St. Stephen's Church, Winsham |
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![]() Open air Benefice Service held in August |
LOCKDOWN 3
Sadly we are in the opening days of a new Lockdown. The Pandemic
statistics are grim reading and the numbers of people in hospital and
with Covid-19 are at the highest at any point so far. Thankfully,
a light that shines in the darkness is the roll out of the vaccines and
we keep that process, all involved with it, and all receiving it, in our
prayers. May it be speedy, safe, and effective.
Covid-19 is in our area, and not insignificantly. It is a very
real threat to all of us. The core message of the new lockdown is
clear – we must all stay at home if at all possible.
Unlike in previous lockdowns, the government has not chosen to close the
church buildings. Instead, that decision has been left to churches
themselves, to take in view of local context.
Yesterday I discussed and considered our response with Churchwardens and
the Area Dean, taking into account our core congregation demographic,
advice from the Diocese, and the tenet of the lockdown that has started.
Here is a link to the letter recently sent from Bishop Ruth - https://www.bathandwells.org.uk/2021/01/take-worship-online-where-possible-as-lockdown-begins/
I have therefore agreed in principle that until further notice we are
suspending all public worship in churches, which includes all Sunday
services and midweek Holy Communions. I have also attended a Zoom
meeting for the Archdeaconry this afternoon and can confirm that this is
very much the position for the great majority of churches in the
Diocese. I will be writing to PCC members tomorrow for their
formal consent to the suspension.
However,
we will endeavour to keep churches open once a week, as we have been
doing, for private prayer. This time is only for people to be able
to sit in the church building for their own devotions.
It is imperative that in these times we keep ourselves and each other as
safe as possible.
Here is a summary of the general lockdown conditions that we must all
observe except where specific exemptions apply (such as ‘bubbles’):
·
Everyone must stay at home.
·
If working, this should be from home only if possible.
·
Exercise outside should start and finish from your home.
·
We can only meet with one other person outside our homes.
·
We cannot make home visits to others either inside or outside.
·
We should not be travelling outside of our villages unless
absolutely necessary.
Here is a link to the detailed wording:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
With regards to visiting a church for private prayer, please follow
instructions as published in the churches but taking particular care as
to the following:
·
Do not visit with anyone from outside your own household.
·
Do not attend if you are unwell in any way
·
There must be a 2m social distance between you and others at all
times
·
There must be no interaction with others.
Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals:
In line with the lockdown restrictions we will only offer weddings and
baptisms on an emergency basis and with numbers limited to 6 attending.
Funerals are able to take place as more recently in the pandemic, and
numbers allowed will be assessed on a church-by-church basis at 2m
social distancing up to the maximum allowed ‘cap’ of 30.
Online Church
Although we are not able to worship together in church, we can do so
remotely. A Sunday service will be available each week online,
alternating weekly as a live Zoom service and pre-recorded video
service. There will also be our normal Thursday evening Zoom
services during term-time.
WORSHIP
Upcoming online worship is as follows:
Thursday Evening Zoom:
7:30pm on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th
January.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76108419112?pwd=ZTRBREpaYXFPTjYzOTRLbUlSSXR1dz09
Meeting ID: 761 0841 9112
Passcode: twoshires
Sunday Worship:
10 January – Live Zoom
17 January – Video
24 January – Live Zoom
31 January – Video
Sunday Zoom link:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75918239934?pwd=V3pCOUFIdUVlcHBma2h2MlhrWHZGUT09
Meeting ID: 759 1823 9934
Passcode: twoshires
Live Sunday services will also be recorded and uploaded as video for
those not able to access Zoom.
All Service videos are available at:
https://twoshires.wordpress.com/sunday-service
or:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkgAPth84w8vMfDgFeO6DIA
THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone for everything we were able to do in the Benefice
over Advent and Christmas. It was a very different season, and I
very much hope and pray that this year we will be able to be in the same
places at the same times in ways that we couldn’t in 2020. That
said, it was truly wonderful how all five churches worked hard to have
nativity displays that people could access at all times, and with such
variance, creativity and generosity. The weather undid two of the
four planned outdoor carols events, but those that happened did so in
good spirits and sang boldly. Thank you also to the merry band of
helpers who helped us deliver bags of comfort and joy on Christmas Day
across the villages.
PRAYER
All churches continue to be open during the week for an hour for private
individual prayer. This will be kept under constant review in
light of the Lockdown.
Wednesdays – Tatworth, Cricket Malherbie & Thorncombe at 11am
Thursdays – Chaffcombe & Winsham at 11am
Prayer Requests:
·
The schools as they move to remote learning, and for school children and
students in these times.
·
Those organizing and delivering vaccines.
·
Those suffering with Covid or in isolation at this time.
We also pray for those we know who are sick, and those we don’t know,
including those we are asked to pray by name for:
Bishop Peter Hancock; Hannah Knott; Rob Allen; Lynne and Bruce Applegarth;
Phyllis Baker; Margaret Bandy; Sue Bennett; Sue Cheese; Terry Conway;
Nick Frankau; David Goodwill; Mike Heywood; Joy Howard; Ann Jarvis;
Frank Long; Peter McHugh; Diana Rowlands; Ann Ricketts; Jim
Tucker; Rosemary Walley; Rosemary Walton; Vivien Wheaton; Alan Wills,
Anna Woodward; Pamala Young; Milly granddaughter of Jane & Alan Rudkin;
Gillian Muggeridge; Chris Gould; Brian Griffiths; Peter Hathway; Dorothy
Down; Brian Turner;
Max Woehrle; Michael Mutch; Kelvin Yendell; Winnie Barge.
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