An excellent Harvest Supper was held on 1st October with good food and fellowship: £383 was raised for Katharine House Hospice from donations, sale of produce and a raffle.

Community Lunches are held in Shutford Village Hall each Thursday from 12.30 – 2.00pm. Everyone is welcome – Ronald & Elisabeth have hosted two lunches recently but they are usually organised by Debbie and her team. Over the last year, £2500 has been raised for the village hall and £1000 for other charities including £400 for St Martin's Church. They are good social occasions with more than 20 people attending  on a regular basis.

We had about 40 people at the Kiev Classic Accordion Concert on 4th November. A good afternoon with excellent music and afternoon tea – more than £500 was raised for the musicians' charity. The Beetle Drive the following week was less busy but those attending had a fun couple of hours with lots of chocolate and refreshments to finish.

More than 60 villagers observed an Act of Remembrance at the village war memorial on 11th November – Armistice Day and St Martin's Day. 40 people then attended the service in church led by Venerable Archdeacon Keith Smalldon. He reflected on his time as a chaplain to the army and Royal British Legion and stressed the importance of remembrance. £250 has been collected for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

On 2nd December, Advent Sunday, at 6pm there will be an Advent Carol Service in Shutford,  the first of many special services and occasions across the benefice for Advent and Christmas. This will be a candle-lit, reflective service, NOT a Christmassy one, before we are overwhelmed by all the Christmas festivities.

There will be a Christmas themed Messy Church in Shutford Village Hall at 4.00pm on 8th December. There will be crafts, carols and refreshment to finish. This is an ideal opportunity for younger children and their families to get together: people of all ages are invited to join us for a cup of tea, some cake and the carols.

On 23rd December The George and Dragon are hosting brass accompanied carols from 4.00pm with seasonal refreshment available.

We look forward to a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas and 2019: in uncertain times Christian values and neighbourliness are more important than ever before. A big thank you to all the unsung heroes, some may say saints, in our benefice.