As hundreds of thousands of people are on the move across the world, Christians remember that Mary and Joseph had to make a perilous journey to meet bureaucrats’ demands.
Jesus was born in temporary accommodation likely to have failed any health inspector’s visit, and then had to flee with his family to a foreign country to escape death.
It’s a very modern story that could have come from today’s headlines. Yet it’s also a story for all times.
In a few short days, Christians will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God with us. Churches across the district invite you to join in the celebrations this Christmas time.
Revd Peter Crumpler
Curate, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge
December 20
8am - Holy Communion, St Stephen’s Church, Watling Street, St Albans
9.30am - Holy Communion, St Julian’s Church, Abbots Avenue, St Albans
9.30am - All ages Holy Communion, St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Street, St Albans
9.30am - Christmas service, Vineyard Church, 7 Brick Knoll Park, St Albans
10am - Nine Lessons and carols, Forest Town Church, The Venue, Lyon Way, St Albans
10am - Parish communion and Nativity, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans
10.15am - Carols and readings, Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, Sherwood Avenue, St Albans
10.30am - Children’s Nativity, High Street Methodist Church, High Street, Harpenden
10.30am - Traditional carol service, The Salvation Army, Victoria Street, St Albans
10.30am - Alternativity, St Paul’s Church, Hatfield Road/Blandford Road, St Albans
10.30am - Creative Nativity service for all ages, Marlborough Road Methodist Church, Marlborough Road, St Albans
11am - Carol service, Flamstead Methodist Church, Trowley Hill Road, Flamstead
11am - Nativity, St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green, Harpenden
11.30am - Morning praise Nativity, St Nicholas Church, Church Green, Harpenden
11.30am - Christmas service, Vineyard Church, St Albans
3pm - Crib service, Chiswell Green United Reformed Church, Watford Road, Chiswell Green
3pm - Carol service, Southdown Methodist Church, 130a Southdown Road, Harpenden
4pm - Carols by candlelight, Holy Trinity Chuch, 37 Frogmore, St Albans
4pm - Carol tea, Trinity United Reformed Church, 1 Beaconsfield Road, Harpenden
4pm - Carol service, Ridgeway Church, at Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans
4.30pm - Carol service, Ashley Church, Ashley Road, St Albans
4.30pm - Carols by candlelight, Thirlmere Church, 153 Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans
4.30pm - Carol service, Gaddesden Row Methodist Church, Gaddesden Row, Jockey End
5pm - Carols by candlelight, St Peter’s Church, Riverside, London Colney
5pm - Carols by candlelight, Crabtree Church, 139 Crabtree Lane, Harpenden
6pm - Carols for all by candlelight, Harpenden United Reformed Church, Vaughan Road, Harpenden
6pm - Traditional carol service, St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans
6pm - Carols by candleligh, St Leonard’s Church, Church End, Sandridge
6pm - ‘See you in Bethlethem’, family carols, Marshalswick Baptist Free Church
6pm - Nine Lessons, St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green
6.30pm - Carol service, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans
6.30pm - Candlelit carol service, St Luke’s Church, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans
6.30pm - Nine Lessons carols, All Saints Church, Station Road, Harpenden
6.30pm - Carol service, Chiswell Green United Reformed Church
6.30pm - Evening carol service, Dagnall Street Baptist Church, Upper Dagnall Street, St Albans
10.30am - Carols by candlelight, St Paul’s Church, St Albans
6.30pm - Carols by candlelight, High Street Methodist Church, High Street, Harpenden
6.30pm - Nine Lessons and carols, St Michael’s Church, St Michael’s Street, St Albans
6.30pm - Carol service, St Peter and St Paul, Church Lane, Kimpton
6.30pm - Choir carol service, Homewood Road United Reformed Church, Homewood Road, St Albans
6.30pm - Parish carol service, St Mary’s Marshalswick, 1 Sherwood Avenue, St Albans
6.30pm - Nine Lessons carol service, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
7pm - Carol service, Hatfield Road Methodist Church, 133b Hatfield Road, St Albans
7pm - Traditional service of readings and carols, St Helen’s Church, High Street, Wheathampstead
7.30pm - Christmas carol service, St Mark’s Church, Church Lane, Colney Heath
December 21
7.30pm - Service of reconciliation, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Rothamsted Avenue, Harpenden
December 22
4pm - Christingle service for children, Marlborough Road Methodist Church, St Albans
December 24
2.30pm - Family carol service, St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans
2.30pm - Crib service, St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green
3pm - Christingle, High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden
3pm - Children’s crib service, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge
3pm - Crib service, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
3pm - Crib service, St Peter and St Paul, Kimpton
3pm - Crib service, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
3pm - Crib service, St Saviour’s Church, St Albans
3.30pm - Crib service, St Paul’s, St Albans
4pm - Children’s crib service, Christ Church, Watling Street, Radlett
4pm - Family crib service, Homewood Road URC, St Albans
4pm - Stations of the Nativity, St John the Baptist C of E Church, St John’s Road, Harpenden
4pm - Christingle and crib service, St Peter’s Church, London Colney
4pm - Crib service, St Julian’s Church, St Albans
4pm - All age carol service, St Mark’s Church, Church Lane, Colney Heath
4pm - Crib service, St Michael’s Church, St Albans
4pm - Crib service, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans
4.15pm - Crib service, St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead
4.30pm - Crib Service, All Saints Church, Harpenden4.30pm - Family crib service, St John’s Church, Radlett
4.30pm - Crib service, St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green
5pm - Christingle, High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden
5pm - Crib service, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
5pm - Crib service, St Paul’s, St Albans
5pm - Children’s crib service, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge
5pm - First Mass of Christmas, SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church, 14 Beaconsfield Road, St Albans
