St Helens Church, High Street, Wheathampstead, St Albans, AL4 8AA. Worship Times: 10am every Sunday

12-Sep Weekend Email with Livestream Link
 

In this email:
  • Sunday’s Services
  • Year 7 Donuts
  • BBQ Thank you!
  • Snip & Chat
  • Barbara’s Licensing as Reader
  • Praying through the Vacancy
  • Harvest Celebration
  • Bike n Hike – tomorrow!
  • Golf Day
  • Friends of St Helen’s Talk
  • St Helen’s Fellowship
SAVE THE DATE!
WCT Evening about the Environment
10th Oct 2025 – 7pm

 

 

 
 

SUNDAY’S SERVICES

 

 
 
Join us in St Helen’s Church at 10am for our Parish Communion Service. Our guest minister this week is the Ven Jonathan Smith, who will preside and preach. Jonathan served as the Archdeacon of St Albans before retiring in 2020. He was ordained priest in 1991 and served in Newcastle, Chelmsford, and London dioceses, before moving to St Albans in 1988. Besides parish ministry, he was a Rural Dean, and Chaplain to the Bedfordshire Police. Come and listen to his sermon! If you can’t join us in church, please join us online. Click here or on the image above for the YouTube link.

 

All are welcome at St Peter’s Church, Gustard Wood (just past Mid Herts Golf Club on the way to Kimpton) for a special Songs of Praise service.

 
 

BBQ THANK YOU!
We started the season last Sunday with our Welcome Back barbecue – lots of you came and we had a lot of fun!

We are very grateful to all who helped out in different ways but special thanks go to Correen who masterminded and organised the whole event so well done Correen. But nothing happens without a team of others helping out so thanks to the furniture movers, the gazebo putter uppers, the barbecuing angels, those serving food and drinks and all those who brought food along and all other helpers. Thanks also to Andy Harris, head of St Helens for offering the school as such a welcoming venue.

I am not sure we ever properly thanked Helen and the team who organised the fabulous party for Richard which was also a great occasion to enjoy friendship so thanks to all of you as well.

It is so good that we can all join together providing friendship across the generations and having a chance to get to know each other better. Hospitality is always important in St Helens. Let’s keep enjoying getting to know each other better!

We are always keen to involve more people as volunteer helpers at these events . If you could help out another time please let Correen know your details.

 

 
Messy Church needs styrofoam!
Can you please save, and put in the box in the vestry, any Styrofoam from packing boxes. The children will be using it to make boats! It needs to be this type please – see below. Any questions please speak to Jenny Hanks

Barbara’s Licensing as Reader

We are delighted that Barbara after training part time for several years is going to be installed as a Reader at St Albans Abbey at 4pm on 28th September. All are welcome

We shall also celebrate this with Barbara after our 10am service on Sunday 5th October with cake and fizz!
ZOOM LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ymrfkfx9

To download a prayer booklet, please click here.

Vacancy Prayer Themes for 18th September
  1. Please pray for the unity of the church and its mission to serve the wider community. It is important that the church stays together during this time.
  2. Please pray for support for the paid staff of the church it’s church wardens and PCC who will take over the day to day running of the church. It is important that no one feels overwhelmed or overworked.
  3. Please pray that people will take up more roles and responsibilities, that there will be more volunteers, and the workload will be shared out in larger groups.
  4. Please pray for wisdom and direction for the leadership of the church. Especially the PCC as the put together the Parish Profile and start the process of choosing a new rector.
The usual Morning Prayer sessions will continue to run in church (Monday and Tuesday) and on Zoom (Monday – Wednesday).

 
Please see below for Food Bank Donation Wish List:

 
St Helen’s and St Peter’s are joining in on the fun and welcoming bikers and hikers in aid of the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust. I will be biking to raise some money for both the HC Trust and St Helens and St Peter’s (50/50). Come and join me!
 

Parish Golf Day – Weds 24th September
Our annual parish golf day is on the afternoon of Weds 24th Sep at Mid Herts Golf Club.

Please register your interest to play or ask for more information from Simon Best at  simonpf.best@gmail.com or on 07786 704353.

Golfers of all standards are welcome for a friendly team competition over 18 holes for the splendid Debenhams Ottaway Claret Jug.  There will also be a 9-hole option playing for the Friendship Trophy.

 

 
 

The cost for 18 holes, bacon roll before and a 2-course dinner after, including prizes, will be just £36 per person.

Families, retired golfers and never-wanted-to-be golfers are welcome to join us for dinner afterwards at about 7.30 pm for a cost of £20 per person.

 

 

 

 
Anne’s Camino Adventure
Many of you will know that Anne Hollis is taking nearly 7 weeks to walk part of a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. By clicking on the link below you can follow her route and see photos that she posts each day. Next week we’ll ask her to give us a short summary of her experiences so far.

https://www.polarsteps.com/AnneHollis/21133293-el-camino-frances?s=ad7ee943-5476-421e-ad5b-5919422bbba0
 

Grace BHM.png

Highly Recommended by Barbara Doye!

Sunday 19 October, 7.30pm in St. Saviour’s Church
Grace Will Lead Me Home
Presented by St Albans Folk Music

Angeline Morrison, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Jon Bickley, and John Palmer tell the parallel stories of former slave trader John Newton, who wrote many hymns including Amazing Grace – and former slave Oluaudah Equiano.
​
Tickets £20, with £15 concessions for under18’s and students – online or on the door. ​​​

 

 
 

St Helen’s Fellowship

MEN AND WOMEN welcome at St Helen’s Fellowship! Programme below. Unless otherwise stated all meetings are held in The Mead Hall between 2.45 and 4.15 pm. The cost is £2 per week. Anyone who would appreciate a lift to meetings, please ring Gill Gwinn who will be able to tell you if we can help with this. Thanks.

Louise Edwards 01582 621197
Jill Bareham 01582 460394
Gill Gwinn (transport organiser) 07966 469754

Programme:

18th September ‘If you go down to the woods today ….’
Bring your teddy. Maggie Taylor
25 th September Social afternoon and board games
2nd October Holy Communion
9th October Chair Exercises with Sarah
16th October What happened to the Princes in the Tower? Following the Evidence – Brian Edwards
23rd October Social afternoon and Bug Bingo
30th October Age Friendly Work in Herts, on its way to St Albans city and District. Annie Stevenson – Age UK Herts Ambassador
6th November Holy Communion
13th November Save a Space for Puds. £3
20th November David Tomkins – Ventriloquist and Magician
27th November Quiz and board games
4th December Holy Communion
11th December An Advent celebration in St Helen’s Church

 

 

 
 

If you have a concern about someone else or yourself:
please call 07870748773 or e mail Christine.anstice@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

 
 

Events and Activities this week (at St. Helen’s Church unless otherwise indicated).
Please ask if you need further details

 

 
 

Monday 15th September 
9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel
7.30pm – 9.15pm Bellringing Practice

Tuesday 16th September9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel
7.30pm – 10.00pm PCC Meeting

Wednesday 17th September
9.30am – 11.00am The Ark Parent-and-Toddler Group

Thursday 18th September
2.45pm – 4.15pm St Helen’s Fellowship at Mead Hall
4.00pm – 5.00pm Year 7 Donuts

 

 

Friday 19th September

Saturday 20th Septmber
9.15am – 10.00am Celtic Morning Prayer
10.00am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel

Sunday 21st September
10.00am – 11.00am Parish Communion Service
3.30pm – 4.30pm Kids Worship
5.00pm – 6.30pm Youth Group