Who we are
We believe
News
Bishops
Diocesan Office
Resources
Mission
Vacancies
Parish contacts
Vocation
Ministry Development
Education
Young
People
Cathedral
Please feel free to forward this to others and to reproduce in full or part in parish magazines and newsletters.
In the forthcoming issue of SeeRound, the Ven Helen Cunliffe, Archdeacon of St Albans, writes about the Bicentenary of the abolition of slavery. Helen reminds us that in many ways slavery continues today.
For those wishing to explore the issues around slavery Helen recommends the five week Bible study course, ‘Set All Free’, published by Churches Together in England. More details are available from: http://www.cte.org.uk
Helen urges people to join the march through central London on Saturday 24 th March, led by the Archbishops of Canterbury, York and the West Indies. Jenny Nicholson will be attending, on behalf of the diocesan Caribbean Links Group and would be happy to be contacted, for details of where to meet, etc. on 01462 632726. More information is also available from www.stalbans.anglican.org
St Mark’s Centre in the Brickhill area of Bedford has been the beating heart of its community for over 30 years. It is a surgery, a school, a nursery, a college, a police station and a church as well as the host venue for nearly fifty community organisations. This month it opens a new community centre, made possible by the award of a grant by WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental). The new community centre replaces an old portakabin and will offer a suite of light and spacious meeting rooms including a kitchen for use by the community.
In order to share the expertise learnt over many years Charles Royden has launched a new web resource which offers parishes practical advice on how to access funding for projects. The web address is: www.thisischurch.com/getyourmoney.htm
Walking through the terminal at Luton Airport with the Revd Michael Banfield, the full time chaplain, and Barbara McIntosh, the Anglican Chaplain, is a social event as they chat with colleagues working in the shops, cafés and customer support services. They have their work cut out with over 10, 000 airport colleagues and over 9 million passengers passing through each year.
Michael leads a team of six chaplains that also includes Malcolm Roberts (URC), Linda Banfield (Baptist), Captain Brian Griffin (Salvation Army) and Gerald Hale (Baptist). They are members of the ecumenical organisation, Workplace Ministry in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and The International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains (IACAC).
During a recent visit to Luton Airport the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, paid tribute to Michael Banfield saying that his work “comes from a loving heart”.
In addition to visiting and supporting the various elements of the airport community and holding services at the Airport Chapel, the Chaplaincy Team provide special support in the event of a major incident or aircraft accident.
The Chaplaincy team is currently recruiting new Chaplains. To have an informal chat with Michael about what the job entails and the training offered call him on 01582 395516.
The Diocese of Linköping in Sweden and the Diocese of St Albans have committed to a covenant of partnership to pray for one another, to learn from one another, and to seek to discern together the loving purposes of God for the two dioceses. The covenant was signed by representatives of both dioceses in a service at Linköping Cathedral in late January and was signed again at St Albans Cathedral in February.
In order for the link to flourish parishes are being encouraged to develop their own links with Swedish churches in the Linköping Diocese. Parishes who may wish to explore the opportunities to make links with parishes in the Linköping Diocese can find out more details from the Revd Peter Budgell: 01582 720052 .
For more information about the link visit www.stalbans.anglican.org
Echoing the many moments of tender goodbyes over 26 years, on a freezing winter’s night a group from the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted, bid a fond farewell to their building on Shrublands Avenue.
In a moving ceremony led by the Chaplain, the Revd Liz Hughes and the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, gave thanks for those who found their peace inside the walls of the hospice.
The group then travelled the short distance to the new purpose built hospice on Shootersway to mark the beginning of something exciting and new. The old hospice closed to patients at the beginning of January and the medical, nursing and clinical administration staff were the last to move out.
In order to plan for expansion, the hospice needs some form of guaranteed income and so they are asking people to consider regular giving. A monthly donation to the Hospice of St Francis would help to open and run one of the beds, pay for the nursing staff, doctors and the medicine. Alternatively one-off donations can be made, with £10 will buying a heatbag to ease a patient's aches and pains, £40 buying a blood pressure monitor, £100 buying a set of children's books and toys.
The hospice also needs more volunteers in the inpatient unit, to join the gardening team, drivers, in the new gift shop and in the hairdressers. For more information contact: www.stfrancis.org.uk or call 01442 869555.
The Diocesan Youth Service is organising an evening of worship at St Albans Cathedral on 9 March from 7.30pm to 10pm. It will be hosted by the Rt Revd Christopher Foster, Bishop of Hertford, and will include gathering worship, prayer stations and a Eucharist. Diocesan Youth Officer, Dave Green, said “The idea is to offer young people lots of different worship styles so the evening will be rooted in the style of the early Christians and also brought completely up to date with a modern worship band”. Entry is by free ticket which are available from admin@voicemail.org.uk or Tel: 01727 818160.
