Welcome

                       Photo large of St Johns Church

 

 

Please click on the link below to watch an aerial video of the church and listen to our bells.

Drone photography courtesy of https://www.upaerial.co.uk

 

Welcome, and thank you for visiting our website.

Our church is situated in the picturesque village of Lemsford, close to Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City and opposite Brocket Hall

We warmly welcome all visitors to our church and we would love you to come to one of our services or events.  We hope that you find what you are looking for in these pages, but if you have any questions and would like to speak to someone about the church, please do contact one of the team members listed in the Who's Who and Contacts page.

We look forward to seeing you.

 
__________________________



WHAT'S ON AT ST JOHN'S IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AT A GLANCE

   

     
  • Thursday 5th February
    • 10am - Morning Prayer
       
  • Sunday 8th February
    • 11am - Holy Communion with Sunday Club
       
  • Tuesday 10th February
    • 2:30-4pm Friendship Tea
       
  • Thursday 12th February
    • 10am - No Morning Prayer
       
  • Sunday 15th February
    • 8am - Holy Communion (BCP)
    • 11am - Reflective Worship
       
  • Wednesday 18th February
    • 10am Ash Wednesday Holy Communion at St Johns
    • 7pm Ash Wednesday Holy Communion at St Michaels
       
  • Thursday 19th February
    • 10am - No Morning Prayer
* Children are welcome at all our services, but these services and events are especially suitable for families and children (as well as people of all other ages!)
 


    • Readings 

     Second Sunday before Lent

   First Reading: Romans 7:14-25  - to read click here (opens in new window or new tab)

Gospel: Matthew 6:25-end - to read click here (opens in new window or new tab)

 


CAR PARKING

Because car parking at the church is becoming difficult, we are  opening up the school playground on Sunday mornings for everyone to use.  The playground is at the back of the school, and is large enough to accommodate about 30 cars.  Please do use this area to park in, but take extra care when exiting into the street as cars do tend to speed up and down the hill.
 

The Guest Preacher at 11 am this Sunday the 11th February is Claire Banham
This Sunday, as part of our usual Communion service led by Revd Kathryn, we are pleased to welcome Claire Banham as our guest preacher. Claire is Director of The Haven, a Christian charity focused on strengthening young people’s mental resilience. She also has many years’ experience leading youth work in churches and with Hertfordshire youth charity the 267project.

Claire is a Licensed Reader in the Church of England and a highly regarded coach. She will be preaching on Romans 7:14–25, exploring the theme of finding peace in our lives. We warmly encourage you to join us this Sunday, for what promisees to be an excellent sermon!



Tuesday 10th February 2:30-4pm Friendship Tea


 




Ash Wednesday Service(s)  – 18th February

Two opportunities to pause, reflect and mark the beginning of Lent. 
All welcome - always.



 



 Coming Soon… Lent Course & Retreat: Many Paths, One Way



This Lent, you’re invited to explore  different Christian spiritual traditions and how they can deepen our everyday faith — including Celtic, Franciscan, Charismatic and Ignatian spirituality, alongside the words of the Book of Common Prayer.

Everyone is welcome whether you attend church regularly or are exploring faith.
There are two ways to take part:
📅 Weekly Lent Course
Wednesdays (5 weeks) from 25th February
☕ 9.45am coffee | 📖 10.00–11.00am
📍 St Michael’s Church, Birchwood

OR

🌾 Half-Day Lent Retreat
🗓 Saturday 7 March, 
9.30am–12.30pm
📍 St John’s Church, Lemsford (Annexe)

The theme will be introduced at our Ash Wednesday services on 18th February. We’d love to see you - but you don’t need to attend to join the course or retreat.
✨ Many paths. One way. Join us on the journey!
 




 

A Season of Exploring Faith – Spring 2026

Later this spring we’ll be entering a season of exploring Christian faith together.

Over several weeks we’ll be reflecting on some of the central questions of Christian belief. This season is for those who have been part of church for many years, as well as those who are newer, returning, or simply curious.

