The Church of St Peter Great Berkhamsted

 Other notices:

• Hallelujah!
  Posted 28 March 2024

  Hallelujah!

  On Easter Day, it is our tradition for our church choir to finish the 9:30am Easter Eucharist by singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. We also invite everyone to join in singing - we usually have a few copies to lend, but if you have a Messiah score, bring it along on Sunday. It is a truly joyous and uplifting conclusion to our worship. 

  
  
  
• Cartoon Church Easter egg
  Posted 28 March 2024

  Cartoon Church Easter egg

  

  
  
  
• Victoria School prepares for Easter
  Posted 28 March 2024

  Victoria School prepares for Easter

  As we approach the Easter weekend, the children have been doing lots of different things around the theme of Easter. We started the week by attending our Easter service at St Peter's where the children used poetry and prayers to retell the Easter story. At the end we were aa given palm crosses to take back home.

  As part of our RE day we looked at the story of the Three Trees, exploring the idea of having hopes and dreams for the future. With the story the children learnt that even when things are not going the way we hoped that God has great plans for us. They liked how each tree become something special (a manger for Jesus, the boat for Jesus and his disciples and the cross) and that the trees were proud of what they had become.

  

  Reception were so inspired by the story that some of the children had created a museum of crosses, with each cross having a special power. One of the crosses had the power of love for all.

  I like to wish everyone a Happy Easter and have a wonderful break. We will be back at school on Tuesday 16 April.

  Mrs Lisa Freeman
  Head of School, Victoria CE Infant and Nursery School

  
  
  
• A new vicar for Potten End
  Posted 27 March 2024

  A new vicar for Potten End

  As you may have heard, Holy Trinity Church at Potten End have appointed a new vicar! Rev. Ben Brady, will be coming from Weston Colville in Cambridgeshire and he will be installed at Holy Trinity in a special service on Saturday 15th June at 5pm.

  We all hold Ben and his family, and our friends at Holy Trinity in our prayers as they all prepare for a new chapter at Potten End, and we look forward to welcoming Ben. 

  
  
  
• Thank you for the music
  Posted 27 March 2024

  Thank you for the music

  As another Holy Week comes by, we are immensely grateful to our church musicians for the incredibly hard work they have put in, supporting our worship with inspiring music. Thanks to our Director of Music Adrian Davis, organist Chris Beauchamp, our choir members, and all who work so hard behind the scenes to organise the programme of music. Next Sunday (7 April) they will be taking a well-earned break from singing, but they will be back in the choir stalls the following Sunday.

  
  
  
• Easter news from Thomas Coram School
  Posted 27 March 2024

  Easter news from Thomas Coram School

  I cannot believe how quickly Easter has come round. Our service was so lovely on Wednesday and it was great to hear our readers and all of the children singing so joyfully. We were fortunate that the sun shone for us. Last week we had our RE day and the children thought about the meaning of Easter and importance. We also saw some delicious Easter nests created by our Year 5's. We have been busy trying to re do our quad areas and we are excited that one of them will be a reflection area for children to take a moment of peace. I am looking forward to sharing the progress next term. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.

  Miss L Hill
  Head of School, The Thomas Coram CE School

  
  
  
• Flowers!
  Posted 27 March 2024

  Flowers!

  We are all very grateful to our flower volunteers, who have been working so hard behind the scenes to produce a glorious display of flowers at Easter!

  Thank you very much for the all donations received towards the Easter flowers, some of which are given in memory of David & Marion Crawley, Chris Smalley, Colin & Ian Edmonds and Ron Cowie. Donations can be made at any time throughout the year either by cash to Sarah Dawson or online to:- PCC of St Peter Great Berkhamsted Account number 00030116 Sort Code 40-52-40 (and please put 'Flowers' as a reference). If you would like to donate in memory of a loved one please let Sarah know.

  Are you interested in joining the team of flower arrangers? They would welcome some new helpers, and training can be given. Please speak to Sarah if you can help,

  Contact:
  

  Sarah Dawson     sarahdawson@juliandawson.plus.com     07788 843186

  
  
  
• Herts Connected
  Posted 20 March 2024

  Herts Connected

  

  Herts Connected is a new interactive messaging service from Hertfordshire Constabulary. When you register, you can receive email notifications about crime alerts, neighbourhood watch, online fraud and crime prevention. It's a useful service from our local police force to help everyone to stay safe and to keep aware of criminal activity in the local area. If you've previously used the Online Watch Link (OWL) service, Herts Connected now replaces it, so you'll need to re-register. Please note that you cannot use this website to report an emergency. Go to this web address and fill in your details to get started: 

  
  

   hertsconnected.co.uk

  
  
  
• Easter yarn bombing
  Posted 19 March 2024

  Easter yarn bombing

  

  Easter is nearly upon us, and Berkhamsted's Royal British Legion have been getting busy with their Knit and Natter group, festooning the town with Easter decorations. The post box next to St Peter's is now topped with a fabulous display of knitted Easter bunnies, chicks, bees and rainbows! What other yarnbomb decorations can you find?