A new course, Growing Together in Christ’s Mission, will be launched shortly. This Vision for Action course consists of a series of modules, typically three or four sessions long. The first edition on mission will include care of older people, links with schools, use of church buildings, spirituality, communicating mission and a brief history of mission. Each module stands on its own so users can pick and mix depending on what is appropriate at the local level.
For more information contact Canon Robin Brown, Local Ministry Officer, 01727 818151 or rbrown@stalbans.anglican.org
This year’s Easter Monday Pilgrimage takes place on Monday 9 April. Why not make it a parish mission visit to the Cathedral? Pilgrims gather on the Abbey Orchard at 1pm, begin processing at 2.30pm with worship with the Bishop at 3pm.
The Diocesan Youth Service is looking for 10 young people from across the Diocese to spend a day with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, at Lambeth Palace on 19 May. For more information about how to apply contact Julie Reeves on 01727 818160. The deadline for applications is 30 March 2007.
Over half of our parishes have now taken ownership of their own pages on the web resource, A Church Near You ( www.achurchnearyou.com ). Every church in the Diocese has a basic entry on the A Church Near You website but parishes can enhance their own pages by appointing a person to be responsible for updating the page. Why not find your church and see if it has all the information it should have on it and if not ask your Vicar about how you can take control!
Figures recently released by the Church of England for 2005 continue to show a mixed picture church attendance with smaller Sunday congregations but more children and young people taking part in parish worship.
The new statistics confirm that around 1.7 million people attend Church of England church and cathedral worship each month, while around 1.2 million attend services each week – on Sunday or during the week - and just under one million each Sunday. The figures for 2005 can be seen on the web: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/statistics/2005provisionalattendance.pdf
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have welcomed the decision by BA to change its uniform policy to allow the wearing of crosses and other religious symbols.
Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “I am grateful that BA have listened to the deep concerns that have been expressed about this issue and that their change of policy now allows Christians to wear crosses openly. Important issues have been raised; this is a positive and constructive outcome.”
News, religion, science, children's television, programmes reflecting community and culture as well as other 'public service' content should be freely available on television, radio, internet and mobile phones. So says a joint response from the Church of England and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales to a government inquiry. The submission also criticises Ofcom's decision to release ITV from some of its public service broadcasting obligations. See full details of submission: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr0807.html
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote to the Prime Minister raising concerns about the effect of the Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORS) on faith-based agencies working in the public sphere. Read the full text of the letter: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/070123.htm
The Archbishop of York recently gave the Martin Luther King lecture. His text can be read via this link:
http://www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=983 e information visit
Daily Service Led by Judy Merry 9.45am R4 (LW, Freeview/DAB each day)
Beyond Belief Ernie Rea and guests explore the place of faith in today’s complex world 4.30pm R4
God is Green Devout Catholic Mark Dowd finds out why the world’s major faiths are saying so little on this important issue and comes up with his own manifesto for adverting global disaster 8.00pm Channel 4
An Island Parish (6/8) Father Guy has a final briefing about his move to the islands 8.30pm BBC2
Daily Service Led by Nigel Swinford 9.45am R4
Daily Service Led by Fr Philip Sumner 9.45am R4
The Moral Maze (4/12) Michael Buerk chairs a live debate in which Steven Rose, Claire Fox, Melanie Phillips and Clifford Longley cross-examine expert witnesses on the moral issues behind the week’s news 8.00pm R4
Daily Service Led by Maggi Dawn 9.45am R4
Afternoon Play: The Places between In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan just after the fall of the Taliban. Surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers, he returned to write a book about his adventures. This dramatisation by Benjamin Yeoh tells the story of that epic journey. 2.15pm R4
Act of Worship A religious service for the day 9.45am R4
Prayer for the Day Led by Rev Dr John Armes (not Sunday) 5.43am R4
Speakers for the Week:
Speakers for the Week:
St Mary's Church, Hitchin, Concert for International Women's Day, 8th Marchat 7.30. Music by Holy Saviour (Hitchin) Church Choir; The North Herts Guild of Singers; The Radcliffe Singers & The Hitchin Light Orchestra. All proceeds to St Mary's Fabric Appeal; Sudan HS, and Forward (Foundation for Women's Health, Research & Development). Tickets £10; concessions £6, from Hitchin Town Centre Initiative, Churchyard, tel 01462 453335.
For a full listing of events go here