Tuesday morning’s Coffee and Cake sessions are now online. We are getting together virtually by Zoom on Tuesdays from 10:30am to 12:00noon. Contact Barbara Sheard at barbara@sheard.com, preferably a day or so beforehand, to ask for joining details for this week’s Café Zoom. You’ll need to make your own coffee…and bring your own cake!
Wednesday Podcasts
Tired of Woman’s Hour? Fed up with The Archers? Do you find yourself shouting at The Today Programme? Then you need the Berkhamsted Team Worship Wednesday Podcast!
Every Wednesday a ‘podcast’ is published on the Services page. It’s simply a radio programme on the internet, it’s no more difficult to tune in to than switching on your kitchen radio! The advantage is that you can listen at any time from 10am on Wednesday. After a few days it will then be accessible on the Services Archive page.
The programme is usually 15 to 20 minutes in length. The theme of each programme is centred on festivals and saints’ days in the church calendar. So far, we’ve heard about St Swithun, Mary Magdalene, and lately, Florence Nightingale. The Collect for the day, and the appointed Psalm are always included, along with a Bible reading, before a short homily or contemplation by the Vicar, or one of our Readers. We always begin and end with music.
Don’t be scared of ‘podcasts’… they are your friend! POD = ‘programme on demand’… it’s just like catching up with your favourite programme on the BBC iPlayer. If you want to comment or complain about the content, just add your thoughts to the comments section on the Services page of the website.
Jonathan Kempster
Midweek Discussion Group on Zoom
The Midweek Discussion Group meeting via Zoom on Wednesday evenings are restarting.
The sessions start with a general welcome chat to hear how everyone is getting on, then some discussion often centred around a Bible passage, with a short time of prayer at the end. Everyone will be considered to be fully present if they have signed in, but there is no need to say or share anything. You can spend the whole time ‘mute’ if you wish!
There are the usual protocols about confidentiality, as anything shared must be respected as being confidential to the group. All are welcome, but if inviting others please contact Anthony first.
The next series of ‘meetings’ are as follows:
26 August Pacifism and the Just War Theory
2 September Some Women in the Old Testament
9 September Some Women in the New Testament
16 September Philippians 1
23 September Philippians 2
30 September Philippians 3
7 October Philippians 4
Sign is at 19.55 hrs and the sessions end at 9.30pm sharp. The Zoom invitation is sent a few days beforehand, usually with some background material.
Please remember that the church continues to function even with the buildings closed, so we do ask that you continue with your regular financial giving to support the ministry. If you normally give weekly in church, you may like to consider paying direct through your bank account. Click or tap here to visit the Donate Page to find out more.
Do you need any Financial Help?
If you, or anyone you know, is in financial difficulty, the Vicar has access to a hardship fund. Please feel free to contact him in the strictest of confidence on 01442 214898 or at vicar@littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk.
New Video and Audio Recordings
There are high definition video and high quality audio recordings of this week’s services on the Services Archive page.
The stonemasons have been working this week to take out the inner stone arch in the doorway between the church and the Ambulatory. This enlarging of the doorway will allow a higher and wider opening, and, with the new floor level being raised, a much easier access from the church to the Hall, particularly for wheelchair users.
The relieving arch over the top
The doorway with the old arch removed
The new stone arch on the Ambulatory side is local clunch stone freshly quarried from Totternhoe. After removing the old stone the masons found a relieving arch built into the flint wall. This gives structural support within the wall over the opening, so the stonework we see on the church side is only a facing to the flintwork, and a portion of the arch over is just a render skin to the flints! However, the new stone arch on the Ambulatory side will be reassuringly structural.
