ELY Ely Cathedral SERVICES for October 23 - 29 THURSDAY: 7.40am – Morning Prayer; 8am – Holy Communion; 2.10pm - Holy Communion; 5.30pm – Evening Prayer. Friday: 7.40am – Morning Prayer; 8am – Holy Communion; midday – Quiet Hour; 3.00pm – Wedding; 5.30p

ELY

Ely Cathedral

SERVICES for October 23 - 29

THURSDAY: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; 2.10pm - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evening Prayer.

Friday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; midday - Quiet Hour; 3.00pm - Wedding; 5.30pm - Evensong.

Saturday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8.00am - Holy Communion; midday - Quiet Hour; 5.30pm - Evensong.

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

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

Tuesday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; midday - Quiet Hour; 12.10pm - Holy Communion; 5.30pm - Evening Prayer.

Wednesday: 7.40am - Morning Prayer; 8am - Holy Communion; midday - Quiet Hour; 5.30pm - Evening Prayer.

Countess Freechurch

BRIAN Mitchell led the family service on Sunday morning. The worship songs, sketches, Biblical readings and personal testimonies were all focused on the relevance of the Bible.

Many people gathered in the church hall on Sunday afternoon for a farewell tea/fellowship to Bill and Audrey Snedden who have been at the church for 16 years and are returning home to Scotland at the end of November. They were given a photograph of the Countess Church and an album of photos covering the work of all aged people within the church fellowship.

The 6.30pm worship was led by Joan Johnson. The Housegroups met throughout the week for prayer and Bible study. The Youth Club met for their times of fun/epilogue in the hall.

John Baldoch will be the speaker at the Sunday morning service. The evening will be hosted by Bill and Jan Roberts who will show slides and share news of their recent visit to Sierra Leone.

St Mary's Church

SERVICES for Sunday.

8am: Holy Communion with preacher Alan Hulme; 10.30am: Family Communion with preacher Alan Hulme; 6.30pm: Evening Prayer with preacher Alan Partridge.

INFO: 01353 659550.

St Peter's Church

SUNDAY: the celebrant and preacher at the 9.15am Eucharist will be canon Chris Barber and the singing will be led by the St Peter's Singers.

Wednesday: there will be a lunchtime service at 1pm, followed by a bring-and-share lunch at St Peter's House.

The Vine Community Church

WE are a lively non-denominational church which meets at The Regal on Hempfield Road in Littleport.

Sunday: the service will begin at 10.30am with contemporary music worship, and a sermon by pastor Don Gee. The crèche is now open and Sunday School is also provided. After the service you are welcome to stay for tea, coffee and fellowship, and at 6pm there is a meeting for an hour for music and worship.

We have the fourth session of the Alpha Course at The Regal on Wednesday, October 29. Dinner is provided. Next week, small groups will be meeting for fellowship.

INFO: pastor Don Gee on 01353 860885 or 01638 780457.

Connexions @ High Barns (Free Church)

THIS week at NC@HB the children's club found time to play games, do some craft and look at 'choices'. The rest of us were looking at choices too, and having a go at the question 'hell...was it just invented to frighten us'? We managed to fit in a short comedy video, the usual chat over coffee and a few quotes from different people and then looked at what the Bible has to say, all this alongside some music and prayer. As we've said before, this is a church for everyone, whether you've never been to church before, used to go but for whatever reason drifted away, or have just moved into our area. Give us a try on Sunday, absolutely everyone is welcome with the exciting children's club, the frank look at life's big questions for adults, free flowing tea, coffee and cold drinks, and all on your doorstep - it's got to be too good to miss. So don't forget, we meet on Sundays at 10.30am at The Theatre, St Mary's Junior School High Barns, Ely or contact Keith Waters on 01353 612158 or email at: fool@xalt.co.uk

The Olive Tree Fellowship

SUNDAY morning's gathering was slightly smaller than usual, with some away at a youth weekend. We prayed for persecuted Christians in Orissa, and other nations. We prayed for ourselves to be strong when facing opposition, even of a lighter kind than is faced by believers in other places. The pastor's address concerned the possibility that we can hold up God's purposes, whether through fear and doubt or laziness and distraction. But we can also hasten them.