There will be opportunities to explore further in different settings and at different depths.


Sunday Series

Across four Sundays, we’ll be exploring four key different themes of Christianity together, with sermons shaped to speak to people at every stage of faith.

  • Sunday 26th April

  • Sunday 3th May – All-age service

  • Sunday 10th May

  • Sunday 17th May (to be confirmed)


Christian Explorer Sessions

Adults & Older Teenagers

Christian Explorer Morning (one-off session)
A relaxed, informal space to further explore some of the key elements of the Christian faith, ask questions, and talk things through.

  • Saturday 9 May

  • 9.30am–12.30pm

  • St John’s Church, Lemsford

If you think you might like to attend this session, please let Revd Kathryn know by 31 March:
📧
revkathrynalford@gmail.com
 

OR

Christian Explorer (weekly evening course)

  • Starts: Monday 13 April

  • Time: 7.00pm

  • Location: St Etheldreda’s Church, Old Hatfield (led by Fr Darren & Revd Indira)


School Children (Year 6 and Upwards)

School-Based Christian Explorer
A gentle introduction to Christian faith, run in a school setting.

  • Dates: 28 April | 5 May | 12 May | 2 June

  • Location: St John’s School

Children who wish to be confirmed (with parental permission) will be invited to a short, all-age confirmation preparation conversation (see below).


Confirmation

Confirmation is optional.
For those who choose to take that step, confirmation will take place at the cathedral on the evening of
Saturday 23 May 2026.

A short, confirmation-focused preparation conversation will be offered for all ages at 11.30am on Saturday 9 May, bringing together adults and young people who are choosing to go ahead.

There is no expectation that everyone who explores faith during this season will want to be confirmed.
 


The new parish magazine is out.
 
This edition contains the usual amazing articles from our regular contributors Rev Kathryn, Jo Holyfield, Michelle Boylan, Geoffrey Hollis and Andy Chapman. As well as that, there's a new cartoon for the inside back page and a little on Friedrich Nietzsche and more.  Download or get your printed copy of the magazine in church.

Printed copies will be in church from today (Sunday) and also available to our deliverance team.

To download the pdf copy click here.









Exciting News! Dan Ide will be joining us at St John’s and St Michael’s as a full-time stipendiary curate
We’re delighted to share that Daniel (Dan) Ide will be joining us at St John’s and St Michael’s as a full-time stipendiary curate from July 2026. 🙌🏼
Dan is currently training for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and we can’t wait to welcome him — and to share in this next stage of his journey with God.
Please keep Dan in your prayers over the coming months as he completes his studies and prepares to begin his curacy here with us. 🙏🏽



 



THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE
What are your gifts and skills? How might you help St John’s flourish?

Last Sunday, Revd Kathryn shared some simple ways we can all play a part in church life. From welcoming at the door to helping with refreshments, music, or tech — every role makes a difference.

You can explore the lists here:
👉 Sign-up link

Feel free to add your name online or on the paper versions in church. Thank you!


 
 

THE YEAR OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND WELLBEING
This year, St Albans Diocese invites us all to embark on a journey of reconnecting with our faith and discovering the renewing life of the Holy Spirit. There’s a wonderful new website full of opportunities, including retreats, quiet days (some specially for churchwardens), pilgrimage walks, talks, online accompanied prayer weeks, courses, and a special summer Cathedral celebration.

You’ll also find resources for prayer, as well as helpful guidance to care for your own wellbeing.

Why not take a look? You can book events directly, but if something catches your eye and you’d like some company, let us know, and we can see if others would like to join in too.

Visit: year.stalbansdiocese.org


 

'IOO CLUB' JANUARY DRAW WINNERS

The winning numbers of the November '100 Club' Draw were:

1st prize:  Number 63    £90.90
2nd prize:  Number 12  £54.54
3rd prize:  Number 34  £36.36

To join the 100 Club contact please Nigel.




