TEMPORARY CANCELLATION OF SERVICES In light of the highly infectious Coronavirus variant and having consulted with the Parochial Church Council, the churchwardens have decided that all services at St Giles’ Church, Whittington, are cancelled for the foreseeable future. There will be no services until at least 31st March 2021 when the position will be reviewed. In view of the current freezing weather and the difficulty of keeping the ramp and steps safe, St Giles' Church, Whittington, will also be closed for private prayer for the time being. We hope to reopen for private prayer on a Sunday between 11:30 and 14:30 as soon as weather conditions permit. There will be some online service provision. If you do not currently receive links to online services, please email our Lay Reader, Gill Hollis, gillhollis@cooptel.net (for preference) or 01543 432107. We do not make this decision lightly and hope that you will understand that we have done it in order to keep everyone safe and to avoid the risk of putting any additional burden on the NHS. Please be assured of our prayers for you all. We will keep you updated if the situation changes at all. You can follow regular prayers and services for our three parishes at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoKnuUe7DF8KzQ1tYYZN_nQ At home you are encouraged to make use of the wide range of resources on our Church website especially under the spirituality and Bible sections. http://ourvillagechurch.org.uk/spirituality/ A comprehensive service at home booklet on the what's on page of our website: https://tinyurl.com/y62e9saj Lichfield Cathedral Worship Online https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/.../join-worship-online<strong> </strong> The Archbishops and others have emphasised that we will be part of “a different sort of church in these coming months”, that “Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day”. Alongside churches throughout the nation and world, let us be open to the Spirit’s leading in these unsettling and unknown times. This may be a time unlike any other when we can reconnect with God through patterns of prayer.
Our parishes are now in a ‘vacancy’ (sometimes known as an ‘interregnum’). Lichfield Diocese is just beginning a nine-month structural review called ‘Shaping for Mission’. This means that we should be prepared to wait a good number of months before we know whether we will have another Vicar or perhaps be linked with other parishes. At the moment we will continue with roughly the pattern of services to which we have become accustomed since churches reopened in July. 2021 Service Plan for St Giles’ from Sunday 3rd January until Easter (Subject to Government restrictions) <ul type="disc"> <li>Three weeks out of four (or four out of five in some months) will be physical services, and one Sunday will be a virtual service. All Sunday services will be at 9.30</li> </ul> <ul type="disc"> <li>Please note that for January only, Week 3 will be BCP 1662 and Week 4 Common Worship</li> </ul> <ul type="disc"> <li>Week 1 – Common Worship</li> <li>Week 2 – Virtual Service (as was previously Parish Praise)</li> <li>Week 3 – Common Worship</li> <li>Week 4 – BCP 1662</li> <li>Week 5 - (where applicable) BCP 1662</li> </ul>You are encouraged to make full use of the wide range of resources on our Church website, especially the prayer and spirituality sections. Website: www.ourvillagechurch.org.uk
The church experience will feel less friendly for a time due to necessary CV19 safety directives.On entry CV19 directions must be followed including gelling of hands and gloves not worn.You are strongly encouraged to wear a CV19 face mask during the service for the safety of others.Greetings within the building should be minimal if at all. Please reserve for outside the building at a social distance and not blocking porch area. Please depart quickly at the end of the service.The service will have no singing. The Priest will lead all parts.No collection will be taken. Please post cheques to present treasurer or arrange bank procedures with treasurer. Church is open for private prayer on Sundays between 11:15 and 16:00 hours.Our three churches online provision will continue for the next three months and can be accessed from the website or YouTube playlist. The morning and evening prayer provision remains there too. Quiet Space remains online only.
