This is the first of Elspeth’s series which will focus on one St Albans church each month. Ant and Helen Rist lead this church which is actually in an industrial estate and looks like a warehouse. It may not have a steeple, but it has about 400 members who enjoy the worship and the teaching there and enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

This week Elspeth discovers what “The Living Room” is all about, and indeed it is a place where many come to discover and be helped to be free from all sorts of addictions. Lara Ford, a member of staff, paints a picture of how they make each person comfortable to listen and start to talk about themselves and their problems not only one to one with a skilled counsellor but in groups. Lara works with the St Albans centre, which is off the Hatfield Road here, and of course, explains the relief they have just now at being free of many COVID restrictions.

Today Elspeth talks to an enthusiastic member of the organisation called STEP – the St Albans and Harpenden Educational Project. Amy Cahill, a trained teacher goes into some of the 25 schools but not to teach as such, but to provide talking points, interactive games, sometimes cooking or even pottery, to explain to the young people the essence of what Christianity is all about. All the members of STEP, both paid staff and volunteers are welcomed enthusiastically by the schools. As you will hear by the excitement in her voice, Amy delights in what she is doing.

Elspeth meets a large puppet in the shape of a pencil, and is intrigued at how Hazel and Neil, man and wife, put on shows with puppets or clowns, and through them make the Gospel of Jesus relevant not only to children but to adults. There’s a lot of creativity stemming from this couple, whether seen on Zoom or for real.

Today Elspeth talks to a senior lady with a lively faith, – one who committed her life to Jesus, sixty two years ago. With a family who needed to move around, she has experienced many jobs, for instance a being dental nurse and various types of child care. She also cared lovingly for a son with special needs. She was married twice, and both her husbands were Christians and went on to eternity before her. So she has a lot to reflect on, and faces all situations with the joy of Jesus Christ.

Elspeth does a retrospective here, and recalls , after a marriage in her 30’s, she and her husband David, decided to try for a baby. Baby Sarah Elizabeth brought much joy, but the forceps entry into the world caused much pain for her mum. This , of course, is remembering from a long time ago, as the baby now has 3 little girls of her own and Elspeth is a delighted grandmother.

And Elspeth has been looking in detail at the colour yellow, which is unusual as it can evoke two different moods – on the dark side – a mood of cowardice and fear, and on the other side, a mood of light and glory. She hasn’t listed all the shades of yellow you can choose from, but you can imagine the range from the colour of honey to the pale colour of some butterflies. She also asks you a question. “What is your favourite colour, and why?”

Currently, the subject of “saving the planet” is one of the topics on our minds here in Britain. We are starting to think “ internationally”. However, Elspeth points out that regarding the different faiths that we happily tolerate here in Britain, apart from a few dedicated mission societies, we do precious little about the horrific persecution of Christians in many other parts of the world.

Have you had tea with your grandparents lately? Have you asked “Alexa” to do your bidding? Do you always take a newspaper?

After a weekend with her family, Elspeth realises how the younger and older generations can be far apart in their habits and communication. When you want to chat, do you use a letter, a phone call, a text, an e-mail? Is watching the screen your favoured form of relaxation ? How is your house planned out?

She has been fascinated with the accepted changes in ordinary life and sets out a few in this podcast.

There are some times in your life when you just do things wrongly, and it isn’t always your fault. Elspeth looks back to a few times when she really “put her foot in it”. You’ll enjoy laughing at her mistakes!