FOOD BANK

Our local Food Bank at the New Zion Christian Fellowship church would appreciate receiving donations of food and other things from us now and all year round. It would be wonderful if you could support them by bringing various things in on Sunday mornings, and placing them in the big plastic box which will be placed in the porch. The sort of things the Food Bank would like to receive are:
  • All food with good sell by dates (tins of fruit and veg, jams, packets of cereal, coffee, tea, long life milk and so on)
  • Toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner and toilet rolls
  • Cleaning products (kitchen and bathroom cleaners etc)

We are asked not to donate clothes.

Nigel will arrange to take our offerings to the New Zion church every Wednesday morning.




COULD YOU BE A ST JOHN'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION GOVERNOR?

St John’s school currently has a vacancy for a Foundation Governor. Foundation Governors are nominated by the PCC, represent the Church of England on the Board, and help ensure that the Christian ethos of the school is maintained.
 
Please pray and think about whether you - or someone you know - would make a great governor. They don’t need to be a member of St John’s church, but would need to be able to fulfil the role description above.

As a governor myself, I promise you that it’s an extremely rewarding (and often fun) role, and is manageable alongside other responsibilities.

Please contact me if you’re interested.

Rev Kathryn





CHURCH GIVING

Many of us are happiest giving cash rather than scanning QR codes or tapping payment cards or smartphones.
But, if you like the QR Code, you can point your Smartphone’s camera or QR app at it, and it will let you give, or from your PC/Mac you can just click this link: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/10cd954f-25f7-46d9-8813-634634729bfa.    You can also give via the new (easy to use) card payment device – both at the back of the church - these donations go to St Johns funds.  We are planning to make the QR Codes easily accessible from the pews too



Please sign up for a spot in the Cleaning Rota

Still slots to fill!

More volunteers are needed to help us. All the  materials you'll need are provided. All that we need is your time!

Let's spread this load between us all!! Please contact the churchwardens if you would like to take a turn with cleaning. 
You can choose a date that suits you!
 
  

 

 HOME INSURANCE

If you need to take out, or renew, a home insurance policy, please think of using Ecclesiastical Insurance as they will donate £130 to the church through their Trust 130 Promotion.  All you need to do is to say that the donation is to go to St John's Church, Lemsford.  Find out more at www.ecclesiastical.com/trust130 or call their team on 0800 783 0130 and quote Trust 130.

 


 

2026 PCC meeting dates


2nd February 2026 at 7.15 pm

20th April at 7.15 pm

APCM - 10th May at 12 noon

 


  


    

 

 


PLEASE CAN YOU HELP

 

WE COULD REALLY DO WITH YOUR FINANCIAL HELP IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING IF YOU CAN TO SUPPORT OUR CHURCH AND OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

EITHER

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR QUICK DONATION PAGE

CLICK HERE


  OR

ALTERNATIVELY WE CAN NOW RECEIVE DONATIONS VIA TEXT MESSAGE BY TEXTING THE WORD LEMSFORD FOLLOWED BY A SPACE AND THEN AN AMOUNT OF YOUR DONATION, TO 70085.  FOR EXAMPLE, TO GIVE £5 TYPE LEMSFORD 5, TO GIVE £10 TYPE LEMSFORD 10.  THEN SIMPLY SEND YOUR TEXT TO 70085.  TEXTS WILL COST YOUR DONATION AMOUNT PLUS ONE STANDARD RATE MESSAGE.

MANY THANKS

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

IMPORTANT REQUEST TO REGULAR GIVERS FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

If regular givers would prefer to make their payments by bank transfer, the bank details of the church are:

HSBC Bank.  Sort Code: 40-46-08 A/C No: 51431609

Many thanks

 

 

 

Choir practice every Sunday at 9.45 am 

Bell ringing practice every Monday evening at 7.30 pm

 

 

To email us either click the button below or go to the Who's who and Contacts page and click on the person you would like to contact.  Alternatively please use the form at the bottom of the Who's who and Contacts page.