Here are some notices that you may find of interest. Please check this page regularly for updates and let us know if you have some news to share...

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Alan's sabbatical: May - July 2025

Alan writes about his sabbatical, taking place throughout May, June and July:

“Every ten years, vicars are offered the opportunity to take a three-month sabbatical (or Extended Study Leave). The object of the sabbatical is to recharge spiritually, make time for creativity and to engage in an area of study which is relevant to ministry.

"Between May and July this year, I will be taking a sabbatical from parish life. My plan is to study the Irish Wake and Irish traditions and rituals around death and dying, which will take me on a road trip around Ireland, culminating in the Keening Festival in the west of the country. I also plan to retreat to Northumbria, deepen my Mindfulness practice, take up pottery and fit in a holiday to Sorrento!

"I’m really looking forward to it and I’m hugely grateful for the opportunity. I know that I’m leaving both parishes in the very safe hands of Rev. Bill, the Wardens and the Ministry Team. My last day will be Sunday 4th May which is our joint Away Day.”

May Coffee Morning

Saturday 3 May, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Coffee Morning May

Green fingers?

A call out by Debbie Ledsam to any green-fingered members of St Andrew's who are sowing seeds or dividing perennials. The June Coffee Morning will hope to include the sale of plants as we have done in the past, so any contributions would be wonderful.

Read about Our churchyard and its ecological diversity

PTA Bake Sale for St Andrew's School

Sunday 11 May, following the 10.30am service
(postponed from Palm Sunday)

Harry runs for National Eczema Society

This coming April, Harry Longman will be running the London Marathon. He is fundraising for the National Eczema Society (NES), a charity which means a lot to him having suffered from a severe form of eczema throughout his life.

Harry says, “In January 2024, I suffered from an intense three-month flare-up covering 75% of my body, which had a drastic effect on my physical and mental wellbeing. For this entire period, I was unable to sleep for more than one hour in the night. Wearing clothes, showering, and moving in general were extremely painful. Thankfully, after many hospital visits and dermatology appointments, I was able to get the condition under control. Thousands of people are suffering from eczema daily, some as severely as my case. I am going through the pain of running the London Marathon on behalf of those people, as a sign of gratitude that I was able to get my life back, and on behalf of the great work that NES do.”

NES provides vital support services such as helplines, support groups and online resources that help suffering individuals and families cope. The funds contribute to research initiatives aimed at understanding the causes of eczema and developing better treatments with the hope of one day finding a cure for all.

You might get the opportunity to speak to Harry after the 10.30am Sunday service and ask him how his training is going. Please help Harry reach his target of £2,000. Any donation, large or small, will be greatly appreciated.

https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/harry-longman

VACANCY: Part-time Children's and Youth Worker

The United Reformed Church in Broxbourne is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Children's and Youth Worker who can help nurture and grow their existing work with the young people. 16 hours a week (negotiable and flexible), including some Sunday mornings and mid-week and evening events. Three-year, fixed term. £16ph. Please apply for an application pack to the Pastorate Administrator, Mrs Stepanka Moysey at urcnlvg@gmail.com. Closing date for applications is noon on Wednesday 23 April.

VACANCY: PA for the Archdeacon of Hertford

The Diocese is currently advertising for a new PA for the Archdeacon of Hertford (on the retirement of her current PA). The role is based in the Archdeacon’s office in Hertingfordbury and the closing date for applications is Wednesday 7 May 2025. Further details on the website: https://www.stalbansdiocese.org/vacancies/pa-to-the-archdeacon-of-hertford/

VE Day 80 at the Castle

The Mayor of Hertford, on behalf of Hertford Town Council welcome all to the 80th Anniversary of VE Day at Hertford Castle on Thursday 8 May from 5.30pm. With live music, fish and chips, crépes and bar, there will be plenty to enjoy as we commemorate this shared moment of celebration with the nation. You are welcome to bring your own blankets and seating. The Beacon will be lit at 9.30pm.

Christian Aid Inter-Church Quiz

Saturday 10 May in the St Andrew's Centre (behind St Andrew's Church)

Doors open at 6.30pm for a prompt 7.00pm start
Tickets £12.50 per person to include ploughman's supper.
Bring your own drinks and glasses.
Tables of 6 to 8 people.
Numbers limited so first come, first served.
Tickets from Sue Mulligan (07913 666296 / suemulligan@ntlworld.com)

Helping Hand to manage the cost of living

Hertfordshire County Council is making sure that advice and support is available to help every resident navigate the cost of living and stay safe and healthy.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/hereforyou

If you have any further questions, please contact: VPA.Cell@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Carers

If you look after someone who couldn't manage without you, you're a carer. There's support for you, too.
For more information, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/carers

carers-flashcard-2024

Hertfordshire Health Walks

Timetable available as a pdf here

Free weekly guided walk from Sele Farm

The All Nations Coffee and Bookshop

Wednesday and Friday afternoons 2.00-5.00pm

The Coffee and Bookshop at All Nations are well worth a visit. All Nations is set in beautiful grounds on the Easneye Estate near Ware and is a lovely place to meet friends for a coffee, take a walk in the grounds and buy that book you are after. They have a lovely range of Christian text cards and gifts, too.

And there's a click-and-collect service through St Andrew's Bookshop who provide all the books.

St Andrews Bookshop Ltd
61-65 High Street
Great Missenden
Bucks HP16 0AL

Website: www.standrewsbookshop.co.uk

St Andrew’s Facebook page:

You can find event and service details, thought for the day, sermons, photos and updates on the St Andrew’s Facebook page.

Safeguarding at St Andrew’s:

Catherine Sleath is our Safeguarding Officer. If you have any questions or concerns relating to safeguarding for people of any age at St Andrew’s, please get in touch with Catherine (01992 537867).

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.

'I'm New' Click here

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 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