The Heartland Bulletin -...

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The Heartland Bulletin This bulletin has been collated by Gill Elliott of Trinity URC St Albans. If you have news or notices that you wish to be included in the next Bulletin, please email [email protected], or ask your Heartland representative to do so on your behalf. Issue 7 - 19 th March 2017 ‘Where is God?’ I stood on the threshold, a voice told me to open the door, you knew I was struggling. You were there with me. Thank you, Lord. Walking across the park, slowly, uncourageously, you were with each step. You were there with me. Thank you, Lord Standing outside the unfamiliar building, silently, reluctantly..... someone held my hand You were there with me. Thank you, Lord As I stepped inside, You were that friendly welcoming face after finding a seat, it was You who sat beside me. Thank you, Lord As I worshipped for that hour, You were all around me, inspiring, uplifting, reassuring. Helping me to return. You are with me. Thank you, Lord. Gail Bennett.(Wigmore church)

Transcript of The Heartland Bulletin -...

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The Heartland Bulletin

This bulletin has been collated by Gill Elliott of Trinity URC St Albans.

If you have news or notices that you wish to be included in the nextBulletin, please email [email protected], or ask your Heartlandrepresentative to do so on your behalf.

Issue 7 - 19th March 2017

‘Where is God?’

I stood on the threshold, a voice told me to open the door, you knew I was struggling.You were there with me. Thank you, Lord.

Walking across the park, slowly, uncourageously, you were with each step.You were there with me. Thank you, Lord

Standing outside the unfamiliar building, silently, reluctantly..... someone held my handYou were there with me. Thank you, Lord

As I stepped inside, You were that friendly welcoming face after finding a seat,it was You who sat beside me. Thank you, Lord

As I worshipped for that hour, You were all around me, inspiring, uplifting, reassuring.Helping me to return.You are with me. Thank you, Lord.

Gail Bennett.(Wigmore church)

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On March the 11th, the Heartland Churches enjoyed sharing time together at WigmoreChurch in Luton for a day of activities organised by Grassroots. Grassroots is anecumenical Christian programme of community engagement. In dialogue with thechurches and other faith communities, GRASSROOTS strives to uncover a sharp edge ofengagement with contemporary issues of community cohesion, peace andreconciliation, and injustice and inequality in Luton’s diverse context. It works withChurches Together in Luton, Bury Park Beech Hill Council of Churches, Luton Council ofFaiths and Ghar se Ghar (Hindi/Urdu words for ‘Home to Home’ - a Women’s Co-operative). You can learn more at http://grassrootsluton.org.uk/

The day included worshipping together, playing a Diversity Game (in which playersgain understanding of other faiths) and Circle Dancing. There were workshopsexploring Creative Writing, Mission, Interfaith and Fairtrade and Intercultural insights.There was also, of course, an excellent bring and share lunch with plenty of food foreveryone including locally produced, freshly cooked samosas. A Fairtrade stall wasavailable with a wide range of exciting goodies, the ‘usual’ tea, coffee and dried fruitbeing supplemented with candles, high quality chocolate with embedded coffeebeans, fruit teas and even doormats!

One of the pieces of creative writing is shared on the front page.

The Traidcraft stall

Diversity Game

Closing worship, incorporating circle dance for all.

OpeningworshipfromWigmore’sminister &some oftheGrassrootsteam

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Women's World Day of Prayer at Bricket Wood.

On Friday, 3rd March, St. Luke's Church, Bricket Wood, joined Bricket Wood URC for the2017 Women's World Day of Prayer Service, prepared this year by the Christian Womenof the Philippines, on the theme of “Am I being unfair to you?”. The graphic on the frontof the service booklet underlined the imbalance of life – on the right bright, colourfulimages, on the left , predominantly dark and dull colours. Our service was led by Revd.Debbie Hodge, a Bricket Wood Church member, and Revd. Kylie Hodgins, the vicar ofSt. Luke's. Ladies from both churches took part as one of the five “readers” or as one ofthe four “named” parts. The congregation, from both churches, found the hymns andreadings both thought-provoking and moving – the more so when knowing that theywere joining in a service, taking place world wide on this particular day.

