Dear Friends in Christ,
Saint Paul tells us in his letter to the Hebrews “ But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”.
It was Sunday March, 22 when we last came together as a family in Cross Green, and those of us who were there were faced with a set of rules. More than anything the door of the church being bolted at 0930 and no spoken words apart from myself.
In line with the Government Guidance and under Canon Law, we can open the Church for public worship and we will do this on Sunday, July 12 at 0930 hrs.
Whereas St Paul tells us about coming to Mount Zion, and, "Yes", we are coming back to our spiritual home and for some it has been the City of the Living God as the Food Hub has kept the Gospel alive, as well as the online worship, there are people out there who need their church to be back at the heart of the community.
With opening up comes a set of guidelines that we must all adhere too:
1. Social distancing of one to two metres must be maintained.
2. We must enter and leave through different doors. Entry will only be through the main North door where there will be sanitiser which everyone is asked to use. At the end of Mass everyone will leave through the Community Room but will be asked to wait until Paul has left the organ.
3. No paper can be left in church, so fresh Mass sheets will be provided every Sunday with the weekly pew sheets. They will be put on the table for people to pick up as they arrive. Because not everyone will feel able to return to church immediately the sheets will continue to be sent out in advance by email, so if you can print them out and bring your own you are encouraged to do so. If you cannot there will be plenty in church. Also the Parish Magazine will not be in Church but if you know someone who needs it please ask.
4.The church is not allowed to provide children’s drawing or crayoning materials, Lego or toys. Children’s Mass sheets will be provided.
5.The congregation is not allowed to sing but there can be one cantor. This will be Paul who is also allowed to play the organ.
6. Fr Darren will receive Communion on behalf of the people as he did on Mothering Sunday. But at least we will be physically in Our Lord’s presence instead of virtually.
The Parish Mass will be celebrated in Church, for a couple of weeks from where gradually we will reintroduce the Daily Mass. For the interim period the Daily Mass will be Celebrated from my home here in Wakefield.
If we go back into lockdown again, the Church will be closed with immediate effect.
Now, to get ready to return we need to clean the Church, both thoroughly and gradually. If anyone would like to clean please forward me your names and what you can do.
I look forward to welcoming you all back next Sunday.
Best wishes,
Fr Darren