This Week's News: 5th April 2025

Sunday 30th March - Passion Sunday 10am Parish Eucharist with Baptism

Readings

• Isaiah 43:16-21
• John 12:1-8

What's on this week

Tuesday

• 11:00am to 1:00pm Mary and Isabel's Compassionate Cafe at the Parish Centre Hall Grove. All are welcome
• 7.30pm PCC

Wednesday

• 10:30am Morning Eucharist, followed by hot cross buns

Sunday

• 10am Palm Sunday Parish Eucharist with procession

Easter Services at St Mary Magdalene

Palm Sunday 13th April

10am Eucharist with the blessing of Palms and dramatised reading of the passion, with music and children's activities.

Maundy Thursday 17th April

8pm Liturgy of Maundy Thursday, with the stripping of the altar and watch night prayer at the altar of repose following the service until 10pm.

Good Friday 18th April

11am Gather on Howardsgate with Christians from across the garden city for prayer, song, and witness. Followed by Hot Cross Buns at the URC Church (opposite Sainsburys) 2pm The Liturgy of Good Friday with veneration of the cross

Holy Saturday 19th April

8pm at St Albans Cathedral - Easter Vigil and first Eucharist of Easter with Holy Baptism and Confirmations. Join us as we celebrate the first celebration of the Resurrection at the Cathedral and support our parish candidates as they are confirmed.

Easter Day 20th April

10am Eucharist with music and activities for children, followed by Easter Egg Hunt

Electoral Roll revision

The Church of England's Electoral Roll is a register of church members who are eligible to vote at the Parish's Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM), with individuals required to complete an application form to join or update their details during the revision or renewal period every six years. It is not a church 'membership' list, but rather entirely about eligibility to vote.

In 2025 there must be a complete renewal of the Electoral Roll, not just a revision. This means that every person, who wishes to have their name entered on the new Roll, whether you have previously been registered or not, must apply for enrolment.

Enrolment will close on Sunday 27th April and will be in effect at our APCM on Sunday 18th May.

Electoral Roll has now closed

A letter from Bishop Jane and Bishop Richard

Bishop Alan’s Retirement

Bishop Alan announced on 7 January that he would retire at the end of May this year after sixteen years as our Diocesan Bishop. He has led the Diocese with great faithfulness and inspiration as he has encouraged and enabled us to live God’s Love with generosity and joy, imagination and courage. Amongst his far-ranging contributions to the national church and public life has been his role in the House of Lords, where he has convened the Lord’s Spiritual.

We write to let you know about two things that are happening to mark Bishop Alan’s retirement.

Farewell Service

To celebrate his commitment and to say thank you there is to be a Farewell Service at our Cathedral at 3.00pm on Sunday 18 May. The service is open to all. It would be great if every parish/benefice could be represented at the service.

Diocesan Gift

We are intending to give Alan a gift from the Diocese to thank him for his episcopate and to wish him well as he moves to Wiltshire in retirement. If your PCC, or any individual, would like to contribute to this please pay your gift into this account:

• Account Name: St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance
• Account Number: 20776041
• Sort Code: 20-05-03
• Reference: BISH2025

(Please note that the use of the correct reference is vital, as without this funds will not be allocated correctly. Any funds submitted without a valid reference are automatically donated to the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal).

Bishop Alan encourages us, especially all licensed ministers, to join him for the Maundy Thursday Chrism Mass at the Cathedral at 11.00am on Thursday 17 April.

Once again, we give thanks for Bishop’s Alan’s ministry amongst us and hold him in prayer as he prepares to leave the Diocese.

+Jane, Bishop of Hertford and +Richard, Bishop of Bedford.