Please feel free to forward this to others and
to reproduce in full or part in parish magazines and newsletters.
New Archdeacon will “try to
keep his cards in his pocket”
The next
Archdeacon of St Albans will be the Revd Jonathan Smith, Vicar of St John’s
Harpenden. For further details see: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/organization/news/2008/adnsta.htm
Easter Monday Pilgrimage
2008 ‘One more step’
Make your way to your cathedral on Monday 24th
March with pilgrims from all over the diocese. Gather on the Abbey Orchard from
1pm, processions start at 2.30pm and the All Age Worship begins at 3pm.
This year pilgrims will be invited to make their own ‘one more step’ by drawing
around their own foot to make a foot-flag to wave during the wonderful singing.
As we celebrate Easter, take one more step in your
Christian journey by coming together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Back to Church Sunday in
Last year 2000 churches around the
country invited and welcomed back to church 20,000 friends on Back to Church
Sunday.
This year St Albans Diocese is
joining others signing up for Back to Church Sunday on 28 September 2008.
Get more information on how your
church can get involved through
And more about B2CS (Back 2 Church
Sunday) on www.backtochurch.co.uk
Video clips wanted
The Diocesan Communications
Officer is putting together a video to illustrate work in the diocese for Bishop
Christopher to take to the Lambeth Conference. We need video clips illustrating
·
Workplace
Ministry
·
Interfaith
relations and issues
·
Local
Ecumenical Projects
·
Schools
and Children’s work
If you have any of these, please
send them in any format to
Money Matters 1 - Gift Aid
The
Budget announced that changes to reclaiming tax on Gift Aid donations, due to
come in on April 5th will benefit from transitional relief. This is
good news for the church and charities for the next three years. The end result
is that all our churches will continue to benefit from Gift Aid tax recoverable
at the rate of 22% (ie 28.2p per £1 donated) as in recent years. As far as St
Albans Diocese is concerned we estimate the transitional relief is worth around
£300k for a full year, so overall the announcement in the Budget is very
helpful to us – for now.
Money
Matters 2 - The Money Revolution comes to the diocese
Monday 28th April 2008, St Luke’s
Church,
Money Matters 3 - Parish
Resources website revamped
Stewardship resource www.parishresources.org.uk has
just been revamped with more than 200 new pages of advice and downloads added.
Advice about Chancel
Repairs
New advice about Chancel Repair Liability demystifies
many aspects of this subject for parishes and home-buyers alike.
See www.stalbans.anglican.org/chancel.htm
BBC to screen The Passion series
during Holy Week
A
dramatic retelling of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus will be shown
on BBC 1 on Easter Sunday. Parts 1-3 run from 2:15pm – 4:40pm and part 4 is at
7:30 pm.
Local Ministry Consultation Day
A look at
local ministry from biblical perspectives with the Bishop of Bedford to how to
start a Local Ministry Team. For more information or to book call Canon Robin
Brown, 01727 818151 or rbrown@stalbans.anglican.org
Events of the month
Welwyn
Hatfield Inter Faith Group
Faith in Government: Can faith communities influence parliamentary
decisions?
Speakers include: The
Monday 7th April 2008, 7.45pm till 10pm in the Terrace
Suite, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6BX. FREE admission FREE car
parking RSVP to Valerie Skottowe for catering purposes. 01707 324828. valerie@tonyandvalerie.plus.com
Queen Eleanor’s Crosses cycle ride - Woburn –
Dunstable – St Albans – Hertford
These four places are on the route of the funeral
procession of Henry I’s wife, Queen Eleanor at some of the many locations on
that route where crosses were erected to mark the route. This cycle ride is
sponsored and is in aid of
http://www.queeneleanorcycleride.org.uk/Index.htm
All this month’s events can be
seen here
News from the Church of England
Schools Admissions Code: Church backs Minister
Responding to a statement from Secretary of State for Children, Schools and
Families Ed Balls, this morning, the Rt Rev Stephen Venner, Bishop of Dover and
acting Chair of the Board of Education, said: "The Church of England
welcomes the Minister's intention to tighten up on rules to ensure schools meet
the requirements of the Admissions Code 2007." Details here
Balance your household budget – it’s a matter of life and debt
The Church of England has launched an easy-to-use interactive online
resource for working out a household spending budget, with helpful prayers for
guidance, emphasising that the Bible teaches us to be content with what we
have, rather than find satisfaction from over-spending. Details here
Opposition to forced marriage
The Church of England has reaffirmed its belief that forced marriage is
wrong both morally and legally. Responding to a Home Office consultation on
‘marriage to partners from overseas’, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, Bishop of
Southwark, said the Mission and Public Affairs Council strongly affirmed that
principle, as reflected in the consultation document, and agreed that the
minimum age that someone could sponsor a marriage partner from abroad or be
sponsored as a spouse should be raised to 21 years. Details here
Secrets of a successful marriage for those saying ‘I will’
Help is at hand for newly engaged couples preparing for their wedding
day and planning the rest of their life together with a new course soon to be
offered by the Church of England. Details here
Government Consultation on blasphemy
As the Government publishes its amendment to the
Criminal Justice Bill to abolish the blasphemy laws, the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have made public their response to the
Government's consultation. Details here
It’s not only words: worship changes lives for
the better, says Church
The central importance of worship in the life of the Church
is emphasised in a new book published today by Church House Publishing. Details
here