey welcomed members of the Wives Group to the first meeting of 2010. Carol gave out the notices including Womens' World Day of Prayer March 5, and Bygones quiz on April 10. The speaker for the evening was Emma Shepherd, warden at Wicken Fen, who gave an illustrated talk on Wicken Fen. She was accompanied by Tim Fisher. Carol gave a vote of thanks and invited Ruth to give the epilogue. Members joined in the singing of the vespa. Refreshments were served and there was a raffle. The speaker at the next meeting on February 18 will be Barrie Hawkins from GSD Homefinders.

Knit and Knatter

DO you like to knit? Would you like to learn to knit? If so why not join the group of ladies that meet in the community room at The Crescent on Thursday afternoons from 2pm-4pm. Since the group has formed it has been very busy and has completed two blankets for Macmillan nurses and is now knitting school jumpers for the charity Feed the Child and also hats for premature babies. If you are interested just turn up at the Crescent. You will be most welcome.

Heartbeat Health Walk

THE weekly walk continues to be very popular with new members joining the group. On January 18, David Clarke was the leader for a walk of three miles around Soham. Refreshments were available at The Ship and Sauceymegabytes after the walk.

Over 60's Club

RUTH Ginn welcomed everyone to the meeting in the Pavilion on January 22. Several members had been to the pantomime the previous week and had a very enjoyable time. Thanks to Ruth for organising the outing. Peggy Gibbon gave out the notices, collected subscriptions and menus and cash for the forthcoming annual dinner. Games of bingo were played with Betty Lanagan calling the numbers, assisted by Diane Wheeling checking the cards. Refreshments were served and there was a raffle. The singing of the club hymn brought the meeting to a close.

Soham,The Fen and Barway WI

THE first meeting for 2010 takes place in the coffee room at Keith Leonard House on February 5 at 7.30pm. The speaker is Charles Garland with his talk on 'vicar's son to television producer'. The competition is for a comic postcard. New members are very welcome or you may come as a guest and pay a �2 entry fee which includes tea and biscuits.