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


18-Nov Midweek Email


 

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Welcome to the weekly update from St Helen’s and St Peter’s Churches.  Including…

  • Help needed with our family Christmas trail plans
  • opportunity to request a Christingle kit
  • Stir Up Sunday Prayer Initiative

 

 

 

FOLLOW THE STAR TRAIL

 

 

 

Help make our Christmas trail Magical!

Christmas this year will be a little different but we still want to share the wonder of the Christmas Story with families. Instead of Crib services, we are planning a “Follow the Star” trail in the churchyard and church (subject to restrictions at the time) on the afternoons of December 23rd and 24th.
If you would like to be part of the team that helps to make this happen (we will need welcomers and people to oversee the stations but no acting is required, this time!) please do let us know.*
We will be creating five themed stations for families to visit where they will hear part of the Nativity story (similar to the Christmas Experience we put on in 2012). We are looking to borrow the following items:

  • 5 gazebos
  • Fleece/sheep skin rugs
  • Very old looking rolling pin
  • Besom broom
  • Wooden carpenter’s bench
  • Tools
  • Bits of wood/timber
  • Ethnic looking rugs, drapes and throws
  • Carved chest/coffee table
  • Coloured glass lantern
  • Eastern style cushions

If you can lend us anything please contact Linda at 58linda.thomas@gmail.com and we will arrange collection.

*We will be operating a booking system to ensure social distancing but the families of helpers will get priority for places

 

ONLINE CHRISTINGLE

 

 

 

Instead of holding a Christingle service in St Helen’s this year, we are providing 500 Christingle kits for every child at St Helen’s Primary School and Beech Hyde Primary School and Nursery.

We will be creating a Youtube online Christingle service to be used by the schools in their classes in the final week of term.

If you would like a kit to build a Christingle at home, please email Linda at 58linda.thomas@gmail.com
Kits and the video will be available from December 11th.

 
 

STIR UP SUNDAY

Watch the trailer produced by the Diocese for resources to inspire prayer to stir up the fruits of the Spirit.

The ministry and work of the Church in the Diocese will be available here every hour on the hour from 5pm to 9pm on Stir Up Sunday, 22nd November and from 9 am to 5pm on Monday 23rd.

 

New National Covid Restrictions
Thursday 5th November – Wednesday 2nd December
From Thursday 5th November, new restrictions means that we must stay at home and avoid meeting people we do not live with (except for specific purposes).

For St Helen’s Church, this means that

  • There will not be 10am Parish Communion Services on Sunday
  • Coffee in the Chancel will be closed
We remain committed to helping keep you spiritually sustained by our online services, and providing a space to pray in St Helen’s Church.  We are also committed to providing practical and pastoral support.  Please contact us using the details at the foot of this email if you, or someone you know would benefit from further support.

We will keep you up to date about activities and services in church when detailed guidance is provided by the Church of England.  Please continue to pray for our nation – especially the most vulnerable.

 

 

 

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.