  
  
  
• Spring & summer walks
  Posted 13 March 2024

  Spring & summer walks

  A walk through the countryside can do wonders for the heart and soul. There is a whole calendar of guided walks on our local events website, Event Hub Dacorum, including free organised walks with the Chiltern Society and mindfulness nature walks. Or why not take part in a charity fundraiser? Join the Berkhamsted Walk on 12 May to raise money for The Children's Society, or The Hospice of St Francis Walk your Ridgeway on 30 June. For full details and registration links go to:

  
  

   www.eventhubdacorum.com

  
  
  
• Stanford Centenary
  Posted 12 January 2024

  Stanford Centenary

  

  On this day 100 years ago, 29 March 1924,  Sir Charles Villiers Stanford died. Stanford was born in Dublin in 1852 and became was one of the most prominent composers of Anglican Church music. As professor at the Royal College of Music in London, he taught Coleridge-Taylor, Holst, Vaughan Williams and Ireland. Let us give thanks for church musicians, who offer so much to enhance our worship.

  To mark Stanford's centenary year, the Royal Schools of Church Music (RSCM) are running a programme of events, including a Stanford Singing Break weekend in Cambridge in mid July, lectures and recitals. 

  St Peter's own church choir often sing Stanford's Evening Canticles at Choral Evensong, and these glorious pieces will certainly re-appear on our music lists in the near future, so keep an eye on the church noticeboard. Our Director of Music Adrian Davis loves conducting Stanford – he always feels there is something of an Irish jig in his music!

  
  

   www.rscm.org.uk

  
  
  
• Electoral Roll
  Posted 13 March 2024

  Electoral Roll

  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Church Electoral Roll will be revised between Sunday 1 April and Saturday 30 March. This is a revision and not a new roll so only those new to the parish or who have changed details need to fill out a form.  Forms are provided at the back of the church.

  The revised roll will be on display from Saturday 13 April until the APCM on Sunday 28 April.

  
  
  
• Friday 29 March 2024: Good Friday All-Age Stations of the Cross
  Posted 14 March 2024

  Friday 29 March 2024: Good Friday All-Age Stations of the Cross

  The Stations of the Cross is a traditional devotion, when we gather to focus on the story of Good Friday, following in the steps of Jesus on the way to the Cross. This morning at St Peter's, instead of using paintings to mark each Station, we're going to stage each Station with children creating each scene for us.

  Would your child(ren) like to take part? Any children who would like to take part in staging the Stations are welcome - please come along to St Peter's today by 11.45am.

  Contact:
  

  Fr Stuart     fr.stuart@gmail.com   

  
  
  
• Friday 29 March 2024: Good Friday Liturgy
  Posted 28 March 2024

  Friday 29 March 2024: Good Friday Liturgy

  

  This afternoon, we commemorate Christ's death at Calvary in readings, music and prayer. The choir will sing Good Friday Liturgy with the Veneration of the Cross. Everyone is welcome at St Peter's on this most holy day.

  "His dying Crimson, like a Robe,
  Spreads o'er his Body on the Tree;
  Then I am dead to all the Globe,
  And all the Globe is dead to me."

  
  
  
• Saturday 30 March 2024: Easter Discovery Trail in Rectory Lane Cemetery
  Posted 20 February 2024

  Saturday 30 March 2024: Easter Discovery Trail in Rectory Lane Cemetery

  

  A reminder that there will be a children's Easter Discovery Trail in Rectory Lane Cemetery tomorrow (Saturday) 10am-1pm. Children will be given an enchantingly designed clue card (specially illustrated by the artist Lizzie Martell) and use it to follow a trail, discovering cemetery's memorials and the first signs of spring - birds, insects and flowers. On completion of the trail, children will be rewarded with a chocolate Easter egg, and they can also keep the clue card to colour in at home. All proceeds from the Easter Discovery Trail will go towards the upkeep of the Rectory Lane Cemetery, as a place for nature, community and heritage in Berkhamsted.

  If you book online you can get Early Chick tickets for £3.50 (+booking fee) per child (aged 3 and over). Tickets on the day are £6.50. Book online today:

  
  

   tinyurl.com

  
  
  
• Saturday 30 March 2024: The Big Easter Clean!
  Posted 14 March 2024

  Saturday 30 March 2024: The Big Easter Clean!