Sunday: worship, including Holy Communion is at 10.30am. The pastor will bring the fifth of his series on elementary principles, as listed in Hebrews chapter six, looking this time at the resurrection of the dead. Crèche and Sunday School will be available. Open Door Café on Fridays, from 10am until noon will be serving refreshments in a welcoming setting in which to meet and make friends. All are welcome to these events.

CHETTISHAM

Parish Church

MORNING prayer at St Michael and All angels on Sunday was led by Ruth Denigan. The organist was Angus Gilchrist. The first lesson was read by Michael Richer who also presented the offertory.

Sunday: Sung Eucharist will be held at 9.15am.

HADDENHAM

Baptist Chapel

DAVID welcomed everyone at the Sunday morning service and gave out the notices.

The 'light party' will be held at 6.30 pm on October 31. Audrey Chipper is taking the service on November 16. Happy Birthday was sung to Alan. Congratulations were extended to May and Fred who are celebrating 63 years of marriage. Bob, June, Alan and David were the musicians. Songs and prayers followed.

The children were encouraged to search the chapel for sweets. Philip and Daniel took up the offering. Jim read from Luke 19, 1 to 10. The service closed with hymns and prayers.

LITTLEPORT

St George's Church

THE Rev Canon Herrick presided at the 8am Holy Communion and the preacher at the 10am service was John Marshall. A Sunday at Home was held in the Parish Room, from 2.30pm till 4.30pm.

Sunday: The Rev Canon V Herrick will preside at the 8am Holy Communion. Bishop Peter Dawes will preside at the 10am Parish Eucharist when Jane Harris will deliver the sermon. A combined evensong with our friends from St John's Methodist Church will be held at 6.30pm.

Wednesday: Holy Communion at 9am. From 10am till 3pm, the Holiday Club will hold a reunion at The Vine.

Saturday, November 1: Men's Breakfast Club in the Parish Room at 9am.

Saturday, November 15: Organ recital to celebrate the vicar's birthday. A great evening's entertainment is assured. Organists will be Iain Harvey and Dr Peter Luck. November 19: quiz and chips.

Littleport Flower Arrangement Club

OUR chairman Pam Hayes welcomed members and guests and then introduced Barbara Collins, an area demonstrator from Peterborough. Her demonstration of 'shades of autumn' produced a delightful array of beautiful designs. The six arrangements, in various styles, depicted all the various shades of autumn ranging from cream through to yellow to deep red using garden plant material as well as magnificent orchids and roses. An exotic autumn design included stunning tropical material.

Mrs Collins entertained and informed during the evening and was thanked by Sue Kerridge.

The next meeting is on Friday, November 21 and will be a demonstration, called 'a candlelight xmas' by Ian Lloyd. Tickets are sold out for this event.

INFO: 01353 860102/863421.

Littleport Ely And District Spiritualist Church

WE would like to thank Arthur Wright for delivering the messages at our service last week.

A divine service is held on Thursday evenings at Littleport Village Hall in Main Street Littleport. Doors open at 6.40pm for spiritual healing, which takes place until 7.20pm for which there is no charge.

This is followed by the service at 7.30pm.

This week we have Jenny Gome as our guest medium who is new to our church and comes highly recommended.

There is no charge for admittance to church and everyone is welcome.

Please feel welcome to join us with an open mind sharing light refreshments, which are served free.

There is a monthly awareness course which will run on Monday evenings in the hall and for those interested in this the next meeting is on November 3. Numbers are limited, but contact Wendie to book your place. There is a small charge of £2.50 to cover the hall costs.

For anyone interested in a day time course this could also be a possibility.

We also have a raffle for which small donated prizes are always welcomed. Thank you to all who donated prizes last week.

Unfortunately there is no church service for the week of October 30, but normal service the following week.

INFO: www.mjgoodall.co.uk/lead-spirit.htm or telephone Wendie on

01353 667300.