5pm - Carols and candlelight servuce, Vineyard Church, St Albans
5pm - Crib service and Nativity play, St Mary Marshalswick, St Albans
5.30pm - Reflective service sung by Abbey Girls Choir, St Albans Cathedral
6.30pm - Family candlelight service, Christ Church, Radlett
6.30pm - Candlelit carol service, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
7pm - Service of Holy Communion, Marlborough Road Methodist Church, St Albans
7pm - Carols and candlelight servuce, Vineyard Church, St Albans
7pm - Family Mass, SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church, St Albans
8.45pm - Candlelit service of song, readings and prayer, Christ Church, Vaughan Road, Harpenden
9pm - Italian Mass, SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church, St Albans
11pm - Midnight Communion with carols, St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead
11pm - Midnight Communion, St Luke’s Church, St Albans
11pm - Midnight Mass, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
11pm - Midnight Mass, St Mary Marshalswick, St Albans
11.15pm - Late night Holy Communion, Hatfield Road Methodist Church, St Albans
11.15pm - Midnight Communion, High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, All Saints Church, Harpenden
11.30pm - Midnight Communion, St Paul’s, St Albans
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Saviour’s Church, St Albans
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Peter’s Church, London Colney
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green
11.30pm - Midnight Communion, Christ Church, Radlett
11.30pm - First Communion of Christmas, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge
11.30pm - Christmas Communion by candlelight, Homewood Road URC, St Albans
11.30pm - First Eucharist of Christmas (Midnight Mass), St John the Baptist C of E Church, Harpenden
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Michael’s Church, St Albans
11.30pm - Christmas Eve Communion, Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, St Albans
11.30pm - Carol singing followed by Midnight Mass, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Harpenden
11.30pm - Carols and Midnight Mass, SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church, St Albans
11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St Albans Cathedral
December 25
8am - Christmas family Communion, Christ Church, Radlett
8am - Eucharist with carols, St Albans Cathedral
8am - Christmas Eucharist, St John the Baptist C of E Church, Harpenden
8am - Holy Communion on Christmas Day, St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead
8.30am - Holy Communion, St Mark’s, Colney Heath
9am - Christmas family service, Forest Town Church, St Albans
9.30am - Family service, Chiswell Green URC
9.30am - Family Mass, SS Albans and Stephen Catholic Church, St Albans
8am - Christmas celebration with Communion, St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead
8am - Holy Communion, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
8am - Traditional Communion service, St Paul’s, St Albans
8am - Holy Communion, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
8am - Low Mass, St Saviour’s Church, St Albans
8am - Holy Communion, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans
8am - Holy Communion, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
9.30am - Parish Eucharist, St Albans Cathedral
9.30am - Communion and carols, St Michael’s Church, St Albans
9.30am - Sung Eucharist, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
9.30am - Christmas Eucharist, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
9.30am - All age Communion service, St Mark’s, Colney Heath
9.30am - Festal Eucharist with carols, St Saviour’s Church, St Albans
10am - Service for Christmas Day, Harpenden URC
10am - Christmas Day celebration with Communion, St Luke’s Church, St Albans
10am - Christmas morning celebration servuce, The Salvation Army, St Albans
10am - Worship for Christmas Day, Trinity URC, St Albans
10am - Family Communion, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans
10am - Family Communion service, St Peter’s Church, London Conley
10am - Family Eucharist, St Peter and St Paul, Kimpton
10am - Holy Communion, St Julian’s Church, St Albans
10am - All-age celebration for CHristmas Day, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge
10am - Family Eucharist, St Mary Marshalswick, St Albans
10am - Family Christmas Holy Communion service, St John’s Church, Radlett
10am - Family Communion, St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green
10am - Christmas family Communion, Christ Church, Radlett
10am - Christmas morning family service, Christ Church Harpenden, Roundwood Park School, Harpenden
10.15am - Christmas family service, Dagnall Street Baptist Church
10.15am - Family Christmas celebration, Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, St Albans
10.30am - Christmas service, Vineyard Church, St Albans
10.30am - Holy Communion, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
10.30am - Parish Communion, All Saints Church, Harpenden
10.30am - Christmas morning family service, Thirlmere Church, St Albans
10.30am - Christmas Day celebration service, Southdown Methodist Church, Harpenden
10.30am - Annual carol service, Marlborough Road Methodist, St Albans
10.30am - Christmas Day family Communion, St Paul’s, St Albans
10.30am - All-age service, St Mark’s, Colney Heath
10.30am - Worship service, All Saints Church, Harpenden
10.30am - All-age Christmas worship, Hatfield Road Methodist Church
10.30am - Jesus’ birthday party, High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden
10.30am - Christmas Day family service, Crabtree Church, Harpenden
10.30am - Christmas Day family worship, Homewood Road URC, St Albans
10.30am - All age worship, Marlborough Road Methodist Church, St Albans
11am - Christmas morning service, Bethany Community Church, St George’s School, Sun Lane, Harpenden
11am - Christmas Day family service, Ridgeway Church, at Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans
11.15am - Christmas celebration, St Peter’s Church, Wheathampstead
11.15am - Matins for Christmas Day, St Albans Cathedral
11.15am - Communion and carols, St Mary’s, Childwick Green
11.30am - Morning praise, St Nicholas Church, Harpenden
11.30am - Choral Mattins, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
12.30pm - Eucharist, St Albans Cathedral
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