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

09-Jan Weekend Email with Livestream Link
 

In this email:
  • Sunday’s Service
  • Praying through the Vacancy – every Thursday!
  • Fellowship Programme
  • Bishop’s Open Garden

 

 

 
 

SUNDAY’S SERVICE

 

 
 
St Helen’s and St Peter’s Churches worship together this Sunday! We welcome our speaker, Ruth Robb, cofounder and CEO in our partner charity Azalea in Luton. Azalea “works to empower and facilitate sustainable transformation in the lives of men, women and neighbourhoods impacted by sex trafficking “. As a church, we have partnered Azalea for several years supporting them financially and with Easter Eggs and Christmas stockings. Ruth will share with us her own story of how God called her to this work and how actively prayer is guiding the team  We are looking forward to hearing about how the work of Azalea is growing and some of the challenges they face. If you can’t join us in church, please join us online. Click here or on the image above for the YouTube link.

Please note that this is a Service of the Word (no Communion). Communion services are available at both Sandridge (10am) and St John’s Harpenden (9.30am).

 

 
ZOOM LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ymrfkfx9
To download the new 2026 prayer booklet, please click here.
 

Vacancy Prayer Themes for 15th January
  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 have taken 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 continue to take up 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 until our new Rector Andy joins us. 
The usual Morning Prayer sessions will continue to run in church (Monday and Tuesday) and on Zoom (Monday – Wednesday). 
 

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:

15th January Whose Baby are You? A fun competition with baby pics of people you know to match with now. Bring one of you too – if you have one.
22nd January Social and board games
29th January Save a space for puds. £3
5th February Holy Communion
1 th February A talk about the charity Azalia – Vicky Puttock
19th February Ol’Packers Ukulele Group
26th February Social and Board Games
5th March Holy Communion
12th March Alban Re-imagined. A talk about St Alban given by Stephen De Silva, St Alban’s Abbey Guide
19th March Chair Exercises with Sarah Donnelly
26th March Social and Board Games
2nd April Maundy Thursday Holy Communion

 

 

Ink Cartridge Recycling

Do continue to bring in your ink cartridges to St Helen’s Church! Your support will help raise funds for church.

Do your bit to save the planet  – just pop them into the box in the Chancel.

*Please note: we can only recycle ink cartridges, not laser or toner cartridges
Snowdrop Garden Open Days — Possibly for the Last Time —
in Support of the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust
We are pleased to share that the Bishop of St Albans’ Garden will open to visitors in February 2026, offering a much-loved chance to enjoy God’s creation in its early spring beauty. Next year’s openings may be the last time the garden is made accessible to the public, making the occasion especially meaningful.

Thousands of snowdrops and other early bulbs will be in bloom, creating a peaceful, uplifting place to wander and reflect. All proceeds will go directly to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust, which helps fund essential repairs to historic churches across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Open Garden Dates
Abbey Gate House, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans AL3 4HD
• Saturday 14 February
• Sunday 15 February
• Saturday 21 February
• Sunday 22 February
Time: 2pm–4pm

Entry: £5 per adult (all proceeds to the Trust)

All are warmly invited to visit the garden—perhaps for the final time as we are not sure if the new Bishop will continue to allow the garden to be opened to the public —enjoy its seasonal beauty and support the preservation of our cherished church buildings.
 

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 12th January
9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel
12.30pm – 1.30pm Memorial Service for t/l John Compton-Ward
7.30pm – 9.15pm Bellringing Practice

Tuesday 13th January9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel

Wednesday 14th January
9.30am – 11.00am The Ark Parent-and-Toddler Group

Thursday 15th January
2.45pm – 4.15pm St Helen’s Fellowship at Mead Hall

 

 

Friday 16th January

Saturday 17th January
9.15am – 10.00am Celtic Morning Prayer
10.00am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel

Sunday 18th January
10.00am – 11.00am Parish Communion Service
3.30pm – 4.30pm Kids Worship
5.00pm – 6.30pm Youth Group