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Beer & Carols 2019

Our family-friendly drop-in for Christmas


* Cask ale * Mulled wine * Free Christmas craft * Winter Wonderland model railway * Nativity photobooth *

BeerAndCarols211219beerIt’s around 4.30pm on the Saturday before Christmas and the church is full with people talking, engaging, reflecting and appreciating the hospitality that is being offered.

Beer & Carols was started in 2018 as a follow up to the September Beer Festival and aimed to make St Andrew’s the focus for a community event that would encourage people to recognise that, as a church, we are here for everyone. One year later, the event felt even bigger with not only many familiar faces from last year’s event but, also, many newcomers.

Visitors spread themselves comfortably around the church enjoying tasty snacks and drinking the beer from New River Brewery as well as, thanks to our neighbour Steve Millburn, from the newly established Gold BeerAndCarols211219CrowdBear Brewery (try their beer at The Black Horse!). There was, of course, also the mulled wine and many soft drinks.

Young children took their parents and carers to the South Transept for special activities, while children of all ages (from 0-80!) could enjoy the model train set in the North Transept and the Nativity Photobooth in the chapel. There was something for everyone.

At the centre of the occasion was the music provided by the ever-developing St Andrew’s band of players. Carols and Christmas songs were played with everyone able to join in with the words as they were projected on to the back screen. There was constant noise: singing, talking and merriment. However, this made the hush that descended as Alan spoke his words and offered his prayer for the occasion something that many will remember. Here we were, in God’s presence, sharing a special moment as Christmas approached.

A donation of £500 was made to CHIPS, the locally based charity that provides play and social opportunities for children with additional needs aged 3 to 19 years.

Thank you to all who helped make this such a successful and enjoyable experience - not least, of course, the many visitors. We now look forward to the Beer Festival on Saturday 12 September and, yes, to another Beer & Carols on Saturday 19 December 2020.

Chris Seward

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.
Click here to see more.

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).

Open Google Maps

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.