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BANNER Finding God through musFinding God through Music

On East Herts Radio from 3-24 March 2021

Listen to recordings of Rev. Alan Stewart on Bernie Keyte's Wednesday afternoon East Herts Radio show. Alan shares his music selection and there are shout-outs to people in the local community. Click on the links below to listen to the programme recordings.


Wednesday 3 March 2021 - Parts 1 & 2
Finding God through Music
and Shout-outs

Here's some of the music that features in this first week, with Alan's words about his choices...

Alison Krauss - Down to the River to Pray
Down to the River"This song seems like a good place to start because this is where I think I first most deeply encountered God, by the river. It takes me right back to being a child and living by a river... there was something about the water and the stillness of the place, I felt like I was in my own cathedral... it was my holy place. This is a special song to me and possibly lots of us relate to that idea of 'church not made with hands'."


This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren
"When I first heard this song it stopped me in my tracks. I was aged about 14. There's something about Elizabeth Fraser's voice that takes me to a different place and I can only call that place my soul, I don't have another word for it."


Jonathan Elias - Movement 5, 'Grace', sung by James Taylor, from The Prayer Cycle
"The Prayer Cycle is a collection of poems... The first verse here is, 'Father won't you carry me, for the ocean is wide, Father won't you carry me, for my boat is small'. I've been long interested in the side of Christianity called Celtic Christianity... it's a very earthy sprituality, a kind spirituality, and it's linked to the earth and the ground and the seasons. Also, that sense of the fatherhood of God has been an important one to me; that sense of someone who is the strength of my life, the one who carries me... that unconditional love."


Wednesday 10 March 2021 - Part 1
Finding God through Music

Here are Alan's three song selections in the second week of the series, and some of the lyrics...

Sinéad O'Connor - This is to Mother You

For child I am so glad I found youTo Mother You
Although my arms have always been around you
Sweet bird although you did not see me
I saw you
And
I'm here to mother you

 

U2 - Grace

Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty
In everything
Grace finds goodness in everything

 

Joan Osborne - One of Us

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?

 

Wednesday 10 March 2021 - Part 2
Out and About Shout-outs

Listen to the second part of the show, featuring shout-outs for local people
 


Wednesday 17 March 2021 -
Finding God Through Music and Shout-outs

Here are Alan's three song selections in the third week of the series, and some of the lyrics (listen on Spreaker - the Show starts at 4mins 30secs in)...


U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with youStill haven't found
Only to be with you
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled
These city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for



Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms

And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
Both to each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms



Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need to see me through
Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you've got the love I need to see me through


 

Wednesday 24 March 2021 -
Finding God Through Music and Shout-outs

Here are Alan's three song selections in the fourth and final week of the series, along with some of the lyrics...


The Velvet Underground (with Niko) - I'll Be Your Mirror

When you think the night has seen your mindMirror
That inside you're twisted and unkind
Let me stand to show that you are blind
Please put down your hands
'Cause I see you
I'll be your mirror

 

Daniel Lanois - The Maker

Oh, oh deep water, black and cold like the night
I stand with arms wide open,
I've run a twisted line
I'm a stranger in the eyes of the Maker

I could not see for the fog in my eyes
I could not feel for the fear in my life
And from across the great divide, In the distance I saw a light
Jean Baptiste's walking to me with the Maker


Gillian Welch with David Rawlings - Orphan Girl

I am an orphan on God's highway
But I'll share my troubles if you go my way
I have no mother no father
No sister no brother
I am an orphan girl
               . . .
But when He calls me I will be able
To meet my family at God's table
I'll meet my mother my father
My sister my brother
No more orphan girl

 

Alan talks about the book You Are Special by Max Lucado - here's a link to the book on Eden.co.uk


Listen to Rev. Alan's local radio interview

AlanRev. Alan Stewart was interviewed by Bernie Keyte on East Herts Radio at Christmas time in 2020 - you can listen to the interview by going to our Media Library or you can listen via YouTube.

As Bernie summarises, "AIan gives a full and very honest in-depth interview about his life, on his journey to becoming a vicar. His account is incredibly touching and his path to forgiveness is inspiring. Alan is the team leader of a wonderful church community in Hertford... Alan has become a master of Zoom and his wonderful church website bursts with friendliness, caring and a genuine warm welcome. All the activities are so fantastic and diverse and I for one can't wait for the Beer and Carols event next Christmas."

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

Banner group 1140x320A 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 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 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.

Group photo at the top of the page taken by Tim Pike