Hello all
Introduction:
As you know, almost all Covid restrictions were lifted on
Monday 19th July. Whilst we may all take differing views on the wisdom of this,
this is the new reality we are now living and working in, and the Church of
England has published new guidance for churches as we seek to navigate the next
few weeks and months as safely as possibly.
Below are the main items we have addressed based on the
updated CofE guidance, with our suggestions and conclusions as to the best way
to move forward.
The headline from the CofE, and we would endorse this, is
one of moving forward cautiously. Obviously, this is a constantly changing
scene. The next couple of months will certainly be very interesting, given that
all the predications are of a surge in covid cases, so it is even possible,
despite the messaging from govt., that some restrictions may have to be
introduced again in time.
-Basically, we can’t make final determinations about Sept
onwards until mid/end Aug, based on where case numbers are at and what govt. says. We will keep you updated.
Pat Jarvis has carried out the CofE updated Risk Assessment
for St Wilfrid’s. This will also be carried out at St Francis.
Headlines
There is now no legal limit on numbers attending services in
our church buildings.
We can’t insist on or force mask wearing, though we can
strongly urge it. We have a little more
control, sort of, over social distancing.
I’ve put together a poster to go on the white board in the
porch at St Wilfrid’s, basically urging people to keep masks on and
maintain social distance, if at all
possible. Please see attached. A similar poster will be put up at St
Francis.
Welcomers should continue to ask people to use the hand gel,
and clean the church space afterwards with spray as before.
Welcomers at the St Wilfrid’s 8am services will need to do a
quick spray after the service in prep for the 10.30am, and welcomers at the 10.30am
on baptism Sundays will need to continue spraying between the 10.30am and the
12.30pm baptism.
Track and Trace still applies until 12th Aug
August Services:
The current joint parish 9.30am Sunday services will
continue for August.
Service Pattern from September
This will look more or less the same as pre-pandemic, but
with some changes due to significantly limited clergy personnel and their
availability. Sunday morning times will revert to the 10.30am start:
Sunday
St Wilfrid’s St Francis
1st Sunday
10.30am Lay Led Morning Prayer Holy Communion
(with prayer for healing)
12.30pm Baptism
5.00pm Inspire
2nd Sunday
8.00am Holy Communion
10.30am Family Communion Methodist
Led Service
3rd Sunday
10.30am Joint Parish Celtic Communion: alternating monthly between the 2
churches
4th Sunday
8.00am Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion Lay Led Morning
Worship (Both
with prayer for healing)
5th Sunday
10.30am Joint Parish Holy Communion alternating between the 2 churches as pre pandemic.
Whatever is the final Sunday of the month (4th or 5th): 5pm
Alive@5
St Wilfrid’s Wednesday 9.30am & St Francis Thursday
10.00am Communion services will resume from the beginning of September.
Zoom Morning Prayer on Wednesdays will end at the end of
August.
Final Services Note:
Given the increasingly limited clergy personnel and their
availability, and for other reasons, very occasionally services will not follow
the above pattern e.g. Remembrance Sunday will be a Communion service, not
Family Communion.
Any changes like these will be communicated in advance via
the Sunday Sheets and/or by email.
Social distancing at St Wilfrid’s
We will keep the roped off areas as they are, and ask people
to sit in the available pews first, and only as and when numbers increase, will people be directed to sit in the
currently roped off pews.
Reflecting the CofE guidance, we are setting aside the back
nave pews for those who want to continue socially distancing -that means x2
pews either side to sit in and x2 pews still roped off as now.
To that end, welcomers will need to instruct people accordingly, including
letting them know about the back pews.
There is a sign to indicate the pews for those who wish to
be socially isolated.
Social distancing at St Francis
A row of chairs at the back on both sides of the aisle will
form the socially distanced seating zone here.
As noted above, this is a constantly changing scene, and we
don’t yet know what the feeling among our regulars is about maintaining social
distancing etc., but regardless of this, we still have a duty of care, not only
to our regulars, but to all those attending funerals, weddings, baptisms, some,
or many, of whom may still be concerned about being in larger social
gatherings.
Expectations re social distancing, hand gel, masks and any
other related info will be communicated, as now, with baptism, wedding and funeral families early on in
contact with them.
Singing:
Is allowed again.
August onwards:
We stick to singing the last hymn
outside during August.
Sept: 2 hymns- first in church,
last still outside (weather permitting).
Oct onwards: review number of hymns and where sung.
Obviously, as the weather gets colder this will mean we will have to stay
indoors.
Singing with masks on, please, until further notice.
Livestreaming:
Some of you are already aware of this.
We are very blessed to have a small group here at St
Wilfrids who have worked hard to ensure we maintain our online presence in the
parish on Sundays, after our YouTube services end at the end of August.
We will be livestreaming all Sunday 10.30am services at St
Wilfrid’s from the start of Sept. With
the new necessary pattern it does mean that when the joint services are at St
Francis, there will not, at present anyway, be a livestream on those Sundays in the parish. This is
unfortunate, but unavoidable at the moment.
Orders of Service:
Our aim is to continue emailing out orders of service and
hymn texts, as well as, from September,
the pre pandemic Sunday sheets (readings and notices), so those joining
us online can take part in our worship.
From the start of Sept we will use our usual orders of
service in church (along with hymn books), as they will be only used once a
month, and so will be beyond the 72 hours recommended between handling of
things.
At St Wilfrid’s we will return to using the red communion
service books on the 4th Sunday. As the
YouTube printed communion orders of service only have 3 communion prayers, in
order that those connecting online can continue to access this service fully, I’ll
produce a document with all the communion prayers included, which I’ll email
out.
Welcomers should either set out orders of service, hymn
books or Sunday Sheets for worshippers to take, or hand them out. In either
case, they must sanitise their hands immediately beforehand, and if they touch
a congregation members clothing or skin, they must immediately re sanitise
their hands.
Children’s provision:
At St Wilfrid’s the frequency and nature of Junior Church
provision on Sunday mornings going forward is currently being discussed by, and
with, the children and young people's team, as is the opening up and usage of
the children's area there.
Children's provision at St Francis, most notably, Messy
Church, will be considered in due course.
Coffee:
St Wilfrid’s
No coffee in Aug.
From Sept coffee will be served outside the hall (if weather
bad and as it gets colder, then in the church building where people can spread
out more).
St Francis
After the Risk Assessment has been completed coffee will
begin from Sept.
So…
Please remember that, again, as the scene changes, these
measures will be continually under review i.e.
if the pandemic situation reduces in severity, we can look at lessening
restrictions, or vice versa.
We’ll update you mid/late August.
In the meantime, please get in touch if you any questions or
comments. Can I ask you to email myself and Christine Gillespie. One of us will get back to you.
Many thanks for your ongoing support and understanding.
Blessings
Pete Watson, and for Christine Gillespie
And on behalf of the PCC and ECC
