Our main act of worship is at 10am each Sunday and everyone is invited to stay and enjoy tea or coffee and fellowship together afterwards. There is a Sunday Club for children and a Crèche every week, except the third Sunday, when all ages join together for a shorter service usually without Holy Communion. Members of St Helen’s are involved in the community in a variety of ways, and our building is used for lots of different activities during the week. We meet together to praise and worship God, and to express what's in our hearts in words and actions, in prayer and music. Our vision for all church members is that: We seek to respond to the love of God by building a church confident in its faith and active in bringing knowledge of the blessings of Christ to the communities we serve. . Where we are
St Helen – St Helen's Road, Solihull B91 2DA Come and meet our Vicar!  Rev'd. Helen Greenham is the Vicar of St Helens and Director for Children's and Families' Ministry in the Solihull Team.Helen and her husband, Peter, have three children, Ben, Oliver and Lydia and we are delighted to have them all worshipping with us and playing an active part in the church family at St Helens. You can contact Rev'd Helen by emailing helen@solihullparish.org.uk or by phoning her on 0121 704 2878. ( Monday is Helen's "day off" ). Groups for Adults
Growth Groups What are Growth Groups? An increasing number of St Helen’s people are joining small House Groups which we call Growth Groups.
We have chosen the name ‘Growth Groups’ because we are committed to helping one another to enjoy growing in our Christian faith.
We have found that a popular way of learning about Jesus, and his teaching, is to share the journey with a few friends in someone’s home.
Groups aim to create a friendly, informal and safe environment in which people are free to be involved or not. We aim to develop mutual trust within the group and provide a forum to help each other by:
Growth Groups are led by ordinary members of the congregation. “Our Growth Group has come to be an important part of my spiritual life. It consists of enormously practical and wise people; in short people I admire. It has come as a huge revelation and a great comfort to discover that they share my doubts and concerns.
We take it in turns to lead the group and I think this has heightened the support and trust within the group. I have also been delighted that although we discuss and pray about serious and complex issues, there is still a tremendous sense of fun and friendship.” Anne Jones
Even if you don’t see yourself as a ‘joiner’, please be assured that our Growth Groups are all welcoming and unthreatening. Your views and ideas are as valuable as any others. All our groups are different and you are welcome to try out more than one. Or join any of the groups for a one session “taster” before deciding.
We really do want you to join us and for you and us to help each other. Contact : Chris Carrington 0121 705 0902 chrisandjennycarrington@googlemail.com  Lydia Group 1.30pm Monday afternoons twice a month in term time
Lydia is a Bible Study group for women. We usually follow a Bible study booklet and also share a time of prayer for people and issues we are concerned about. We are a friendly, welcoming group and the friendships we develop are important to all of us. We offer a warm welcome to any women who would like to join us. Contact : Jenny Carrington chrisandjennycarrington@googlemail.com
Cameo 2.15pm First Wednesday of each month. CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other) fosters fellowship and social contact amongst the local community and seeks to be welcoming to everyone, male and female, of whatever age. Our varied programme includes talks by speakers on a wide variety of topics of interest, to stimulate learning, awareness and enjoyable discussion. We also hold social events and arrange visits to places of interest. New members and visitors can be assured of a very warm welcome. Contact : John Mee marjohn,mee@tesco.net Community Wednesday Lunch Club : 12.30pm Every Wednesday We provide hot lunches for people in the neighbourhood who live alone or who are lonely or disabled. Those who come look forward to the regular outing, the good food (always freshly cooked) and the fellowship they share. We can usually arrange transport where needed. The club is run by 40 volunteers working on a once a month, or fortnightly, basis. Help is always welcomed – cooks, drivers and general helpers. Contact : June Paddock w.paddock64@btinternet.com Bereavement Fellowship Group : 1.30-3.00pm Usually 4th Monday each month This is a group for recently bereaved people which meets in the chapel. It aims to support and encourage them and to reduce the sense of isolation felt by many who have suffered bereavement. Contacts : Sheila Cross sheilacross3@googlemail.com or Sally Derry sallyderry@sky.com St Helen's Church lunch in aid of our Malawi Project  Caring for Others We seek to be a caring church, concerned for the needs of one another and of those outside our church community. Please tell our Vicar or one of our Readers if you need help yourself, or are particularly concerned about someone else. A pastoral visit may be appropriate or other practical help may be needed. They will also be pleased to hear of ways in which people are able to offer help, e.g. by giving lifts to and from St Helen’s, or by visiting those who are lonely or alone. Contact : Sheila Cross sheilacross3@googlemail.com Giving to Others Through the charity Educaid Africa, we are currently sponsoring two students in Kenya through their education. A good number of St Helen’s congregation give voluntary help on a regular basis in the community and the Wednesday Lunch Club is a good example of this. Others are involved in the local Marie Curie Hospice, Solihull Stroke Club, Acorns Children’s Hospice and in organisations helping the homeless, together with the local Citizens Advice Bureau, the Town Centre Chaplaincy and many others. | Dates for your Diary For Family Fun . . . .  Come and join us at Messy Church! Activities for families of all shapes and sizes with lots of hands-on crafty fun, followed by a 'celebration time' with a song, a story and a prayer. Finally there'll be a tasty hot tea for everybody! Why not come along? on Friday 17th May 2013 from 4 to 6pm. at St Helen's Church, St Helen's Road, B91 2DA (off Buryfield Road) who? JUST ABOUT EVERYONE! Children, bring your friends but be sure to bring an adult to share the fun! Cost £2 per person or £7 (max.) per family Contact us to book your place by 'phoning Linda on 0121 270 7390 or email her at l.hicks@solihullparish.org.uk. Young People
