We have lots on over Advent & Christmas! Why not join us?
Advent Carols Sunday 1st December 4pm at St James, Stanstead Abbots
Christmas Tree Festival Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December 2–6pm at St Mary the Virgin, St Margarets
Carols by Candlelight Sunday 15th December 6.30pm at St John the Baptist, Great Amwell and Sunday 22nd December 6.30pm at St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots
The Christmas Journey: The Nativity Story Reimagined Tuesday 24th December ~ Christmas Eve Starting 3pm at St Margarets Train Station and ending at St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots
Christmas Eve Midnight Holy Communion Tuesday 24th December ~ Christmas Eve 11.30pm at St John the Baptist, Great Amwell
Christmas Day Service Wednesday 25th December ~ Christmas Day 10.30am at St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots
It’s that time of year again when we welcome people to come together at our annual Lights of Love services to remember precious babies gone too soon.
Our Lights of Love services, and other seasonal events, take place across the country every year with readings, music, and candle lighting. They are FREE of charge and for ANYONE to join.
We know that many people find this a challenging time of year. Lights of Love is designed to provide peace and comfort to parents, siblings and anyone else affected by pregnancy or baby loss, helping them to prepare emotionally for other seasonal celebrations in which they are taking part.
Lights of Love Services locally…
You might also be interested in…
Sands Helpline: 0808 164 3332 / helpline@sands.org.uk The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. Whether your baby died long ago or recently, we are here for you.
Do you like a good quiz? Do you like supporting incredible charities? If yes, then we have an evening of fun for you!
Join The 3 Churches Benefice for an epic evening of poverty-beating, community-building fun! Every penny raised will go to Tearfund, who work tirelessly to fight extreme poverty throughout the world.
WHEN: Saturday 16th November, 7pm at The Wilshere Hall, St Andrew’s Church
DETAILS: £5 per person, Teams of up to 8 people, Bring your own drinks & snacks
Get tickets in advance by emailing peter.melrose@ntlworld.com or purchase (in cash) on the door!
To learn more about Tearfund and the important work they do, you can watch this video HERE or visit their website: https://www.tearfund.org/
There has been a lot going on at St John the Baptist Church, Great Amwell, over the last few months. Here is a little about what it…
South African Braii
In August, in the lovely summer sunshine, we had a South African braai in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, organised kindly by parishioners Graeme and Paola McSorley. We enjoyed boerewors followed by melktert, washed down with fabulous South African wine.
Visitors come to St John the Baptist
St John’s church has been blessed this year with visitors from overseas. Recently, we have had visitors from America, who can trace their ancestry to Richard and Elizabeth Warren who were married in the church in 1610. Richard being one of the Pilgrim Fathers on Mayflower 10 years later.
Front: Tim Van Leer, Jodie Picoult, Rev’d Sarah Forrest and Eric Nye; Back: Martin Vaughan, Margaret Mellor and Sue VaughanSue and Tom Dietrich
In September, came Sue and Tom Dietrich from Arizona, followed on 3rd October by well-known authoress Jodie Picoult and her husband, Tim Warren Van Leer from New Hampshire. On the same day, Eric Nye, a visiting professor at Cambridge and related to the Warrens, joined us. It was great to welcome them to St John’s and show them round the church and the churchyard.
‘Remembrance Sunday is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.’ (The Royal British Legion)
Join together this Remembrance Sunday to remember the Armed Forces, and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth, the vital role played by the emergency services and those who have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism.
The 3 Churches Benefice are holding the following Services of Remembrance on Sunday 10th November:
* 9am Remembrance Sunday Eucharist Service at St John the Baptist Church, Great Amwell
* 10.30am Service of Remembrance at Amwell Lane War Memorial, Great Amwell (this service is outdoors, so please dress for the weather)
* 10.30am Service of Remembrance at St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots (starts in the church and then moves to the war memorial outside)
Local Sands supporter The 3 Churches Benefice will be giving bereaved families in Great Amwell, St Margarets and Stanstead Abbotts the opportunity to come together this Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9–15th October.
Sands, the charity that leads Baby Loss Awareness Week, works to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families. The Week is a time for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together, to remember much-loved and missed babies, and raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.
This special week is represented by its blue and pink ribbon logo, this image has been the inspiration to create Ribbon Displays up and down the UK, in every community, inviting those who have experienced loss to come together and remember their babies.
The 3 Churches Benefice is hosting a Ribbon Display outside St Andrew’s Church and opening the church on Sunday 13th October from 2–4pm to support their Ribbon Run, which will take place from 2pm that day. They are putting together a team that plans to walk the 5km circuit from St Andrew’s to raise funds for Sands. Walkers and Runners welcome! To donate, visit the website: https://fundraising.sands.org.uk/s/7321/25326.
The loss of a baby or pregnancy is heart-breaking, and this is happening to families across the UK everyday. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, The 3 Churches Benefice wanted to create a special display to remember all the babies lost, whether recently or long ago. You can add a ribbon to our Ribbon Display on the railings outside St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots.
All money raised from the Ribbon Run will go to Sands, so they can continue to support families and reduce baby deaths, by investing in research and championing better maternity care.
For anyone who needs the support of Sands you can find more information on their website www.sands.org.uk .
On 18th October, 7pm for a 7.30pm prompt start at Great Amwell Parish Hall, we are holding the St John’s Quiz, including a fish or chicken and chips supper. Vegetarian option available. Bring your own drink, glasses and crockery. There will also be a Raffle.
Entry fee £20 per person includes dinner. Teams are up to 8 people.
All money raised goes to the St John’s Church Heating Replacement Fund.
Contact Bryan Brace to book your tickets (bjbrace122@gmail.com).
Harvest is a time of thanksgiving for the harvest and all the food that comes from the land. The 3 Churches Benefice has a number of different services over Harvest and would love to invite you to join them…
Harvest Songs of Praise WHEN: Sunday 15th September WHERE: St John the Baptist Church, Great Amwell
On Sunday 15th September, from 6.30pm, join us for Harvest Songs of Praise at St John the Baptist. Refreshments of cider and cheese will be served afterwards.
Harvest Festival WHEN: Sunday 22nd September WHERE: St James’s Church and Stanstead Bury Farm, Stanstead Abbots
A Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday 22nd September! Join us for an 11am Benefice Service of Thanksgiving at St James. This will replace the normal 10.30am service at St Andrew’s. This will be followed by lunch at Stanstead Bury Farm featuring locally grown food and drink. To book tickets for lunch (£15), visit https://tinyurl.com/4hm4395x.
All Age Harvest Service WHEN: Sunday 6th October WHERE: St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots
Our All Age Sunday Service at St Andrew’s is a great way to bring the family together in celebration of the Harvest. Everyone is welcome!
If you want to know more, please contact admin@3churches.net or check out The 3 Churches website HERE.
