While our Sunday 'Messenger' pew sheet isn't being printed at the moment, you'll see here some notices that you may find of interest. Please check this page regularly for updates and let us know if you have some news to share...
Worship with us on Zoom this month
Following the latest government guidance, we are unable to offer services inside the church building until after 2 December at least. Please join us as we worship on Zoom - Together while Apart. You'll find information about our Zoom services, here. The church remains open daily for private prayer. Read the 6 November Letter from Alan and join the call for #Prayer for the Nation from Thy Kingdom Come this month.
Advent and Christmas at St Andrew's
We welcome you to celebrate this festive season with us - we hope to be able to have services in church but, whatever happens, we would love to 'see' you at any of our Zoom services over the festive period. Advent and Christmas at St Andrew's.
St Andrew's Christmas Appeal
Help vulnerable adults and children in our area experience some joy this Christmas
During December we are requesting donations that will be sent as Christmas offerings to Haven First, a charity supporting the homeless in Stevenage and North Herts, and to local families, known to St Andrew’s and Hollybush Schools, who are experiencing particular financial hardship at this time.
Parish Administrator Vacancy, Hoddesdon
St Cuthbert's Rye Park are seeking to appoint an Administrator to work 12 hours a week in the church office - someone to assist Rev. Nick Sharp in his work, to be a friendly voice on the phone or face at the door, and to keep the life of the church running smoothly. You can view the advert here. If you are interested, please contact Nick for an informal chat, and for a detailed job description and person specification: vicar@ryepark.com; 01992 468335
Foodbank Christmas Hampers
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP
This year, in collaboration with Christmas Alone, Hertford & District Foodbank will be issuing Christmas Hampers, filled with lots of seasonal goodies, to help give a little cheer to families/people in need in these challenging times.
If you are able to help, please put contributions from the shopping list into the supermarket collection bins. Thank you. View/download a pdf of the poster here
Christmas 2020 Shopping List: Tinned salmon, Tinned ham, Tinned potatoes, Mince Pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, Tinned fruit, Tinned custard, Jars of jam or marmalade. |
Our 2020 Christmas Card
Thank you to all those who have already taken bundles of our parish Christmas cards and delivered them door-to-door. If you're able to get out and about and would be willing to deliver cards yourself, please pick them up from the church (open between around 9.00am - 4.00pm every day). They need to be delivered by Sunday 29 November. Thank you!
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The small-scale family storytelling event is
'The Elves and the Shoemaker', a new fun-filled, contemporary, Christmassy take on the Grimm classic. It's a 45-minute, socially distanced, bring-a-blanket family production ideally suited for anyone aged 4-124 years old (and either side of that is still very welcome!) Tickets are just £5 each plus a small Eventbrite fee and booking is online, in advance only, via
www.southernmaltings.co.uk.
The production is brought to us by Vicki Holden-Swinton of
The Listen Inn - Vicki was part of our wonderful 'First Light'
Passion Play production at St Andrew's in 2015.
Thought for the Day - The Book!
On 23 March this year, the first ‘Thought for the Day’ was written. This was the same day that the Prime Minister told the country that people must stay at home. A ‘Thought’ is still being published daily and read by many, including the congregations of St Andrew’s and St Mary’s (via email, Facebook and WhatsApp) providing comfort and support to many, particularly those feeling isolated and finding social distancing challenging.
It was decided to publish a selection of the ‘Thoughts for the Day’ in a book and so Every Storm Runs Out of Rain has been produced! The book provides a special record of this time, is thought provoking and will help to raise funds for both churches. This illustrated book is now available and makes a perfect Christmas present. The price is £5. More details here
'Stir Up Sunday' Invitation to Prayer
On Stir Up Sunday and the next day (
22-23 November), Bishop Alan is inviting you to join in a focused time of prayer across the diocese, so that together we can ask God to stir up fruits of the Spirit in the ministry and work of the church at this challenging time.
We can come together to pray that God will strengthen and renew us in our work as heralds of the gospel of Christ. The time of prayer will run from 5.00pm to 9.00pm on 22 November and from 5.00pm to 9.00pm on 23 November. Words and music to fuel our prayers will be available on the hour via social media and the
website.
We very much hope you will be able to pause on the 22 or 23 of November to take time out from the many tasks that need to be done in order to spend time with the Lord in prayer. For those who cannot, the resources will remain online so that they can pray at another more convenient time.
Operation Christmas Child 2020 (with update)
For those of you who would like to support the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal, please follow the instructions on the
latest leaflet (remembering to provide £5 per box towards transport costs).
UPDATE
Because of the new national lockdown, Collections Week for OCC shoeboxes has been postponed. If you have already prepared shoebox gifts, thank you, please hang onto them. Rest assured, OCC are going to make sure that all boxes are collected and processed, however late that is. Once lockdown is over, the drop-off point at
Christ Church, Ware will re-open. Please bring them (in the morning) to the ground floor of the church centre in the week 7-14 December. If you have any questions, please contact Andrew du Boulay:
aduboulay@ntlworld.com
As an alternative, you can
prepare a box entirely online. It costs £20 (which includes the £5 for shipping) and you can choose which items you want to go in your box. You can also include a photo and a message. These online boxes will be going to children in Moldova.
Bus stop changes by St Andrew's Church
We've been sent details from Hertfordshire County Council about upcoming bus stop upgrade works in St Andrew Street. If you'd like to see the details, please view the
letter here and the
plan here.
Worried about scams? Citizens Advice can help
Help for you to stay safe from scams with practical advice and information about protecting your money and your home. If you have been scammed Citizens Advice can help you report it and help you prevent it from happening again. You can also use our scam checker on the website or over the telephone with one of the advisers if you are worried that something could be a scam.
Citizens Advice Scam Leaflet
Adviceline (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm) 03444 111 444
Message Line (anytime) 01920 459 944
citizensadviceeastherts.org.uk
Daily Hope phone line
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line. The line – which is
available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
Daily Hope information here.
St Andrew’s Facebook page:
You can find event and service details, thought for the day, sermons, photos and updates on the
St Andrew’s Facebook page.
Safeguarding at St Andrew’s:
Catherine Sleath is our Safeguarding Officer. If you have any questions or concerns relating to safeguarding for people of any age at St Andrew’s, please get in touch with Catherine (01992 537867).