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