LITTLEPORT

St John's Methodist Church

SIMON Wynn led the morning worship on October 12. Constance Wynn and Bev Scott read the lessons and Peter Kirby was the pianist. Rev June Mallabon led the evening service that was united with St George's Parish Church.

John Seaman led last Sunday's morning service at 10.45am. Gladys Rose and Yvonne Peacock read the lessons and Janice Weatherall was the organist. Rev Mallabon led a memorial service in the evening. The pianist was Pat Hodson.

Sunday: the Rev Mallabon will lead the morning worship, which will include the celebration of Holy Communion. The evening service will be united at St George's Parish Church when Tony Murfitt will be the preacher.

Everyone welcome to join the services or events.

Flower Arrangement Club

THE club met at the village hall on October 17, at 7.30pm. The demonstrator was Barbara Collins.

Visitors are always welcome to join in with club meetings for a fee of £3. The club provides a well-stocked sales table and all the arrangements demonstrated are raffled at the end of the meeting.

INFO: If you want to know more contact the chairman Pam Hayes on 01353 860102 or Pam sole on 01353 863421.

Little Thetford.

St George's Church.

OUR service of Holy Communion was taken by the Rev Pauline Scott with a sermon on the 'parable of the talents'. Offerings were taken for 'gift day'. Next Sunday our service of morning praise will be held at 9.30am led by Judy Kerridge.

Saturday: we are hosting a concert by Max's Angels at 7.30pm in the church. Tickets £5.

Baptist Chapel.

THE preacher on Sunday was Nigel Holland whose theme was 'thanking God for his gifts to us'.

Due to the clocks changing, from next Sunday our service will be held at 3pm. The preacher will be the Rev Gywnn Jones. Girl's Brigade meet at 6pm on Friday.

Tuesday, November 4: we shall hold our monthly coffee morning at 10am at the chapel in aid of the Friends of Princess of Wales Hospital.

SOHAM

Methodist Church

WORSHIP on Sunday was led by Janine Scothern and we welcomed members of the Wives' Group for their annual service.

Sunday: There is a united service at St Andrew's at 9.30am.

Evening service is at 6.30pm at Berrycroft and will be led by the Rev Edwin Myers.

Tuesday: Midweek worship will be held in the schoolroom at 7.30pm. This is open to anyone who would like to join us and will be led by the Rev Edwin Myers.

Friday: Ann and Sarah Willett are holding a coffee morning at Byways in Barcham Road, Soham, from 10am till midday. Tea and coffee and a cake or scone and receive a raffle ticket, all for £1. Everyone welcome.

And on Saturday evening at 7pm there is chance for you to come along and join another of our Songs of Praise with Ivan Cox and Jim Ames. Proceeds from both events are for Soham Methodist Church Property and Developement Fund.

Heartbeat Health Walk

ON Monday, October 13, Liz Gwinnett was the leader for the weekly walk when 35 walkers, with David Clarke and Laurie Budd at the back, took part in a walk of about three miles around Soham.

Methodists News

CAROL Gilbey welcomed members and guests to the Wives Group meeting last Wednesday. Carol gave out the notices reminding members that items for the Christmas shoe box appeal would much appreciated and a collection for the appeal would be taken during the meeting. Songs of Praise takes place in the chapel on November 1. The speaker for the evening was John Gall from Emmaus in Cambridge.

Carol gave the vote of thanks, and Cindy Steward read the epilogue. Refreshments were served and there was a raffle. The speaker at the next meeting on Wednesday, November 19 will be Geoffrey Heathcote from the R.N.L.I.

Over 60's Club

ON Friday, members of the club enjoyed a mystery tour travelling through the Norfolk countryside. A coffee stop was made at Swaffham before continuing the journey to the village of North Elmham where they were welcomed for lunch by the ladies of the WI. Everyone enjoyed a home-cooked three-course lunch, followed by tea or coffee, served by the W.I. ladies. Ruth Ginn thanked them on behalf of everyone. It was back on the coach once again, the final stop was made at Sherringham for a leisurely browse round the shops and tea before boarding the coach for the homeward journey. Thanks are extended to Peggy Gibbon for a splendid day out.

