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Lakes, a Bible expedition
& a singing cricketer

July 2014

Richard Taylor tells us about the experiences of the St Andrew's folk who spent a week in Keswick at the annual Bible convention

GiddingsTaylorKeswickJuly2014BThere cannot be many international cricketers who have an excellent singing voice and fewer still who spend their time as a Christian evangelist.  Henry Olonga was in town the week we arrived for the Keswick Convention along with over three thousand others for this annual Christian event which runs for three weeks in July.  An annual Bible convention has been held in Keswick since 1875. 

The Convention offers something for everyone, with (as its website will tell you) “life-changing Bible teaching, uplifting worship and great fellowship combined with the chance to relax and enjoy a holiday in the wonderful setting  of the Lake District”.  Everything is in walking distance of the town centre, the main event venue being a very large marquee seating 3000 people.  There were 28 of us in all from St Andrew’s with one house hosted by Viv and Jim Thornton and Laura and Mark Overton housing 18 adults and children!  You can imagine what meal times were like – akin to feeding the 5000 – especially when the rest of us were invited for dinner.

The worship was enhanced by the rhythmic music of Stuart Townend and his band.  Stuart has built a reputation as a Christian song writer and worship leader, his best known being “In Christ Alone”, "How Deep The Father's Love For Us", "Beautiful Saviour" and "The King of Love".

In the big tent each morning a Bible study was led by Chris Sinkinson, an expedition through the Bible from Genesis to the Gospels, with music from Stuart Townend and his band. This was followed by a seminar with enticing subject titles such as The Real Jesus and the Real Me, Issues no Christian should avoid, and Science, God & the Search for Truth.
 
There was also a programme for children, which meant that parents were free to experience the adult events, as well as a youth programme. 

In the evening there was plenty to choose from around the town.  In the main tent you had the worship songs of Stuart and his band and a talk based on the theme for the week, “Really? Searching for reality in a confusing world”.  Or you could watch a film in the Methodist Church which was followed by a discussion exploring its themes, message and worldview implications or pay a visit to the Parish Church for a one-to-one conversation with someone of interest.  That’s where we met Henry Olonga, who spoke about his life-changing story.  When he made his Test debut in January 1995, he was the first black cricketer and the youngest person to play for Zimbabwe.  Henry’s international career came to an abrupt end in 2003 after he and team mate, Andy Flower, wore black armbands during an international cricket match to "mourn the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe.  

Death threats forced him to flee to South Africa and to settle in exile in England.  He spoke about his Christian faith with conversation interspersed with songs and hymns which he sang to the packed audience. 


On another such evening the guest speaker was Denton Phillips, Chief Executive of Morrisons Supermarkets.  Like Henry Olonga, he is a committed Christian, and involved in outreach with his church near York.  He spoke about his life journey which has led him around the world before being appointed to a very challenging role in the highly competitive retail food industry, and his faith journey which began in Ireland where he grew up, which he lost for a time, and later regained while out in New Zealand where he was sent to work. 

LakeDistrictJuly2014BIf you still had enough energy the programme continued late into the evening with the Night Shift, an evening chat show with live music, stories, games, interactivity and comedy, and special guests. 

During the afternoons we explored the beautiful countryside, climbing hills to find spectacular views across the lakes, visiting the Osprey nest look-out and spotting red squirrels. 

All in all it was a memorable week, hearing some inspiring and entertaining speakers, enjoying the music of Stuart Townend and his band and the glorious sound of 3000 worshippers singing their hearts out, the fellowship of fellow members of St Andrew’s and the wonderful scenery of the Lake District.  Do think about coming next year.
Glenys
Hello and welcome to St Andrew's. If you are new, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
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Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello 

No one belongs here more than you.

We look forward to meeting you! Here's some information so that if you're planning a visit you know beforehand what to expect on a Sunday morning.  We have other pages telling you more About Us, our approach to Faith and our Online services.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details below) for our main Sunday Service starting at 10.30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you find a parking space and can settle in before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Plan your journey:
While, unfortunately, St Andrew's does not have its own carpark, there is a council-run pay and display carpark a short distance along St Andrew Street, to the east of the church; there is a £1.50 flat-rate charge for parking in this carpark on Sundays (though half an hour or less is free).

This is a useful East Herts Council website page for full details of parking in Hertford.

There are single yellow lines outside the church with parking restrictions, but some 30-minute parking bays are situated on the opposite side of the road for short stays (longer on Sundays).

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Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is a disabled toilet towards the back of the church, behind the kitchen.

Our Service

The service will usually begin promptly at 10.30am and will last between 60 and 75 minutes. We enjoy the presence of an excellent choir who help us sing hymns (modern and traditional) as well as provide anthems and special songs through the period of communion. We have a traditional organ but also benefit from music played on the piano and by our band (eg on the Second Sunday of each month when we have an All-Age Service in which our children and young people are fully involved).

Each 10.30am service includes a sermon, prayers and eucharist.

After the service, everyone is invited for coffee and conversation - some like to stay for a quick chat while others remain in the church for a longer time.

Communion

Children and Young People

Children are never too young to come to church. You and your children are very welcome at St Andrew’s. 

We really value worshipping God together as a family, so children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service before being invited to leave for the young people's activities after the first hymn. Junior Church meets in the St Andrew's Centre (our adjoining hall), accessed through the church on Sunday mornings. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy.

The children and young people then return to the main service in time to join the eucharist and, if confirmed, take Holy Communion or, if not, receive a blessing. We offer a grape or a little box of raisins to children being blessed at the altar.

There is a Children's Corner in church where you can go at any time. You will find books, toys and drawing materials there.

Toilet and baby-change facilities are located at the back of church, behind the kitchen.

There's lots more information here: Children and Young People at St Andrew's

Junior Church celebration

Getting Connected


Home Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week. Check out Home Groups on our website and see if there’s one that you could join. Alternatively, speak to a member of the Welcome Team who will give you the information that you need.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. Please contact Phil in the Church Office.

Get in touch with us
If you have any questions, please do get in touch. You'll find our contact details here.

We hope that you will feel at home at our church.