As we continue to journey through Lent and the wilderness, we can begin to think about our journey back to sharing in public worship.The Ministry Team and Standing Committee have been reflecting on the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Road Map out of Lockdown. We have done this continuing to ensure we are people of prayer, and how we can best be with God and with each other. Alongside this we have ensured that whatever we do is sustainable and creates a safe space for everyone.As a consequence of this we have agreed the following On Sunday March 7th (as schools re-open on 8th) St Mary’s will resume with an 8am BCP Service and a 10am Eucharist open to the public which will also be streamed. Please note there will be no public Worship in St Mary's Parish until the 7th March.Then from Monday March 8th we will resume allowing a congregation to gather with us for the Noon Eucharist at St Mary’sWe will learn from these services to enable us to resume public worship then at St Faith’s at 9am and St Wilfrid’s at 4pm on March 14th (Mothering Sunday).
I hope that all is well with you. In various conversations it is fair to say that many of us have found this lockdown more challenging than the previous ones. There is a sense of weariness and frustration – a ‘greyness’ which is reflected by the weather. We do seem to be edging towards a moment when we can all take another step on our journey and perhaps return to meeting together for worship in church.There are signs of hope and life around us – even in the Vicarage garden where the snowdrops are being joined by the crocuses and even one or two early daffodils. But these plants are fragile and tender and need to be treated carefully – as we all will need to be careful as we take tender and fragile steps forwards. We hope that you will all continue to look after yourselves and one another. As a Parish we continue to seek to ensure that we are in contact with as many of you as possible in as many ways as possible as we continue to seek to be with God, one another and all round us.
To address the physical well-being of Parishioners and other visitors, because of the transmission rates of the virus at present and the need to restrict contact and transmission from one household to another we will be ceasing public worship in the 3 Churches from Wednesday 6th January.St Mary’s will be open every day from 9am – Noon for private prayer. On Sundays it will be open from 8am – 9.30 and then from 11am – Noon.
We were due to share a short newsletter with you to assure you that you will be in our thoughts and prayers over the Christmas season. The announcement that looks like we are now in Tier 4.I know this will affect many of us and our plans and hopes for Christmas and I ask that we all hold each other in our prayers over the coming days - especially those who will be unable to be with their families and loved ones.I hope that we will continue to show the care and support for each other and those around us over these days and to contact especially those who may be alone or vulnerable.There is a glimmer of light in that the Prime Minister stated public worship can continue
