Reflections Blog

As we progress through the Easter Season the traditional Easter Greeting to everyone is;

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting for St Ippolyts Church is today following the 9.30am service.

Services and Events in the near future in the Benefice of St Ippolyts with Great and Little Wymondley

Monday 27^th April 12.30pm                                    Funeral of George McPhee RIP at St John’s Cemetery Chapel, Hitchin.

Wednesday 29th  April 11:00am                            Holy Communion at St Ippolyts Church

Friday 1^st May 11:00am                                          Toddlers’ service at St Ippolyts Church

Saturday 2nd May  2.30pm onwards,                    Spring Fair at Gosmore Care home. Please support this event. The funds raised will be used for social activities for the residents.

Wednesday 6^th May 7.45pm, St Mary’s Hitchin.   The Archdeacons visitation service when our Churchwardens are ‘sworn in’ come along and support them.

Thursday 7^{th  May}                                                                 Don’t forget to Vote!!

Thursday 7^th May 12noon Luton Crematorium.   Funeral of Margaret Wines RIP

Sunday 10^th May 3:00pm in St Ippolyts Church   A concert given by Jayne Mason and Friends. (More details will follow)

Wednesday 13^th May 7:30pm                                 Baptism Preparation Evening at the Vicarage 

Sunday 3^rd May Services

8:00am Holy Communion at St Ippolyts Church

09.30am Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church, Little Wymondley

11:00am Baptism and Parish Praise at St Ippolyts. Please remember Joshua and his Godparents on this special day.

3:30pm Baptisms in St Ippolyts Church. Kirk-Sam, Klark-Anakin,Stanley and Teddy.

Please remember all of them in your prayers, thank you.

Christian Aid Quiz Night at Christchurch on Saturday 9 May at 7.30pm. Fish/sausage and chip supper or vegetarian option. Tickets £10, no food £4. Teams of 6-8 encouraged. Tickets available from Sue (452985) or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Taizé service at St Mark's As part of its celebration of St Mark's Day, St Mark's church is having a Taizé service today at 6.30pm.  This will include Taizé chants led by the choir, a reflection by Margaret Johnson of St Mary's, Pirton, and time for quiet devotion.  Members of all churches are very welcome to attend.

Holy Saviour Church: Sunday 10 May at 3.00pm. "Church Secrets - what to look for: with particular reference to Holy Saviour" - A talk by Richard Taylor, TV presenter and author of "How to read a church" Admission £8, including refreshments . For tickets and further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tel 01462 646257.

Seeround is out now on line. The Diocesan Magazine ‘Seeround’, is for all of us. It is now available on line.  To sign up (no charge) go to www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/seeround

See our St Ippolyts website for lots of up to date news and articles

www.stippolytschurch.org.uk

As we progress through the Easter Season the traditional Easter Greeting to everyone is;

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

BIBLE STUDY GROUP

The Bible Study Group will resume meetings on Wednesday 22nd April.  We meet from 2.30pm. till 3.30pm. at Oakhurst (behind Kingshott School) home of Margaret Edmonds.  We will be continuing our study of St. Luke's Gospel.  If you would like to join the group please contact Margaret Edmonds (01462-452340) or Clare Larsen (01462-453541).

SEEROUND

The Diocesan Magazine ‘Seeround’ is for all of us. It is now available on line. To sign up (no charge) go to www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/seeround

GENERAL ELECTION MEETING

General Election meeting at Christchurch, Hitchin 7.30 pm on Wednesday 22 April. Churches Together in Hitchin (CTH) is arranging a hustings at which candidates for the Hitchin and Harpenden constituency will respond to questions put by members of churches.  So that the meeting will have a good structure, CTH would like to gather questions ahead of the date so if you would like to put one, please submit it by the end of Sunday 19 April to John Richardson - 01462 435595 or 07505 426876 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

Annual Parochial Church Meeting for St Ippolyts Church will be on Sunday 26^th April 10.45am in St Ippolyt Church following on from the 9.30am service. Please make every good effort to attend this important meeting

OUR CHURCH WEB SITE

See our St Ippolyts website for lots of up to date news and articles www.stippolytschurch.org.uk

SERVICES & EVENTS

Services and Events in the near future in the Benefice of St Ippolyts with Great and Little Wymondley

Monday 20^th 6pm St Ippolyts Parish Hall  – the Cub group AGM

Tuesday 21^st April 12.30pm Harwood Park Crematorium Funeral of Ronald Standley RIP

Wednesday 22^nd  11am Holy Communion at St Ippolyts

Wednesday 25^th April ‘Fair in the Square’ in Hitchin Market Square. A fair to support all our local Primary schools including St Ippolyts and Wymondley schools.