As part of the Solihull Team Parish, St Helens’s enjoys the support of a full time Youth Minister, Mike Kelly, and two part time Children’s Workers, Linda Hicks and Sue Chandler. The Children’s and Youth Ministry is beginning to open up new opportunities for worship, prayer, teaching and social activities and there are exciting developments ahead of us. Gospel on Toast (G & T) A group for young people which meets on the fourth Sunday in the month during the St Helen's 10.00am service. We have breakfast, pray, study the Bible and encourage each other in our walk with God.Growth Groups
A series of different age-group ‘Growth Groups’ under the supervision of our Parish Youth Minister encourage young people to start to explore their own faith and to enjoy each others' company in safe and friendly environments. The groups meet on a regular basis, but also have the opportunity to take part in many other activities throughout the year organised by the Youth Worker. Contacts : Mike Kelly 07737 231429 mike@solihullparish.org.uk Debbie Woodward 0121 661 6303 d.woodward@solihullparish.org.uk Lynn Smart 0121 661 6303 L.smart@solihullparish.org.uk For more information on youth activities organised across the Parish see our Youth page  A Sanctuary of Peace We have a very special and comfortable Chapel, which offers a haven of peace and quiet for busy lives. Giving We are so grateful for all the financial support St Helen’s receives by way of donations, most of which is in the form of regular, planned giving by the congregation. Nearly all our regular givers make their donations by way of standing orders and those who have taxable incomes have also signed Gift Aid forms. This is really worthwhile as it enables us to reclaim the tax they have paid, increasing the value of their gift by some 25%. If you would like to :
Please contact the St Helen's Stewardship Recorder :
Thank you for your interest in the Planned Giving Scheme which does so much to further God's work in Solihull. | Worship Sunday Services: 8.00am Eucharist We use the Traditional Book of Common Prayer Service to celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday morning. It is a quiet Service with no hymns and a short sermon. The Service takes place in the Chapel (shown) and lasts about 35 minutes. 10.00am Eucharist This is the principal act of worship, where people of all ages join together in the worship of God and in prayer for the world, this district, and each other. We use the Common Worship form of the Holy Communion Service and sing a wide variety of hymns and songs. A short sermon is preached and people are invited to receive Holy Communion or a personal blessing at the altar. We welcome children and families to this service which takes place in the main church. We provide a crèche all the year round, and Sunday Club runs alongside the service during term-time. The service lasts just over an hour. Coffee is served afterwards. 10.00am All Age Worship (Third Sunday of the month) This is a short service (about 40 minutes) where all people meet for informal, friendly worship, which does not normally include Holy Communion. We involve a variety of people in the presentation of worship, which is based around a theme.  6.30pm All evening services take place in the Chapel A variety of evening worship takes place on Sundays and is designed to allow us to share worship styles and develop our spirituality as well as providing an opportunity for reflective worship for smaller numbers of people.
Mid-week worship: Morning Prayer is said in the Chapel each morning. Prayers : Tuesday 10.00am We pray for individuals, the world and our concerns – all are welcome to join this period of quiet prayer and reflection. Eucharist : Friday 10.00am This simple and quiet service of Holy Communion is held in the Chapel and lasts about 30 minutes. Groups for Children Contacts : Linda Hicks 0121 270 7390 or Sue Chandler 0121 270 7390  Crèche : 10.00am Sundays There is a crèche every Sunday for babies and children too young for Sunday Club. They are made very welcome and are looked after by members of the church family, so that parents can join in the worship. Contact : Rebecca Lee rebecca.j.lee@sky.com Tots and Tinies : 1.45-2.45pm 2nd Monday of each month This service, which is held in the chapel, is for babies, toddlers, pre- school children and their families, with songs, bible stories, craft activities, refreshments and fun! Contact : Beryl Moppett 0121 705 0337 beryl.moppett@virginmedia.co.uk Friday Fun @ 4 Fridays 4.00pm – 5.15pm term time. A time of fun and fellowship for families. We sing, share stories, get messy with the art materials, enjoy a chocolate biscuit feast, share news and pray together. It's a great way to start the weekend! Contact : Linda Hicks 0121 270 7390 l.hicks@solihullparish.org.uk Sunday Club : 10.00am every Sunday except 3rd Sunday We welcome children from the age of about 3½ when they start Nursery school. Our morning commences with singing, prayers and a story and then we divide into groups according to age for appropriate activities. We aim to make the sessions enjoyable and to tell the children some of the Bible stories and teach the basic messages of the Christian faith. The children come into the main service for a blessing at the altar rail during the distribution of Communion. The teaching is done by members of the church community. The Sunday Club has always been an important part of the life of St Helen’s and we hope to make children feel welcome and at home both here and in church. Contact : Rebecca Lee rebecca.j.lee@sky.com First Communion for children Solihull Parish offers children the opportunity to receive communion before they are confirmed. We provide teaching and nurturing in advance of a first communion and would be delighted to hear from any family with children who wish to take part in this way. Contact : Rev'd Helen Greenham 0121 704 2878 helen@solihullparish.org.uk Junior Growth Groups Children who have completed the First Communion course can join a Junior Growth Group to enable them to develop their faith. The group involves a mix of teaching and discussion with games, craft and other activities that are age appropriate and fun! The group meets fortnightly on Wednesday evenings from 7.00pm - 8.00pm in the members' homes. Contact : Linda Hicks 0121 270 7390 l.hicks@solihullparish.org.uk For more information on Children's activities organised across the Parish see our Children's page. History of St Helens   Contact for Room Bookings: Geoff Wyatt: Telephone: 705 0311. Email:geoffrwyatt@btinternet.com |
