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


17-Jan Midweek Email


 

In this email:
  • A reflection on Sundauy’s sermon
  • Peace Walk in London
  • Artificial Intelligence study course
  • Ink Cartridge Recycling
  • Bishop’s Open Garden
  • 2024 Programme for St Helen’s Fellowship
SAVE THE DATE!
Annual Parochial Church Meeting – 24th April 2024, 7.30pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following Geoff’s sermon on Sunday, Barbara Doye sent us this poem by Malcolm Guite called ‘Nathanael’s Epiphany’. She would like to share this reflection:

A fugitive and exile, Jacob slept,
A man of clay, his head upon a stone
And even in his sleep his spirit wept
He lay down lonely and would wake alone.
But in the night he dreamt the Heavens parted
And glimpsed, in glory, as from Heaven’s core,
A ladder set for all the broken-hearted
And earth herself becoming Heaven’s door.
And when the nameless Angel named him Israel
He kept this gift, whose depth he never knew;
The promise of an end to all our exile,
For now a child of Israel finds it true,
And sees the One who heals the deep heart’s aching
As Jacob’s dream becomes Nathanael’s waking.

 

 

 

 

Service for Christian Unity Week
Tuesday 23 January at St Thomas More at 12pm  

A short service of prayer and reflections to celebrate Christian Unity Week followed by a ‘ bring your own sandwich lunch ‘.   Drinks provided. The resources have been written by churches in Burkina Faso in West Africa who are suffering from so many difficulties within this troubled country.

 

 

A Multi- Faith Peace Walk in London

Date : Sun 21 January 2024

Time : 12 – 3pm

Location: Starting and ending in Trafalgar Square, London

People of faiths and none are invited to move together in silence in shared commitment to live in peace and harmony in the world. All welcome.  More information on this website: https://plumvillage.uk/event/peace-is-every-step/

You are invited to make and wear/bring a white flower, and wearing faith/cultural clothing is welcomed. To reflect the vigil and contemplative elements, we ask you not to bring any banners, flags, placards.

 

 

Artificial Intelligence – study course

We are planning our sixth Study Course which will be on Artificial Intelligence and will take place during the Summer Term 2024. If you have a particular interest or expertise in this area and would like to join the planning group then please contact Roger Payne, email: roger.payne14@btinternet.com

 

 

Ink Cartridge Recycling

Do continue to bring in your ink cartridges to St Helen’s 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

 

The Bishop of St Albans will be opening his garden on four Sundays in February and March for people to come and look at the display of snowdrops.  Those who came to visit in the summer will know that the garden is delightful, it also has an appeal to visitors in the spring as the snowdrops herald the end of winter .

The two acres of garden is an oasis in central St Albans and only open to the public on selected Sundays in the spring and the summer.

Spring opening days are 18 February, 25 February, 3 March and 10 March.  Entrance is £5 per person (children free) and dogs on leads are welcome.

Footwear suitable for the time of year is advised.

All money raised is donated to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust

Abbey Gate House, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans AL3 4HS.

 

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 and 50p for transport if required. 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

——————————————————————————–
18th January          Adventures in the Far East -Thailand and Malasia
Rev’d Richard Banham

25th January          Social with Fun Quiz

1st February           Holy Communion

8th February           The Cruel Sea Part 1
The Film (Abridged Scene Setting)

15th February         The Cruel Sea Part 2 with talk and model ship

22nd February         Social afternoon

29th February          Head Gear – An invitation to show and tell your story

7th March               Holy Communion

14th March              Save a space for puds (sub £3 this week)

21st March             Chair exercises with Sarah Donnelly

28th March             Maundy Thursday Reflections 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Monday 15th January
9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel
11.15am – 112.15pm Following the Message Study Group
7.30pm – 9.15pm Bell Ringing Practice

Tuesday  16th JanuaryScaffolding in Lamer Chapel
9.30am – 11.30am Coffee in the Chancel

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

Thursday  18th January
2.45pm – 4.15pm St Helen’s Fellowship at Mead Hall

 

 

Friday 19th January

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

Sunday 21st January
10.00am – 11.00am Parish Communion Service
3.30pm – 4.30pm Kids Worship