HomewoodRoad has beenmaking blessingswith pennies

Panshangar isposting beautifulphotos onInstagram

Photos fromthe Women’sWorld Day ofPrayer

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The URC will be at the Greenbelt Festival again this year, atBoughton House, Northamptonshire, from 25 to 28 Augustwith ‘More than Welcome’ as its focus. ‘More thanWelcome’ will explore issues around who is, or isn’twelcome in our churches and society – and what thatmeans individually and corporately, locally, nationally andinternationally. It also offers the opportunity to listen tothose who are missing from ‘the banquet’ and from ourconversations, communities and churches.They are hoping to have a knitted food treasure hunt andare encouraging everyone to contribute by knitting orcrocheting sandwiches, biscuits, fruit and cakes.Knitting/crocheting patterns are available but do feel freeto use any you may have already. - See more at:http://www.urc.org.uk/media-news/2316-more-than-welcome-at-greenbelt-2017.html

FRIDAY FOCUS

At St Katherine’s, we share a magazine, TeamSpirit, with the Anglicans, our LEP partners. Thereare 3 other churches besides ourselves whocontribute to it.

Recently, an article appeared called ‘FRIDAYFOCUS’, which calls all Christians across the UK topray wherever they are on Fridays, for theirchurches to grow and help others to know Jesus.

Our Prayer Group at St Katherine’s has recentlyasked our congregation to take part in this, witha view to mission and increasing our awarenessof a wider church across the nation.

We would also like to share this idea withHeartland churches.

Maybe we will all become part of the answer!

Trinity people are enjoying our Lectureseries given by Dr Teodora Domotor; thefirst was on “Fried Green Tomatoes atthe Whistlestop Cafe” by Fannie Flaggand the second was on one of ErnestHemingway’s short stories, “IndianCamp”. The overall theme is “ReadingEmotions” and the lectures include anexercise in understanding our emotions.There are more to come: the next one ison April the 11th and it’s about “To Kill aMockingbird” by Harper Lee.

We have been exploring differentspiritualities during Lent, which so farhave included: Hildegard of Bingen, thespirituality of silence, and pilgrimage.

We are taking part in a collection in aidof Christian Aid at the St Peters St. Tescoon March 31st. The collection is between8.00 am and 10.00pm and we would liketo have two people on at any time. Ifanyone would be able to help for anhour, please [email protected] or phone heron 07801 799224.Welwyn

Garden City’sFacebookpage continuesto post dailyinspirationalthoughts.

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You can access the Heartland Calendar of Events fromhttp://www.trinitystalbans.org.uk/heartlandcalendar.html

Prayer Rota

26/03/2017 Luton - Wigmore Crosses Festival preparations

02/04/2017 Panshangar Preparations for welcoming Rev Hayley White

09/04/2017 St Albans - HomewoodRoad Continued growth of family and children’s work

16/04/2017 St Albans - Trinity Community Project

23/04/2017 Welwyn Garden City Next building stages; spiritual stages as well

30/04/2017 Wheathampstead Ecumenical activities in the village

07/05/2017 Heartland Group Ministerial vacancies to be filled

14/05/2017 Bricket Wood Those organising their church

News from WheathampsteadFollowing a meeting at Synod office the LAG (Local Area Group i.e. Heartland) isrequired to make some formal commitment and input to Wheathampstead’s furtherprogress on the ecumenical project. An extraordinary Heartland meeting is being heldin early April to organise this. Please keep Wheathampstead in your prayers as theywork to further their redevelopment plans.

Edward Street dates:13th April 7:00pm Agape. Worship and meal for Maundy Thursday.16th April 9:00am Breakfast before Easter Sunday Morning Service

Don’t forget Wigmore Church’s Festival of Crosses fromGood Friday (14th April) 12.30 - 4 p.m.Easter Saturday (including an egg hunt and other Easter Activities) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Easter Sunday till 2 p.m.Full details in the February Bulletin!