We are very sorry to say that following the 'firebreaker' national lockdown imposed by the Welsh government, beginning at 6pm on Friday 23 October, both St Andrew's and St Michael's will be closed completely until Monday 9 November. There will be no services in either church for the next three Sundays, and unfortunately we may not allow them to remain open for private prayer either. There will be no public services in the benefice on Sunday 25 October. At the time of writing it will be possible to hold services in our other three churches, but they cannot be attended by members of the other congregations who live in Wales, due to travel restrictions and to the size of the churches in Lingen, Knill and Kinsham, which do not have space to accommodate additional people while maintaining social distancing. Our clergy may travel to our churches in England for the purposes of work. This means we are unable to have our planned services for All Souls and Remembrance in St Andrew's, and our Annual Parochial Church Meeting, postponed from the spring, which was to have taken place on Friday 30 October, is now postponed again for the forseeable future.Reverend Steve will circulate short orders of service and readings for use during this time in due course.We sincerely hope that the national lockdown will have the desired effect and that we will be able to open St Andrew's and St Michael's again next month.
The Harvest Collect Almighty and everlasting God, we offer you our hearty thanks for your fatherly goodness and care in giving us the fruits of the earth in their seasons. Give us grace to use them rightly, to your glory, for our own well-being, and for the relief of those in need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Services in the Presteigne group of parishes next Sunday 11 October (Trinity 18) are as follows:9.15 Holy Communion (Common Worship) Knill11.00 Holy Communion (Common Worship) Presteigne3.00 Harvest Thanksgiving Kinsham The Harvest Thanksgiving at Kinsham will be a short, open air service in the field behind the Arkwright Hall - everyone is welcome to attend. Do bring a deck chair if you would like to be seated and an umbrella would be a good idea too! You shouldn't arrive in groups of more than six people, and the two-metre distancing rules apply. Face coverings are not essential, though of course you may wear them if you prefer.Don't forget that face coverings are essential for the indoor services in our churches and sadly we are not permitted to sing hymns.
Services in the Presteigne group of parishes this Sunday 4 October (Trinity 17) are as follows:9.30 Morning Prayer (Book of Common Prayer) Lingen11.00 Harvest Thanksgiving PresteignePlease remember that physical distancing and hand sanitising measures are in place at both churches, and sadly we cannot sing hymns. It will be a very different Harvest Service at Presteigne from usual, but we will still be able to give thanks together that the crops are safely gathered in.