Monday 27^th April 12.30pm Funeral of George McPhee RIP at St John’s Cemetery Chapel, Hitchin.

Saturday May 2^nd 2.30pm onwards, Spring Fair at Gosmore Care home. Please support this event. The funds raised will be used for social activities for the residents.

THREE NOTICES FROM "CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HITCHIN"

1. Christian Aid Quiz Night at Christchurch on Saturday 9 May at 7.30pm. Fish/sausage and chip supper or vegetarian option. Tickets £10, no food £4. Teams of 6-8 encouraged. Tickets available from Sue (452985) or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2. Taizé service at St Mark's As part of its celebration of St Mark's Day, St Mark's church is having a Taizé service at 6.30pm on Sunday 26 April.  This will include Taizé chants led by the choir, a reflection by Margaret Johnson of St Mary's, Pirton, and time for quiet devotion.  Members of all churches are very welcome to attend.

3. Holy Saviour Church: Sunday 10 May at 3.00pm. "Church Secrets - what to look for: with particular reference to Holy Saviour" - A talk by Richard Taylor, TV presenter and author of "How to read a church" Admission £8, including refreshments . For tickets and further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tel 01462 646257.

The traditional Easter Greeting to everyone is;

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Once again many thanksto everyone who helped in any way to make our churches look so beautiful over Easter.

Seeround

The April edition of Seeround is out now on line. The Diocesan Magazine ‘Seeround’ is for all of us. It is now available on line.

To sign up (no charge) go to www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/seeround

Prayer Group

Prayer group meeting on 13^th April will be held at 8pm at 64 Westwood Avenue Hitchin and NOT at 9 Langbridge close as stated in PAX

General Election meeting

This is at Christchurch, Hitchin 7.30 pm on Wednesday 22 April.

Churches Together in Hitchin (CTH) is arranging a hustings at which candidates for the Hitchin and Harpenden constituency will respond to questions put by members of churches.  So that the meeting will have a good structure, CTH would like to gather questions ahead of the date so if you would like to put one, please submit it by the end of Sunday 19 April to John Richardson - 01462 435595 or 07505 426876 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Services and Events in the near future in the Benefice of St Ippolyts with Great and Little Wymondley

Wednesday 15^th 9.30am Harwood Park Crematorium Funeral – Hugh Russell RIP

Wednesday 15^th 11am Holy Communion at St Ippolyts

Wednesday 15th 2.30pm St Ippolyts Church – Thanksgiving Service for the life of Hugh Russell RIP

Friday 17^th April 11.30am Memorial service in St Mary’s Church,  Little Wymondley for Phyllis Allardice RIP, followed by Burial of her ashes in the churchyard.

Sunday 19^th April services

8.00 am Holy Communion St Ippolyts

9.30am Holy Communion with baptism St Ippolyts

Please remember Ferne, her parents and God parents, in your prayers as they prepare for this special day

11.00 am Parish Praise St Mary’s Little Wymondley

3.30pm Burial of Ashes in St Ippolyts Churchyard of Alan Rowan Robinson RIP.

No Service in Great Wymondley on 19^th April

12.30 Tuesday 21^st April 12.30pm Harwood Park Crematorium Funeral of Ronald Standley RIP.

Annual Parochial Church Meetings:  

St Mary’s Great Wymondley today, 12^th April at 10.45am following on from the 9.30am service.

St Ippolyts Sunday 26^th April 10.45am following on from the 9.30am service

Please make every good effort to attend these important meetings

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

We extend our thanks today to The Revd Diane Fitzgerald Clark, for leading us through the services from Maundy Thursday to today, Easter Day.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped in any way to make our churches look so beautiful for this special day.

And thanks to all who helped at our Good Friday Worship and workshop in

St Ippolyts Parish Hall. All 31 adults and 19 children thoroughly enjoyed the activities and worship.

