The Community Hub Drop-in is held at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets, every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30am.
It is a safe and welcoming space for anyone who needs it.
We can also provide:
* A private telephone for people to access various charities/organisations, including Citizen’s Advice Bureau, MIND, Age UK, National Domestic Abuse Hotline and Alcoholics Anonymous.
* A Chromebook to enable people to search online for additional support in our quiet, private space.
So, if a good cuppa and a chat sounds like it might be just what you need, then come along!
The 3 Churches Foodbank Hub is in need of donations, specifically:
Marmalade
Chocolate spread
Soap
Toilet rolls
Biscuits
Honey
Small jars of coffee
Rice pudding
Steamed puddings
Donations can be dropped off on Wednesday morning between 10.30–11.30am at St Margarets Parish Church or to Sue Webb at 8 Miller Lane, Stanstead Abbotts.
This Easter, we’re celebrating an important first anniversary. It’s a year since we first started ‘Make Lunch’, a club for families who need extra help in the school holidays, whether in terms of finances and food, or space to be together and find support. The 3 Churches Benefice partnered with a national charity ‘Transforming Lives for Good’ or ‘TLG’, whose aim is to help churches to work in their communities to combat poverty and improve the lives of children and young people. We started in the Easter holidays last year, running lunch and activity sessions twice a week for anyone who wanted to come.
So why not come and join us over this Easter Holidays? Every session is different in terms of who comes and what kind of day it is, but we always have an activity and a theme, a two-course hot meal, time to sit together and eat, and to get to know each other and build relationships. We have 16 volunteers signed up and try to have at least 6 or 7 on each session, working in the kitchen, cooking and washing up, or out front coordinating activities or chatting to folk.
Join us at Make Lunch Club over the Easter Holidays for fun, friendship and some yummy food. See the poster below for all the details.
The 3 Churches Foodbank Hub is in need of donations, specifically:
Rice puddings
Custard
Small jars of coffee
Biscuits
Peanut butter
Chocolate spread
Toiletries
Donations can be dropped off on Wednesday morning between 10.30–11.30am at St Margarets Parish Church or to Sue Webb at 8 Miller Lane, Stanstead Abbotts.
The 3 Churches Benefice have a number of services running over Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday. They look forward to welcoming you!
PALM SUNDAY ~ 24th March 9am Eucharist at St John the Baptist 10.30am Holy Communion Service at St Andrew
HOLY WEEK ONLINE EVENING REFLECTIONS Monday 25th March~ Compline Tuesday 26th March ~ Lent Group Wednesday 27th March ~ Meditation 7.30pm on Zoom Join us by using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2701785021 You can also join in on an ordinary landline phone by ringing any of these numbers +44 131 460 1196, +44 203 051 2874, +44 203 481 5237 with the meeting ID: 270 178 5021
MAUNDY THURSDAY ~ 28th March 6.30pm Benefice Supper at The Wilshere Hall, St Andrew 7.30pm Tenebrae Service at St Andrew
GOOD FRIDAY ~ 29th March 10.30am Walk of Witness from St Mary the Virgin to St Andrew 2pm The Way of the Cross, a Passiontide Service at St John the Baptist
EASTER SUNDAY ~ 31st March 5.30am Dawn Vigil Service at St Andrew 9am Eucharist Service at St John the Baptist 10.30am Holy Communion Service at St Andrew
The 3 Churches Foodbank Hub has put out a plea for the following donations:
Tinned vegetables
Tinned rice
Small jars of coffee
Toiletries and sanitary towels etc.
Donations can be dropped off on Wednesday morning between 10.30–11.30am at St Margarets Parish Church or to Sue Webb at 8 Miller Lane, Stanstead Abbotts.
If you’re feeling the winter blues in more ways than one, then don’t forget that everyone is welcome at The 3 Churches Benefice’s Warm Welcome Spaces…
Warm Welcome Space Coffee Morning A weekly coffee morning offered as part of the Warm Welcome Space initiative during winter months. Come and share a cuppa in our warm, welcoming and free space. Every Monday, 9:00–11:30 at The Wilshere Hall, St Andrew’s Church.
Community Hub Drop-in Offers a safe space for anyone in the community who is in need of a listening ear or practical help. During winter months this is a Warm Welcome Space. Every Wednesday, 10:30–11:30 at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets.
On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December, 2–6pm, The 3 Churches Benefice held a Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets.
St John the Baptist Church, Great AmwellWoodland Beavers ColonyHoddesdon Women’s ClubBobtails Playgroup & Teddy ClubSt Andrew’s Primary SchoolSt Mary’s Church, St MargaretsNativity Scene (close up) by Mary YoungmanNativity Scene (Mary Youngman, Hertford Baptist Church)Age UK1st Stanstead Abbotts BrowniesSt Andrew’s Card-Making GroupThe 3 Churches Benefice Wednesday Coffee MorningThe Three Villages MagazineMemory TreeCraft StallView from outside
The church looked beautiful all lit up with the trees that had been provided and decorated by local groups and businesses. Powell Funeral Services donated the tree for St Mary’s and Gini Trower from The Wallen Garden kindly loaned two of her wonderful rooted trees. The amazing nativity scene at the altar, made by Mary Youngman and on loan from Hertford Baptist Church, was much admired by everyone. There were some delicious cakes, biscuits and mince pies; a raffle; a scavenger hunt for the children and some lovely craft items on safe.
Rev’d Sarah told us that the whole event was a brilliant success, with over 130 people going along to get in the festive spirit and over £450 raised. These funds will go towards the upkeep and work of the church.
The 3 Churches Benefice would like to thank everyone who helped: organising beforehand, providing and/or decorating trees, making cakes, volunteering as helpers, donating raffle prizes etc. It was a great team effort and there was some lovely feedback from those who came along.
Christmas Tree Festival 2–6pm on Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th December St Margarets’ Parish Church
This year, for the first time, The 3 Churches Benefice of Great Amwell, St Margarets and Stanstead Abbots are holding a Christmas Tree Festival at St Margarets’ Parish Church. We are hoping it will be a great success and an opportunity for us all, as a community, to get into the spirit of Christmas!
Entry to the Festival will be free, but seasonal refreshments will be available to buy for those visiting. We will also have a raffle. Please bring along cash (small change where possible). Any proceeds will go towards the work and upkeep of St Mary’s Church, St Margarets.
The 3 Churches Benefice has lots of wonderful services/events running over the Advent & Christmas period. Everyone is welcome to come along, follow the star and join the song!
The Three Villages 