ABBEY HOSTS FAMILY CONCERT IN AID OF VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI DISASTER

A concert for all the family will take place at St Albans Abbey on 19th February in support of the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. The night, billed as 'Big Night Out at the Abbey', is being organised by Fr Stuart Cradduck, Minor Canon and Chaplain for Young People, and the youth groups affiliated with the Cathedral.

Fr Stuart said, 'The response to the disaster in South Asia has been a wonderful example of generosity by the whole world. Part of my role here is to represent the voice of the young people who are associated with the Abbey. Over the post Christmas period I received countless texts and emails from our young people asking what they could do in response to this disaster. Adults have given freely to this appeal and the need now facing us here is to give the young people an opportunity to express their concern, and to respond to what has happened. They themselves are keen to help and to respond in a way suitable to them.'

The event will be a fun filled night of music, dance and drama by the young people of the Abbey.

Young People at the Abbey
The Abbey has a thriving community of young people:

60  Brownies and Guides.
25 members of Abbey Youth - 15 - 18 year olds.
60 members of Flames - 12 - 15 year olds.
40 members of Sparks - 8 - 12 year olds.
100 Sunday Club during Parish Sunday service.

All the youth activities at the Abbey are open to all, whether practising Christians or not.

Support from the Diocese
The concert is just one expression of support for the victims of the tsunami in the St Albans Diocese. Churches throughout the Diocese have held services, raised money and offered space for prayer and contemplation over recent weeks. For details from nearly 100 churches visit our web site at www.stalbans.anglican.org

The Concert will begin at 7.30 on Saturday 19th February. Tickets are available from Fr Cradduck on 01727 890206, chaplain@stalbanscathedral.org.uk or after the Sunday Services.

RECORD COLLECTION FOR CHRISTIAN AID AT ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL CAROL SERVICES

For many years St Albans Cathedral has given the collections, after deduction of costs, from its two Festival of Lessons and Carols Services to Christian Aid. This Christmas the 4100 people who attended the services on 22 and 23 December 2004 were so generous that the Cathedral will be giving £12,700 to the charity. This is an increase of £3,000 on the figure for 2003.

The two Festival of Lessons and Carol Services are so popular that admission has to be by ticket. The tickets are free and allocated by public ballot.

Commenting on the result, The Very Revd Jeffrey John, Dean of Saint Albans said: "This has been my first Christmas at the Abbey. I am delighted to have joined a community which has long taken seriously its responsibility to support those in need. The two Lessons and Carols Services took place before the most appalling disaster in Asia and this makes the record response all the more remarkable. We are enormously grateful to all those who came to these services and enabled us to give such a large donation to this most worthwhile cause."

Nearly 35,000 people attended services and events at St Albans Cathedral during December with 5000 worshipping at the Cathedral on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christian Aid Since it was established in 1945, more and more people across the world have benefited from the work of Christian Aid. It has now expanded to become one of the largest church-related international relief and development agencies in Europe reaching the poor and marginalized in over 60 countries world wide. (Tel: 020 7620 4444, email: info@christian-aid.org.uk web: www.christianaid.org.uk )