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


6-Feb Weekend Email with Livestream Link


 

In this email:
  • Sunday’s Services
  • Praying through the Vacancy
  • Ashing Service
  • Lent Course 2026
  • Jam Jars needed for Messy Church!
  • Fellowship Programme
  • Bishop’s Open Garden

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY’S SERVICES

 

 

 

Join us in St Helen’s Church at 10am for our Parish Communion Service on Racial Justice Sunday. The Rev Hugh Wikner, our guest minister, returns to preside and preach at this special service. If you can’t join us in church, please join us online. Click here or on the image above for the YouTube link

 

Relaxed, informal and friendly with more modern worship music.  If you’ve never been before, why not try St Peter’s Praise at 10am on Sunday?  All are welcome at St Peter’s Church, Gustard Wood (just past Mid Herts Golf Club on the way to Kimpton).

 

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

 

Vacancy Prayer Themes for 12th February
  1. Please pray that the church remains forward focusing, that current projects and outreach receive support especially for families and children.
  2. We thank God for those who have led our Sunday morning worship with such skill and generosity; we pray for them and for those who hold meetings. May God bless us with quality and continuity so that the church feels fed and supported.
  3. Please pray for the Pastoral care in the church. That people feel connected and cared for. Pray for the building of new relationships and friendships at this time.
  4. Please pray for the Welcome team and any new people or visitors to the church. We want people to feel welcomed and to come back. 
The usual Morning Prayer sessions will continue to run in church (Monday and Tuesday) and on Zoom (Monday – Wednesday). 
As we near the start of Lent there are several ways to get a daily devotional reading: you can pick up a handy “Draw Near” booklet (available in church from Ash Wednesday, a separate booklet with daily challenges is available for families)

You can also sign up for an email or download the Everyday Faith App
https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-life/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/sign-draw-near-god-lent-reflections

Lent Course 2026

‘Living in the Light’ is a 5 part study that looks at the long journey of a people coming to terms with their relationship with God, and the struggle of holding onto faith in difficult circumstances. Alongside that, we look at Jesus and his own struggles against temptation, but also the developing picture of who Jesus is and what that means for us all. There’re plenty of questions to discuss as well as notes and space for thought and prayer. Please join us!

The course will begin after Ash Wednesday (18th Feb) and will end before Easter (5th April). Weekly sessions Monday – Wednesday, afternoons and evenings. Sgn-up forms available in church.

Clean jam jars with lids needed for Messy Church
on 19th April 2026.

Please give to Jenny Hanks, Linda Thomas or leave in the box in the vestry. 

 

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:

12th February A talk about the charity Azalea
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

 

 

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 9th February
9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel
11.00am – 12.00pm Coffee+ Group
7.30pm – 9.15pm Bellringing Practice

Tuesday 10th February9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel

Wednesday 11th February
9.30am – 11.00am The Ark Parent-and-Toddler Group

Thursday 12th February
2.45pm – 4.15pm St Helen’s Fellowship at Mead Hall

 

 

Friday 13th February

Saturday 14th February
9.15am – 10.00am Celtic Morning Prayer
10.00am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel
1.00pm – 3.00pm Visiting Bellringers

Sunday 15th February
10.00am – 11.00am Parish Communion Service
3.30pm – 4.30pm Kids Worship