+ St. Cuthbert’s
re-opens for the 10.30am Eucharist!
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…”
These words of Jesus from our Sunday Gospel reading are so important. I
don’t really want to preach about them. Jesus says all that needs to be said.
And when we hear his words they resonate. They’re about hope, but even when
hope may seem some distance away in its fulfilment they speak to us a deep
peace. “You will find rest for your souls.” That’s a promise – and it’s
real, however we may be feeling at this time.
So I hope you’ll join me in worship one way or another on Sunday. This
weekend for the first time since March, churches are allowed to open for public
worship. St. Cuthbert’s will be open for the Eucharist at our usual time of
10.30am. Join us if you can! We realise that some people are reluctant to
go into public places – and no one should feel pressure to do what they feel
uncomfortable with. But I can say that we have been thorough in our Risk
Assessment and planning to make St. Cuthbert’s as safe an environment as
possible.
We are not wanting either to rush ahead as a church, nor for anyone who
might be especially vulnerable to rush back (and those who are “Clinically
Extremely Vulnerable” should comply with current government guidance).
Obviously if you’re not well or have any symptoms of CV-19 you shouldn’t come
to church or go anywhere outside your home – the saying “coughs and
sneezes…” is one to take to heart…
What will you find in St. Cuthbert’s this Sunday?
Church in a different way… No congregational singing for the moment – though
the Government apparently has this under review (and a single cantor is
permitted to lead worship); no physical exchange of the Peace; maintain social
distancing! Households & support bubbles may sit together. Our
capacity is reduced, but because not everyone is ready to go into public places
we think we will cope! Depending on whether people sit alone or in households
we think we can accommodate over 50 at St. Cuthbert’s (and just over 20 when we
come to re-open St. John’s) - but you may be seated in a very different place
from usual! Please sit in the marked places. Alternate pews are marked with a
“No Entry” sign – and we mean it!
Sanitising! It’s required that anyone entering a public building
should either wash their hands for 20 seconds or use sanitising gel. We will
have gel available. You might wish to being your own. If you do that will also
allow you to sanitise your hands before receiving holy communion – you don’t
have to but it’s a further risk reduction over and above what is required.
Take an order of service for your own personal use and bring it back
each week. We’ll place the orders of service in the places where people can sit.
They’re specially printed – each one is for your use alone, so please don’t
leave it behind. Bring it back with you for use each time you are in church and
that will save us having to print too many more. Take the weekly notice sheet
away with you - it can’t be re-used by anyone else!
Receiving Holy Communion: Official guidelines will be followed. The
chalice can’t be shared so Holy Communion will be “in one kind,” i.e. the
consecrated bread made for us the Body of Christ. As priest administering
communion, I shall be sanitising my hands before the Eucharistic prayer and
before giving you communion – and as I do this I will be wearing a face
covering.
Social distancing: we need to remember that the 2 metre rule remains in
force. It hasn’t been reduced overnight. Only if there is “mitigation” can
people come closer. That’s why for the moment I’ll put on a face mask when I
administer communion. Don’t be alarmed if other people come to church
wearing face coverings. There is evidence they can reduce the risk of
infection, so it’s for your benefit – and you might wish to wear one, though
there is no compulsion to do so. Directions will be given on coming forward to
receive the sacrament and will depend on how many pews we use. At St.
Cuthbert’s there will be a one way system. Whatever the detail, please keep the
2 metre rule as you come forward.
St. John’s is planning to open a week later
There are other issues to address due top the smaller size of the church
and its access. Holy Communion will be administered as people remain in their
pews because a “one-way system” is impossible. So we plan to resume services on
12th July with the 4pm Eucharist. And this will be an
occasion to welcome Phil Carter to a new ministry as Lay Worker prior to
his ordination as Deacon.
Still online
It’s good to know that people
have found so much value in our online worship and other uploads. We will seek
to continue (and perhaps develop further) much of what we have been doing, so
please join with me. Upload speeds permitting (and barring any other mishaps)
I’ll seek to have Sunday’s Eucharist online by 10.30am on our Facebook pages
and on our website / blog. Please do take a look for other shared
material which you might have missed during the last week – it can all be found
on our Parish Facebook pages or the website. The website is in the name of St.
Cuthbert’s but it’s for the people of both parishes and you can find it here:
This
Sunday the
online Eucharist will be celebrated using the Book of Common Prayer –
traditional language but easy to follow – and fewer congregational responses!
News, prayers &
thanksgiving:
Phil Carter …
Phil was commissioned as a Lay Worker last
Wednesday 1st July in a service via Zoom. We’re sorry not to
be celebrating his Ordination as Deacon this weekend. Phil is now officially
Assistant Curate for both parishes. We plan to welcome him as services resume
at St. John’s Church in the 4pm Eucharist on Sunday 12th July.
Here's the official photo of the Zoom
commissioning! Phil’s in the bottom left corner.
Moves towards re-opening
I’ve had queries about Baptisms. A complicated procedure was
issued just before Lockdown and has been reissued. There’s a legal limit of 30
attending a Baptism – but this is further restricted depending on the size and
layout of the church (it’s unlikely to allow for more than 15 at St. John’s.
For the moment we need to work out the implications of the guidance and to
learn from the experience of opening for regular worship.
Marriages: Our best wishes to and prayers for Jayde
Railton and Thibault Charmey who were due to marry on Saturday, 4th
July, in St. Cuthbert’s. In the circumstances they have had to postpone their
wedding.
As we said last week, for the moment numbers at weddings are legally
limited to 30 and will be lower in smaller churches like St. John’s. Again we
need to work out the implications of the guidance. Obviously receptions are
also affected, and this may have an impact on people’s plans. I’ll be hoping to
catch up as soon as I can with couples who had plans for St. John’s in August
and September.
Similar assessments and further conditions are in place for funerals
– again the limit of 30 or fewer applies.
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