The Christmas carol singing around the village was cancelled because of bad weather but 20 villagers came to church to sing instead. The Christmas Draw, which raised £720, took place during the evening. Christmas services were well attended, seeing some of the highest congregations of the year. The Christingle was fully participative with excellent reading from the youngsters in church. £170 has been given to the Children’s Society from a retiring collection. Thank you to everyone who donated flowers and decorated the church for Christmas and also for mulled wine, mince pies, etc enjoyed by the congregations at the carols and Christingle.

We were pleased to welcome our friends from across the benefice to celebrate Epiphany: it was good to have the choir to lead the singing. A fund raising initiative - Illuminate and Celebrate - has been started: floodlighting of the church tower will be sponsored by villagers to remember loved ones and to mark birthdays and other anniversaries. Contact Sharon White by email steven.white@btinternet.com to take part. We are grateful to Sharon and Steve White and Rita Livesey for promoting the initiative.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting to discuss last year's activities and the future of the church in Shutford will be held on 10th March in the village hall at 7.30pm.