And thank you to all who helped and all who came to our Lent Lunches in St Ippolyts Parish Hall. The grand total raised was £551.64, (Actually we raised £641.64 as another £90 was raised last Wednesday!! M.S.H)  to be divided between the Missionary Charity ‘Us’ and Research into Motor Neurone Disease. Thank you.

Other notices

Seeround.

The April edition of Seeround is out now on line. The Diocesan Magazine ‘Seeround’, is for all of us. It is now available on line. To sign up (no charge) go to www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/seeround

General Election meeting

At Christchurch, Hitchin 7.30 pm on Wednesday 22 April. Churches Together in Hitchin (CTH) is arranging a hustings at which candidates for the Hitchin and Harpenden constituency will respond to questions put by members of churches.  So that the meeting will have a good structure, CTH would like to gather questions ahead of the date so if you would like to put one, please submit it by the end of Sunday 19 April to John Richardson - 01462 435595 or 07505 426876 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">

Services and Events in the near future in the Benefice of St Ippolyts with Great and Little Wymondley

Wednesday 8^th April – there will NOT be a service today.

Thursday 9^th April 1.45pm at Luton Crematorium, funeral of John Dyer RIP.

Thursday 9^th 7pm Little Wymondley PCC meet at the Vicarage

Wednesday 15^th 9.30am Harwood Park Crematorium Funeral – Hugh Russell RIP

Wednesday 15^th 11am Holy Communion at St Ippolyts

Wednesday 15th 2.30pm St Ippolyts Church – Thanksgiving Service for the life of Hugh Russell RIP

Friday 17^th April 11.30am Memorial service in St Mary’s Church,  Little Wymondley for Phyllis Allardice RIP, followed by Burial of her ashes in the churchyard.

Tuesday 21^st April 12.30pm Harwood Park Crematorium Funeral of Ronald Standley RIP

Annual Parochial Church Meetings:  

St Mary’s Great Wymondley Sunday 12^th April at 10.45am following on from the 9.30am service.

St Ippolyts Sunday 26^th April 10.45am following on from the 9.30am service

( there is still time to make sure you are on the church electoral roll for St Ippolyts and to nominate people for places on PCC or as Churchwardens. The nominations board is up at the back of the church.)

Please make every good effort to attend these important meetings

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">

SSSSSSSSSSSShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shall I tell you something? There’s to be an election next month? Oh did you already know?

 Like me no doubt, you have become a little tired of the same old subjects being talked about over and over again, promises, promises, all we have to do is vote on the big judgement day and everything will be just as we would like it to be.

Well maybe not, but even so I do hope you will use your democratic right and place a cross against someone’s name on 7^th May. For if you don’t vote you will have no good reason to complain about the next government! Enough of my election soapbox.

This month of April begins with the wonderful days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Day, when once again we hear the same old subjects being talked about, Jesus washing his disciples feet, to show he came to serve others, Jesus sharing bread and wine with his friends and leaving us with a lasting memorial that week by week is re-presented in churches throughout the world, and Jesus having a cross placed against him and dying for you and me so that when the great Judgement day comes everything will be just as God would like it to be.

At our Easter Eve service in St Mary’s Great Wymondley the exclamation will be made;     

                                                                     ‘Alleluia Christ is risen!’ and everyone will reply ‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’   

The words have been said and sung over and over again at so many Easter Services but unlike election manifestos and party politics, the words ‘Alleluia Christ is risen!’ are words I never tire of hearing. God’s promise has been kept, love has conquered even death itself.

This time of year sees us busy in our gardens, the birds sing out, the hedges and trees come into leaf and the sound of the lawnmower is heard! Oh to be in England on a lovely spring day. Some of you will know that every Sunday afternoon I sit down and listen to gardener’s question time. Again and again the same subjects come up, the seed packets promise us success everytime, but we of course know differently. And how do you deal with slugs, expensive copper bands on the ornamental pots, grit around the hostas or special ‘slug pubs buried in the ground.  No, what they need is one of my ‘girlies’, there’s a whole new meaning to a hen party. Maybe that’s one party I would vote for!

I like to think my ‘girlies’ know the true meaning of Easter, their eggsclamation everyday, if we could just translate it, is I am sure, ‘Alleluia Christ is risen! (the vicar’s woken up and our food is on it’s way’).

I hope you will join in theirs and my song this Easter, at one of our churches, for as St Augustine sung all those years ago ‘We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song’.

Much love

Reverend Ann