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

8-Jul Midweek Email from The Rector
 

Included in this email:
  • The mid-week catch up interview with Christine Anstice
  • Sad news about Hugh L’Estrange
  • Creative Prayer installations in church
  • Details of the Summer Hampers project for this year
  • A village-wide collection for the local Foodbank

 

 
 
This week’s Mid-Week Catch Up is an interview with Christine Anstice – she tells us what life has been like for her during Lockdown.  She also shares about her role on the committee for the Support for All group.  (As the name suggests this group has provided support for those in need throughout Wheathampstead over the past few months.) Click here to view the video.
 

Midweek Catch Up with …

 

 
We are very sorry to tell you that Hugh L’Estrange died on Saturday 4 July. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004, and over the years had been sent home with a life expectancy of less than 6 months on four separate occasions. But the last occasion was last November, and he was getting very tired and breathless and uncomfortable in his body. He was taken into hospital last Friday, still issuing messages for Mel about the Sunday reading, and sent cheery texts to Susan that evening. He was less well on Saturday and died very suddenly at approximately 7.30pm. The official cause of death was a (quick) pulmonary embolism. The funeral and burial will be held in St Helen’s churchyard at 3pm on Friday 24 July. Only 30 people – mostly family members – are officially invited, but it will be an outside service with a PA system, so if anyone happened to be out walking in a socially-distanced way at that time, St Helen’s churchyard is very accommodating!
Susan’s coping well, but says that she’s currently better at written communication rather than speaking – and sends thanks for all the uplifting supportive cards and messages she’s received.
 

Helping you get Creative with your Prayers

 

 
 

At times it’s hard to find the right words for our prayers, so we’ve put copies of a special prayer leaflet in church to help with this.  But we know ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’ so there is also a visual display to stimulate your prayers.  And as ‘actions speak louder than words’ there is an opportunity to drop a glass  pebble into the water – as a symbol of our tears for all we’ve lost during lockdown.  These installations are suitable for people approaching prayer and meditation from different faith perspectives – so please spread the word.  We hope you will find them helpful and look forward to any feedback you have about how God has spoken to you through them.

St Helen’s Church is open, approximately 10am – 5pm, every day.

 

 
 
 

Summer Hampers: fighting holiday hunger.

For several years we’ve distributed food during the summer to combat “holiday hunger.”  The situation this year is different, but the need is the same (even with continued support from the government).  Once again we aim to deliver essential food supplies to all the families that request it via the two primary schools in the village.  Rather than requesting donations of food, this year we are asking for your financial support so we can make a bulk purchase.  There are a number of ways you can do this…. 
Click here to donate by debit or credit card.   
Bank transfer details: Sort Code: 40-52-40, Account No: 00099644 (Ref: Hampers)
Cheques made payable to Wheathampstead PCC can be delivered to The Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens. Wheathampstead. AL4 8AD. 

 

 

 
 

Collection for the local Foodbank

 

 
 

Harpenden Round Table will be doing a drive-by collection of food for the local Foodbank on Saturday morning.  The details and the route are below.  You will be able to hear when they are nearby – or you can leave donations on your doorstep / the end of your driveway!  Many thanks to Wheathampstead Community Group for organising this.

 

 
 

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.  

 

 
 

Let’s get social…  

We look forward to catching up on your latest news either on Sunday at 11am or Wednesday from 10:30am.  Please 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.