In just a few days, celebrations of our 150th anniversary begin! Here's a quick update of preparations underway for WRBC150 and what the year holds.
PROGRAMME • PROJECTS • PROMOTION • PRAYER
Programme
Our celebration season opens with internationally renowned pianist Masa Tayama with a free lunchtime recital on Saturday 9 February (12 noon start) while Felici Opera present 'An Enchanted Evening of Song' covering Mozart to Monty Python on Saturday 23 March (7.30 pm). Tickets for both these events are now available through our website.
January also brings the first rehearsals for our musical production of Pilgrim's Progress, arranged by Harold Liberty and performed by members of Hitchin churches. Tickets for Friday 29 and Saturday 30 March shows (7.30pm start) will be released on our website soon.
Our Flower Festival is confirmed for the second weekend in June (8th and 9th) and our biennial Art Exhibition of art from local primary schools is set for the 6th and 7th July.
January also welcomes the first guest preachers to WRBC - former minister Ian Green leads worship on January 27 at 10.30am.
Projects
Creative projects are now underway and the first items of branded merchandise will be released in the new year.
We'd really love for you to get involved with projects during our 150 year too - if you've got a creative idea or opportunity, drop by the church or contact us using the form at the bottom of our website.
Promotion
We want the people of Hitchin to know and get involved during our anniversary year. We're recently refreshed our website and social media accounts - with increased interaction each week thereafter. You can find our various accounts at the bottom of this page.
Prayer
Our Evening of Prayer is on Wednesday 2nd January - we are inviting all to come and share in prayer for our church and for our year of celebration - in thankfulness and seeking God's blessing! The whole time will be managed in chunks, probably of 30 minutes, so...
Come when you can, Stay as you may, Leave when you must!
We're also supporting the prayer initiative Peace on our Streets led by PREMIER - praying to bring an end to youth violence. Knife crime rose by 22% from 2017 and 15% of young people say they have friends who carry knives. Help cover the map in prayer by visiting peaceonourstreets.org.uk and signing up today.
And finally...
We're reflecting on the work of the church during 2018 and how we can continue to grow our outreach through charity and group support, both locally and internationally. On 1st January we also host the last Somewhere to Go session - for those with nowhere to go over the Christmas season - more info here.
Hitchin also sent 827 shoeboxes to Link to Hope in 2018, we've just received word that 40,000 boxes have been sent to Eastern Europe this year! However whilst delivering to households, they've uncovered a dire story we couldn't even imagine - to support their emergency appeal to buy two shipping containers, please visit their website.
We look forward to seeing you in 2019 - come on and celebrate with us!