Members not able to go on the outing enjoyed games of bingo in the Pavilion.

Soham The Fen and Barway WI

ON Friday, 14 members joined groups from the Cambridgeshire WIs at the Chippenham Village Hall for an autumn miscellany. This event was arranged by the Cambridge Federation and the excellent entertainment was provided by the Federation players. During the interval, everyone enjoyed a ploughman's supper with a glass of wine or fruit juice .There was also a raffle. The vote of thanks for a lovely evening was given by Geanette Hawes president of the Chippenham W.I.

STRETHAM

WI

THE speaker at our October meeting was Reg Brown, who gave us an entertaining and informative lecture on the history of printing, with many illustrations of printing presses and type faces from the 15th - 20th Century. Some of us remembered with affection the miniature presses that were available in the 1950's and were pleased to see a very small press that Reg still uses for very small jobs. The vote of thanks was given by Joy Smith. The evening ended with refreshments, a fund-raising bring-and-buy stall and an interesting quiz.

INFO: October 28 at 10.30am at the Cross for the Autumn Council Meeting at City Of Ely Community College. Bring a packed lunch.

Over 60's Club

THIRTY members were present at the meeting held on October 15 in the church hall. Patrick Spencer won a jar of sweets in the quiz. Tea and biscuits were served by Dick Phillips, Edie Sadlep, Pat Brown and Joan Lowe. Birthday greetings were sung for Bet Bidwell, Joan Quinsee and Dot Sheehan.

On October 8, friends from Ely, Little Thetford and Wicken joined Stretham on a trip to Yarmouth which was enjoyed very much, partly thanks to the glorious weather.

A raffle took place and the meeting closed with the club hymn.

SUTTON

Garden Club

OUR speaker for this month was Tony Arnold who is head gardener at Newnham College, Cambridge. Mr Arnold is a member of a Cambridge University Botanical Team who goes on study tours to countries around the world. His talk was about the gardens of China. Starting in Beijing and progressing through the various provinces of China where garden planting ranges from temperate through to sub-tropical climates. We were treated to photographs, some of general interest, but many from various botanical gardens round China. After question time, Mr Arnold was thanked by our chairman John Groves for providing such an interesting talk.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12 at 7.45pm in the Brooklands Centre Village Hall when we welcome the return of Alan Moores with a talk entitled 'green in the Pyrenees'. Non-members are welcome to come along. The entry fee is £2, which includes tea and biscuits after the talk.

SUTTON

Halloween Disco

EVERYONE is welcome to attend the Halloween Disco on November 7 from 5-9pm at the Brooklands Centre in Sutton.

The evening is in two parts. From 5pm-7pm there will be family fun and games and from 7pm-9pm the disco will be held. There will be a barbecue and a fancy dress competition, a prize for the best pumpkin, face painting, hair braiding and a raffle. Proceeds will be donated to the Paintbox Playgroup.

INFO: Tickets are £12 for a family or £3.50 each from Paintbox Cabin on 01353 778865.

WARDY HILL

Dominoes

THERE were four tables in play at the dominoes held on October 10 in the social club when Mrs A Houghton was MC. Winners were: Mrs M White, A Bell, Mrs G Faux, F Tall, Mrs A Houghton and Miss M Murfitt; highest halves: Mrs P Martin and B Copping; consolation: Mrs O Goodjohn; draw: F Tall, B Copping, Mrs A Houghton and Mrs E Tillyard.

Whist Drive

THERE were five tables in play at the whist drive held on October 13 in the social club when Mrs M Dewsbery was MC. Winners were: Mrs N Bean, K Cornwell, Mrs P Jordan, F Tall, Mrs I Butcher, Mrs E Sizer and Mrs D Perrin; highest Halves: Mrs H Sturman and N Synejko; Most Sixes: Mrs P Brand; consolation: Mrs A Houghton; Draw: K Cornwell, F Tall, N Synejko, Mrs H Sturman and Mrs E Sizer.