Parish News (Last updated 2nd March 2008  ) Easter Services added FLOODLIGHTING The sponsorship, at £10 per week, for the church floodlighting in 2007 has been fully subscribed which means that we can continue to floodlight the church every night. Events page updated The recent fund raising events have raised the total of the Roof repairs Appeal to over £42,000 still some way short of the expenditure of over £70,000 but efforts are still continuing. The Murder Mystery evening raised £750  and the Bedfordshire Choir Concert raised £474 Audrey Farrow held a very successful Bridge afternoon which netted £440. All these events provided much needed funds but more importantly were greatly enjoyed by all who attended them From the Treasurers desk. I am now looking to finalise the years accounts which end on December 31st 2006. I don't think that everyone is aware the Church cannot under the Church of England rules finance a deficit,the everyday operation must be financed by ordinary giving by the Parishioners This year our Budgeted cost are £36,410.00 or Per week £700.19. If you consider that in the vacancy  there have been no services or restricted services on some Sundays you will realise that breaking even is a difficult task. I am hoping that given fair weather in December and the generosity of the congregations during December we will achieve this. In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid we pray ... Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. This is one of the prayers from a new book out called 'Times and Seasons'. This book has been produced by the Church of England to provide parishes with resources to celebrate the times and seasons of the Christian year. The time and season we are joyfully expecting is Christmas. As youngsters I guess we all became more and more excited as the doors of our Advent Calendar were opened and the big day drew near. As adults we need to refresh ourselves sometimes with the excitement that Children have for Christmas, we sometimes have so much to do on our 'to do' list, shopping, visiting and cooking, writing cards and wrapping presents, attending work Christmas do's , and sorting out tradesmans' Christmas gratuities. Perhaps we need to say this prayer each day this Advent to remind us of the joyfulness of Advent and the celebration of the coming of the Son of God in the person of Jesus. Before you know it the time and season will have changed and by the time your next edition of Pax comes to you we will fast be approaching Lent ( in 2008 Lent begins on 6th February). And in joyful expectation of Shrove Tuesday, 5th February, don't forget to get into training for the now traditional Pancake race in St Ippolyts. How times fly as you grow older! Advent, Christmas, Pancake day and Lent, and yet as I write this it's still November! I pray that all of us will be as little children this Christmas, becoming excited and joyful. And that just as those first visitors, the shepherds, to that first nativity scene, had responded to the tidings of joy from visiting angels, so we may respond to the bells of our churches as they ring out the tidings of joy and with joyful hearts come and worship. This Christmas we need to be like children, excited, we need to be like shepherds and angels, telling others about what we have seen in the person of Jesus, but most of all we need to welcome that bundle of swaddling clothes into our lives today. There are all sorts of ways we can do this but they all start with the ending of my prayer 'Marantha' 'Come Lord Jesus'. Amen. Happy Christmas to you all from one 'excited and joyful' Reverend Ann.

Located in the village of St.Ippolyts near Hitchin and, serving the villages of St.Ippolyts, Gosmore and Langley, St.Ippolyts church has been a centre of worship for over 900 years. The church itself fared much better in the earthquake of 1298 which demolished St Mary's church in nearby Hitchin and actually benefited from the churches abandonment of Minsden chapel as some of the tracery work of the windows is said to have been 'appropriated' by the people of St.Ippolyts who were restoring their church in 1840 and were said to want a east window exactly like that of Minsden. As a village church St.Ippolyts seeks to minister to the communities it serves. It offers a variety of services to support people in their spiritual lives. Holy Communion is at the heart of our worship and is available in traditional and contemporary styles. There is also a lively All-age service every month which encourages people to worship God together irrespective of personal taste or age. As St.Ippolyts works in co-operation with the neighbouring parishes of Little and Great Wymondley it is able to offer also regular Evensong, Healing Services and Compline. St.Ippolyts church is in the village of St.Ippolyts about 2 miles south of Hitchin. To find it from Hitchin, take the B656 Welwyn road from Hitchin and it is visible on the left hand side. It is also possible to take the A602 from Hitchin and to turn right opposite Kingshott school, although this is an often busy, single track lane. Incidently, St.Ippolyts is a place name which is very prone to being misspelt. According to Daphne Rance in her book on the parish "St.Ippolyts: a country parish in the nineteenth century" (1987) at various times also known as Epolites, Pallets, Nipples or St Ibbs. In the same vein, the 1881 census mentions the following 28 place names, all of which are believed to refer to it. Iplits Ipolits Ipollitts Ipollyts Ipolytes Ipolyts Ippatyts Ipplits Ipployts Ipplyts Ippolett Ippoletts Ippolits Ippolitss Ippolits Ippolitss Ippolitts Ippollit Ippollits Ippollitts Ippollyts Ippollytts Ippololits Ippolts Ippolytis Ippolyts Ippolytts Ippoplitts. How ever it is spelt, St.Ippolyts offers a warm welcome to all in a wonderful setting.

St.Ippolyts Prayer Stay with us, Lord Today and tomorrow: Inspire all our doings Pardon our misdoings Protect us in peace. O Jesus the Christ Lord of Creation Yours is the way, the Truth and the Life Show us the Father Amen By Christopher Martin, former vicar of St.Ippolyts