Church | St Mary's Hertingfordbury

No one belongs here more than you

Welcome to St Mary's with St John's

No one belongs here more than you.

Welcome and thank you for visiting our website.

Following the example of Jesus, and seeking to model the inclusive love of God, we welcome all people, whatever your status, wealth, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, health or mobility.

Message from Alan

Philippians 4: 6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

As we enter a new period of Lockdown across the country, I’m writing to say that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Although this new season will bring its share of challenges and uncertainty, my prayer is that it will also be a time of refreshing and renewed hope as we continue to put our trust in the certain love and faithfulness of God.

I’m so thankful for the extraordinary network of support and care that exists among us. If you are aware, however, of anyone who may have fallen through the gaps, or who may be going through particularly tough times at present and would value extra support, please do let us know.

Although, again, we are unable to meet for worship within our buildings, we are delighted that they remain open for private prayer and that we continue to worship ‘together while apart’ on Zoom. If you need any help with logging in online, please just ask.

I look forward to ‘seeing’ many of you this Sunday at 10.30am for our Zoom Eucharist for Remembrance Sunday. The ringers at St Andrew’s have made a special recording to compliment other music and images at the beginning of the service so do tune in a little before 10.30am. Looking further ahead, on Sunday 29 November at 7.00pm, our Advent Evening Service with readings, music and reflection will also be online.

Our hope, of course, is that we will be back in our buildings before Christmas. In the meantime, we move forward with thanksgiving, praying that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, our Lord… and that through it all, we may discover a new joy in the smallest thing; a new faith in the kindness of God and stranger; a new Hope that calls us into a better world and a new love that transcends all.

Go safely.

Alan

06 November 2020

News and Events

December edition of the Parish Magazine available now. Click here to read.

Remembrance Day service - Message from Rev Alan

Hello everyone. As some of you will have heard we’ve sadly had to cancel the open air act of remembrance this coming Sunday due to the new lockdown restrictions. If you would like to pay your respects or have a quiet moment please do drop into the churchyard where the poppy installation will be for a few weeks, and/or into church (9am -4pm) where the memorial with the Tommy silhouette is .

Wishing you all renewed strength and hope as we walk through the challenges to come. Rev Alan

APCM

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting and Annual Meeting of Parishioners took place via Zoom on Tuesday 20 October at 8.00 pm. To read the papers click here.

We are delighted to report that David Gorton and Robin Bishop were both re-elected as churchwardens, and Jean Skinner, Kay Juniper and Kerrie Jeynes were re-elected to the PCC.

Many thanks go to Alma Cartwright, for her service on the PCC over many years, and to Jean Walker for all her work as Electoral Roll officer for the Parish, again for many years.

St Mary's is now open for individual prayer from

10.00 am to 4 pm Monday to Sunday

Be part of St Mary's while at home

Even though you may not be able to attend a service at St Mary's in person, you can always be part of St Mary's at home. Go here for full details

Support us

We know that some people like to make a donation each week via the collection plate, but while we are not meeting face to face, we realise that that’s not possible. We know that some people like to make a donation each week via the collection plate, but while we are not meeting face to face, we realise that that’s not possible. For details of how to give by text, click here.

Keep in touch

To be added to our mailing list and to receive Thought for the Day and invitations to services, contact Robin Bishop (contact details here).

To join our WhatsApp group, contact David Gorton (contact details here

East Herts Citizens Advice service

This has moved from predominantly face to face advice in their 5 centres to staff and volunteers home working through phone, email and Webchat.

They want people to know that they are still available to help and advise. More details here

New free Dial-a-Prayer service launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury

More details of the Daily Hope line here The number to call is 0800 804 8044. There is a message from the Archbishop and the chance to listen to hymns, reflections, prayers and services. Please pass the number on to anyone you know who does not have internet access

Electoral Roll

If you would like to be on the Electoral Roll but are not currently, please complete a form (available here) and scan it and send to:

For our younger members

Storytime

You can find a storytime story told by Rev Alan here

Sele Messy Church

Storytelling and more from Tracey on Sele Messy Church's page on Facebook here. Tracey is livestreaming stories on Wednesdays at 4 pm and Junior Church at 10 am on Sundays

Services by Zoom

To take part, email Robin Bishop (robinhbishop@gmail.com) to be added to the list of invitees.

We are using the Zoom platform for this, and it is quite straightforward. More information here. There will be instructions in the email invitation.

Meditation and Mindfulness

On Zoom on Wednesdays at 8.00 pm.

Led by Rev Alan. Email Robin Bishop (robinhbishop@gmail.com) to be added to list of invitees.

Video of guided session now available here

Breathe

Every first Saturday of the month, people from both our churches gather together for Breathe. Breathe is a chance to pray together about ourselves and our lives, our churches and our world. It is hoped that you will be able to use these prayers in the same way, by putting aside a time to pray, possibly on Saturday morning and perhaps with someone else. Find out more here

ST MARY'S SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES

Many services and activities at St Mary's and St Andrew's are still suspended because of the Coronavirus outbreak, until further notice.

Following advice from the Diocese, the church is now open for private prayer.

You can find helpful resources here and on the St Andrew's website ,

Weekly Services

Sundays 9. 15 am

Holy Communion at St Mary's

This service is suspended during November because of lockdown restrictions

Sundays and Wednesdays at

10.30 am Holy Communion on Zoom