  

  A reminder that there will be a Big Church Clean tomorrow morning, Holy Saturday. We need volunteers to get together to give our church a good deep clean so it's looking its absolute best for our Easter Day celebrations. Last year we had great fun with volunteers of all ages doing their bit! Do please come and help at any time between 10am and midday - it will be greatly appreciated, whether you're with us for twenty minutes or the full two hours.

  So make a Pledge™ to Muscle™ in, and together, we'll get it all done in a Flash™!

  Contact:
  

  Lea Wills     digachau@gmail.com   

  
  
  
• Sunday 31 March 2024: Easter Sunday refreshments!
  Posted 22 March 2024

  Sunday 31 March 2024: Easter Sunday refreshments!

  

  After the 9:30am Eucharist on Easter Sunday, we would like to invite everyone for a glass of fizzy wine as part of our Easter Day celebrations.

  Please note that will be no coffee after the 9:30am service.

  Please also note that there will not be a service of choral evensong on Easter Day - this was advertised in the parish news in error. Apologies.

  
  
  
• Sunday 31 March 2024: Easter Day Evensong at the Cathedral
  Posted 28 March 2024

  Sunday 31 March 2024: Easter Day Evensong at the Cathedral

  There will be a service of Choral Evensong at St Abans Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, sung by the Cathedral Girls Choir and Lay Clerks of the Cathedral Choir. Music to include:

  Responses: Moore
  Psalm 105: 1-9
  Canticles: Westminster Service - Howells
  Anthem: Laudate Dominum - Dupré
  Voluntary: Paean - Howells

  
  

   www.stalbanscathedral.org

  
  
  
• Sunday 31 March 2024: Easter Vigil
  Posted 28 March 2024

  Sunday 31 March 2024: Easter Vigil

  

  Our Easter Day celebrations begin bright and early on Sunday morning at 6am with the Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter. Everyone is welcome to this moving dawn service as we greet the risen Christ with music and prayer, and the ceremonial lighting of this year's Paschal Candle. Please note that the clocks go forward on Sunday morning, and so this will be a particularly early start, but worth the effort!

  This is the night
  when Christ broke the prison-bars of death
  and rose victorious from the underworld!

  
  
  
• Sunday 7 April 2024: Talk: Creation Care and Our Response
  Posted 27 March 2024

  Sunday 7 April 2024: Talk: Creation Care and Our Response

  Tim Jenkins has worked in Agriculture and Forestry in the UK and overseas. He has a desire to see nature restored and integrated into food production. He will talk about the Biblical basis of Creation Care and how this can be applied to our caretaking of our wonderful planet. Location: Northchurch Baptist Church 7:30pm - around 9:00pm. There will be hot drinks and cakes served during an interval. There is no admission fee. Please bring family and friends. If you could register online for the event, that will help with chairs and catering, but don’t worry if you can’t do this.

   

  
  

   www.northchurch.com

  
  
  
• Saturday 13 April 2024: Commissioning of the new Rural Dean
  Posted 14 March 2024

  Saturday 13 April 2024: Commissioning of the new Rural Dean

  We are delighted to announce that our Rector, Revd Stuart Owen, has been appointed Rural Dean of Berkhamsted. Fr Stuart will be Commissioned as the new Rural Dean of Berkhamsted by Archdeacon Charles Hudson at 6pm on Sunday 14th April. All are welcome. Please hold Stuart in your prayers as he takes on this new responsibility.

  
  
  
• Wednesday 24 April 2024: Lady Nade sings the Blues in Little Gaddesden
  Posted 20 March 2024

  Wednesday 24 April 2024: Lady Nade sings the Blues in Little Gaddesden

  Little Gaddesden Folk, Roots & Blues Club invited you to a evening with the award-winning soul and blues singer Lady Nade in Little Gaddesden Church. Fully licensed bar available on the evening. Tickets £17.60:

   

  
  

   www.pta-events.co.uk

  
  
  
• Friday 13 September 2024: Quiet Day at Douai Abbey
  Posted 30 January 2024

  Friday 13 September 2024: Quiet Day at Douai Abbey

  

  Fr David is organising another Quiet Day at Douai Abbey on Saturday 14 September 10.00am-4.00pm.  The Quiet Day offers a few hours to withdraw from our busy lives and to have some quiet space as well as some unhurried time with each other.  There are 20 spaces available so please sign up as soon as possible. If you wish to book a place, or want to find out more, please contact:

  Contact:
  

  David Lawson     davidmlawson@btinternet.com     07939 473717