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BANNER Mission

Mission Giving

For some, Christian mission focusses on evangelism - “making disciples of all nations”, as Jesus said (Matthew 28.19).

An alternative view understands mission as engaging in social justice - the climate and ecological emergency, and redressing economic disparity, oppression, racial inequality and other societal ills.  The Old Testament prophet Micah put it like this: “Do justice, love mercy.” (Micah 6. 8)

Both are an expression of love.

10% of St Andrew’s planned giving is allocated for mission giving.

St Andrew’s gives priority to NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) which have a Christian ethos so that money is channelled through Christians. However, we remain open to any organisation working in a ‘holistic’ way.

Globally in recent years, we have supported multi-faceted projects working to alleviate the impact of poverty in Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and south east Asia and providing:

  • Emergency relief after disasters and other crises
  • Food and water
  • Healthcare, medicine/ health supplies and substance abuse recovery
  • Life skills, e.g. agricultural training
  • Human trafficking awareness, intervention and aftercare
  • Engagement with prisoners’ children and families and restorative justice
  • Advocacy for freedom of religion and belief


Locally in recent years, we have supported projects and organisations seeking to:

  • Support and work with young people
  • Assist refugee settlement and asylum seekers in Hertfordshire
 

TraidcraftExchangeLogoStop businesses getting away with human rights abuses

Products made on the back of harming others shouldn’t be for sale in the UK.

It shouldn’t be the case that we can walk into a UK shop and buy something that was partly made through slavery or child labour... or that destroyed forests to get onto our shelves. Traidcraft Exchange is calling for a new law. 

Disasters such as the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013 and the Mariana dam disaster in Brazil in 2015 made headlines across the world - but nothing changed. There was no justice for the victims. The companies profiting from such unsafe situations were not punished.

These kinds of abuses happen every day. But mostly they are not reported.

Be a voice for change

Together with trade unions, activists, businesses, investors and other charities, Traidcraft Exchange is calling for a new law that would put a stop to these practices. The Business, Human Rights and Environment Act will require businesses to prevent abuses from occurring, punish companies if abuses take place, compensate victims and where possible clean up and restore the damage caused.

You can sign the petition here: https://action.traidcraft.org.uk/hold-businesses-to-account

 


Here are the projects and organisations we supported in 2022...


Mission Giving 2022 poster

Living Hope logoLiving Hope
Living Hope is a Christian non-profit organisation whose vision is to reach people for Christ, bringing hope and breaking the despair of poverty and disease. Living Hope undertakes community development through educational, social, income generation, and health related programmes; and plays a vital role in the prevention, care and treatment of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.



Latin Link Logo

Latin Link

Latin Link is an international 'community with a calling' to love and serve God and our neighbour, through multi-directional mission work. The community includes over 140 members, from around 20 nations, serving in 15 Country Teams across Latin America and Europe.

 




Herts Welcomes Refugees logoHerts Welcomes Refugees
Herts Welcomes Refugees provides a range of assistance and support to refugees and asylum seekers across the county to complement that provided by local councils and the Refugee Council's Hertfordshire Resettlement Project. HWR also help some refugees and asylum seekers who are not supported by either the Refugee Council or local councils. 

Inscape Animations presents Roots, a story of human migration and connection through time and distance...



The least of these...

Jesus’ benchmark was ‘the least of these’. Therefore, a minimum of 60% of the giving is allocated to overseas projects. The impact of the climate and coronavirus emergencies is greater on families in poorer countries who are not able to earn enough to feed their children. In places where malnutrition is already a problem, even more people are going hungry and risk starvation. Those living in vulnerable communities may get very ill and have no access to healthcare.

Tearfund Action: Sign the Climate Coalition's Declaration


Andrew Goodman, St Andrew's Mission Giving Committee

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

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 grape or 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 lots 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.