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

16-Dec Midweek Email

 

Welcome to the midweek email from St Helen’s and St Peter’s Churches. Including…

  • A message from our The Children’s Society, one of our Charity partners.
  • A message from Wheathampstead Support for All
  • Traditional Carols fully booked, tickets still available for Christmas Day
  • Exciting news about Christmas Eve!

“Thank You” video from The Children’s Society,
our Charity Partner



Rachel Brockie from the charity ‘The Children’s Society’, one of our charity partners at St Helen’s and St Peter’s, gives thanks for our continuing support and explains how the charity has had to adapt and overcome the challenges in supporting young people during lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic. Rachel also provides an insight, from a young person’s perspective, of how children have been affected and their personal experiences during 2020. Click on this link or on Rachel’s image above to listen.

 

We have now reached the maximum number of people allowed in church for our Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols. Don’t worry if you haven’t been able to get a ticket, the service will be recorded and uploaded to our website on Christmas Eve. To view the service at home, please visit our website.

LIMITED tickets still available for our Christmas Communion service in St Helen’s Church on Christmas morning, at 10am. Suitable for the whole family. To book your ticket, please click on this link.

 

 

As you will know we have have been working closely with other village organisations as part of Wheathampstead Support for All this year. Here is a Christmas thank you to all volunteers and a suggestion of how we can make sure no one is left out this Christmas.
Follow the Friendly Neighbour Code
As the festive season draws near, we’re conscious of those who might be isolated for the first time this year, or more so than usual. We know that not everyone who needs help asks for it. If you’re aware of neighbours who might be lonely, you could consider our Friendly Neighbour Code:
  • CHECK on them – phone or knock on their door
  • put a Christmas CARD through their letterbox, with your phone number
  • consider agreeing a way for them to SIGNAL they need help (e.g. put something in the window, or open curtains each day if they are OK)
  • if restrictions allow, you could VISIT them or invite them round – observing social distancing at all times
  • REMIND them of the phone number to call to ask for help with befriending, shopping, transport for medical appointments or financial assistance, which is 07539 176481.
We’re promoting this message across the village, on social media and by email to all our contacts, with the aim that no-one is lonely this Christmas and into the new year. Thank you!

Exciting Plans for Christmas Eve!

HELP URGENTLY NEEDED TO MAKE THESE EVENTS SAFE AND WELCOMING!

Government guidance now permits congregations to sing carols – providing they are outside and are following Covid safe guidance!

With this in mind, we are organising two outdoor carol singing events on Christmas Eve – an outdoor version of the  Crib Service and an outdoor “Carols for All” event / service at 6pm. To allow the best social distancing these will now be on Rectory Meadows. These will be our most significant events of the season – and the safest way to join in our Christmas celebrations.

PLEASE CONSIDER IF YOU COULD HELP AT ONE OF THESE EVENTS. We need volunteers to help with set up and clearing up, marshalling, encouraging social distancing, ensuring Covid safety measures are followed and taking a collection as people leave. You can also take part in the festive singalong!

We need teams to help set up (2:00-3:30pm);  to marshal the Crib Service (3:15-5:15pm); for the Carols for All (5:15-7:15pm) and a team to clear up afterwards (7:00-8:00pm).

Please think about how you can support this amazing opportunity to serve our village. Contact Karl on karl@deleisure.com with your offer of help – or any questions you may have.

Christmas Hampers Project 2020

On 21st Dec, we plan to deliver a non-perishable Christmas -themed food hamper to families in the village. As a church, we would like those for whom Christmas can be a financially worrying time, to feel supported and to know that we are here for them.

If you wish to contribute to our Christmas Hamper Project, please donate these items by leaving them in the box marked ‘Christmas Hampers’ at the back of church from now until the 18th Dec: Christmas cake, mince pies, chutneys/pickles (sorry not home-made), box of chocolates or sweets, box of biscuits, tinned fruit/meat/fish/veg, fruit juice cartons, squash, hot choc, crisp multipacks

If you prefer to make a financial donation to support the work of the church, then please donate via our website www.sth-stp.org or use the card reader in church. To receive a hamper or help with packing and delivery, please contact Helen on 07974 762997. Thank you.

STAY CONNECTED to the Church Family…  

While we can’t meet together physically we very much hope you will join us online – either on Sunday at 11am or Wednesday from 10:30am.  It’s a great way to get to know people during Lockdown.  Use the links below as we gather together using the video conferencing platform Zoom.
Click on the Meeting ID and password to join either session.
Coffee After the Online Service Coffee NOT in the Chancel
Every Sunday at 11am Every Wednesday from 10:30am
Meeting ID: 844 7123 3219
Password: 527776		 Meeting ID: 828 3397 7877
Password: 304021

In addition to these social events, you are invited to join us for Morning Prayer. 
We meet at 9am from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday using Zoom.
Download the details here including links to the liturgy we follow. 

We’re here for you and help is at hand!
We have set up teams offering both pastoral and practical support, so please let others support you – they are keen to do so! Hilary Hollick is helping organise this – so do contact her by email here, or on 01582 832567.  Alternatively call the village wide helpline “Support for All” on 01582 380910.