Today sees the start of the second Covid-19 lockdown in England. Despite impassioned and well-argued protestations the government continued to refuse permission for church buildings to open for Public Worship during lockdown, and this was agreed by parliament last night.

All our present safeguarding measures against cross infection remain in place and so our building is permitted to open for private prayer. I am told this may not include any form of spoken led prayer, either in person or by video. But there will be a sheet of prayers, and song words, available as you enter, to help you in your private silent prayers. Recordings of the songs will be played at intervals. Our building will be open 10.30 – 11.30am on Sunday mornings for private prayer.

We will post a pre-recorded act of worship on our church Facebook group page, and on our website, each Sunday morning during the period of lockdown for you to watch and participate in from your home.

We will also be continuing our on-line Sunday 6.00pm Zoom gathering for prayer, worship and chat. I do encourage you to overcome any reticence and participate in these gatherings.

And let us not forget, the ‘church’ is far more than our building. First and foremost, it is the people who gather in the name of Christ our Saviour. Let us continue to give ourselves to the service of bearing witness to his message of good news of hope for the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting in Christ, as we continue to show acts of kindness, to one another and to the people of Wolverhampton and beyond, and to offer prayers for all in need. Indeed, our Archbishops encourage us - the people of the church – to concentrate on prayer during this period of lockdown, for we should never forget “all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)