St. Helen's Church

August News

St. Helen's — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:38:26 +0000

St Helen’s Church is right at the centre of the Great Hospital community and during Open Churches week the Church is open each day from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. We look forward to welcoming many visitors. Some come to see where ancestors were baptised, married or buried, others come for historical interest, some out of curiosity because they see an open door and can’ t resist exploring. Whatever the reason for their visit we know that they will find more than just an interesting building. St Helen’s has been a place of prayer and worship for over 700 years and it has soaked up those prayers like a sponge to become a haven of peace and tranquility for us today.

St Helen’s is still the heart of a lively Christian congregation who seek to live out their faith in worship and service and friendship and is a place where everyone is welcome.

NOTICES

14th August – Church Coffee Morning 10.00 am – 11.30 am in the Mackintosh Room

29th August – Guest Preacher on Sunday 29th August – Miss Susan March, Lay Reader

Open Churches Week

St. Helen's — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:32:01 +0000

Open Churches week runs from 31st July to 7th August 2010.

St Helen’s Church, one of the historic, medieval Churches of Norwich, will be open all week from Saturday 1st July until Saturday 7th August from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit Eagle Ward from 2nd to 6th August ( Monday – Friday), to see how the old chancel of the church was made into accomodation for residents of the Great Hospital. Eagle Ward has been preserved to give a glimpse of how residents lived in former days.

July Newsletter

St. Helen's — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:43:49 +0000

The bowling season is now in full swing and I am lookng forward not just to watching the Great Hospital team, but to having a go myself! It seems to me that bowls can be quite skilfull, especially if you can knock your opponent’s ball out of the way and take the point, even if they have made a good shot.

The real problem is that he bowls themselves have a bias and don’t run straight – rather like human nature. For all our best intentions, our lives often don’t run straight either. The good things we want to do, we often don’t do and the wrong things we don’t want to do, we often end up doing. As the Bible tells us…”Man (and woman) is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards.” For the bowler, the skill is to know the bias and to use it so that the bowl runs in the direction you want it to go. For human beings, the skill is to know that we are weak and to allow God’s loving Spirit to guide us and direct us…”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3 vs 3-4).

July News

St. Helen's — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:33:16 +0000

Church Coffee morning 3rd July from 10.00 to 11.30 in the Mackintosh Room.

Congratulations to Nick and Lyn Hall, who were married at St Helen’son 20th June

Quiet Day Retreat – for people with Aquired Brain Injury. Craft activities available, lovely gardens to enjoy, carers welcome. Led by Revd Kate Belcher and Revd Judith Wilson at the Great Hospital/St Helens on 10th July; 10.30-4.00. Drinks provided, bring your own lunch. To book contact Revd Kate Belcher 07708 650897, revkatebelcher@yahoo.co.uk.

May News

St. Helen's — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:32:11 +0000

The emblem of the Great Hospital is the seal of Bishop Walter de Suffield, who founded the community in 1249. The Great Hospital is a special place – in medieval times there were hundreds of similar foundations – but all disappeared with the dissolution of the monastic houses. Bishop Walter’s foundation has changed radically over the years and he would no doubt be amazed to the modern ‘Great Hospital’ with its varied types of accommodation and levels of care. I like to think that he might be pleased with the way his creation has grown and adapted to the needs of the people of Norwich, far outstripping his original vision.

This month we remember and celebrate Bishop Suffield and give thanks for his foundation in the annual Spital service at St Helen’s church. Traditionally the service has been based around the Spital Sermon, given by a guest preacher – this year by Bishop James Langstaff, Bishop of Lynn – but most of all it is an opportunity to give thanks for our community, and for all the people who belong to it, whether residents, staff or trustees. Privately the service also gives each of us the opportunity to remember our own story and our own journey here in moments of quiet reflection.

On Wednesday 12th April at 3.30 pm we will hold the annual Spital service. May it be a special time for us to celebrate our history and our community together.

Judith