It is always very well received by the audience with wonderful performances from the choir, orchestra and soloists. Come and listen to highlights from Mozart, Elgar, Verdi, Mascagni, Jenkins and Parry along with traditional Easter hymns and contemporary choruses. A particular treat this time will be Agnus Dei, the choral version of Samuel Barber’s beautiful Adagio for strings.

In Watford the evening will be compèred by renowned author and inspiring public speaker Dr Mark Stibbe.

Let Adoramus take you on a musical journey from Palm Sunday through to Easter Day and hear a glorious blend of music especially suited for Easter. There will be something for everyone to enjoy!

You are warmly invited to our first ever Men’s Film Evening on Friday February 24th in the Upstairs Coffee Lounge, 7.45pm for 8.00pm start.

We will be showing the French film “Of Gods and Men” which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010, and has been nominated for numerous awards since, including the BAFTAs and the BBC4 World Cinema Awards.

“Of Gods and Men” is a profoundly moving film about the effects that faith can have in the most extreme situations. It is based on the true story of a group of Cistercian monks living at the monastery of Tibhirine in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria. From the film’s synopsis:

A monastery perched in the mountains of North Africa in the 1990s. Eight French Christian monks live in harmony with their Muslim brothers. When a crew of foreign workers is massacred by an Islamic fundamentalist group, fear sweeps though the region. The army offers them protection, but the monks refuse. Should they leave?

The film is not an overtly Christian film. It explores the relationship between Christianity and Islam in a sympathetic manner, and shows the monks as humans with fears, weaknesses and desires, but who seek to discern what the will of God is for their lives and for the community they support. It would be an ideal film to invite friends to see, especially perhaps if they are film buffs, or if they have questions about Christianity.

The film is two hours long and is in French with English subtitles. We are hoping to serve North African refreshments beforehand and during a short interval.

To be sure we have enough seats for everyone to watch in comfort we do really need to know by Wednesday Feb 22nd if you would like to come. Please RSVP using the contact form below. If you haven’t booked and decide to turn up on the night please be prepared to be turned away if we can’t fit you in.

We are planning a celebration party, a special service, a Thanksgiving Fund appeal, a music CD, and much more. Look out for details.

We’d also like to produce a book and that’s where we need your help. The book will include a short history of St Luke’s and a collection of at least 75 favourite pieces of scripture from members past and present. We’d love you to contribute to this book and if you’d like to submit your favourite send:

• the verses of scripture with the version of the Bible you are using
• an explanation for the choice in 250 words or less
• a short, 3 sentences, biographical piece
  (e.g. Fred Smith was a member of St Luke’s from 1950-1970. In that time he served on the PCC and taught in the Sunday School. He is now retired from his job as an accountant with Smith & Sons, and lives happily in Padstow, Cornwall with his wife Hilda.)

All contributions should be sent either by e-mail to vicar@stlukeswatford.org or via the contact the vicar form.  Contributions need to be with us by 29^th February, 2012.

As we’re expecting a huge volume of submissions we cannot guarantee that we will be able to include everyone’s contribution. The editorial team do reserve the right to edit contributions.

We trust that the book of scriptural references and testimonies will be a great encouragement to us all and we look forward to receiving your contributions.

A sermon preached by Rev. Grace Sentamu-Baverstock at St Luke’s Church, Watford on 4th December, 2011.

The lessons accompanying this sermon were:

• Isaiah 40:1-5
• Mark 1:1-8

The song used during the confession is:

“Why should You be like a stranger” by Godfrey Birtill from the album “Very God.”

and is used with permission.

An All-Age address by Rev. Dave Middlebrook during Upside Down Sunday on 20th November, 2011.

On Upside Down Sunday the youth of the church remain in the church for their activities whilst the adults leave to various activities in the meeting rooms and hall of the church. This year we had a talk by Erzsébet Komlósi of Scripture Union Hungary, a talk about the importance of reading the Bible, a talk about the work of The Gideons and a sharing in the experience of Lectio Divina – the meditative reading of a passage of the Bible.

A sermon by the Rt. Revd. Bishop Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Hertford preached at St Luke’s Church, Watford on November 6th, 2011.
The sermon was based on readings from Judges 7:2-22 and John 15:9-17.

The service was a service of Confirmation for 10 people from St Luke’s, Watford, St Peter’s, Watford and All Saints, South Oxhey.