Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Saturday bulletin from All Saints and a new term. Tomorrow morning we return to our church building for the first time since March for a service of Holy Communion. Lots of work has gone in to making this a safe space for everyone and after a rehearsal yesterday with an amazing ministry, steward and tech team I think we know what we are doing but please be patient with us as we learn a new way of gathering together safely.
For those unable to attend we do hope you will join us via Youtube where the service will be live streamed from 10.15am.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNymtzHV8G_EfZprXch9RIg
Here are the important things for you to note if you are coming to the building.....
Doors will open at 10.00am for the service to start at 10.30am.
Please use on street parking or the Old Rectory Museum unless you need close access for mobility reasons.
Please wear a face covering, clean your hands as you enter the building and be ready to give you name and contact details.
Stewards will take you to a seat ensuring we adhere to social distancing.
The service is being recorded and live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. The majority of the time the cameras will be pointing to the front of the church but there will be some shots of the congregation during processions and at the start of communion. If you would like to ensure you are not seen please let the stewards know as you arrive and they will seat you appropriately.
Orders of service can be downloaded and viewed on our church website. If you are able please either print your own or use a tablet/smartphone to view it. There are two versions available one set out as single sheets and the other as a booklet. There will be a limited number of printed copies available in church including some large print versions. If you use one please take it away with you to bring back next week.
https://allsaintsloughborough.org.uk/jml02/on-line
The passcode you need to access the church Wi-Fi is 73372028
The toilets will be open and managed by a steward.
Sadly we are unable to offer a distinct provision for children at this service with our usual Little Saints group and the Trinity Room is not accessible. Children are of course most welcome to come to the service but they will need to remain seated with their parents.
For the distribution of communion please remain in your seat until instructed to move by a steward. You will be invited to sanitise your hands, remove your face covering and go forwards to receive the bread. You will then be able to re-sanitise your hands before replacing your face covering and return to your seat via a one-way system. All of this will be directed by stewards so please don't worry and take your time. If you have not yet been baptised or received into taking communion you can still come forward for a blessing and indicate this is your wish by keeping your hands at your side.
Congregational singing is still off limits but we will have beautiful music from our principal organist Simon Headley, a recorded Gloria put together under lockdown by our own choirs and for the first time in nearly six months, a small group of our adult choristers will sing live for us. Look out also for a rousing piece from Handel's Messiah sung by our Director of Mission through Music, Emma Trounson at the end of the service.
At the end of the service please stay in your seat until a steward invites you to leave. This is to ensure we keep social distancing as we leave.
If you are bringing your financial gift with you to the church building you can you donate this as you leave either in cash, cheque or you can now make your gift by card payment.
After the service please do not linger in the church building but save conversation to outside remembering to continue to respect social distancing as you do so.
Farewells to Mark, Chris and Phillippa
Tomorrow of course is a very special day as we say goodbye to Mark and Lesley, Chris, Esther, Oscar and Maisy and Phillippa as they prepare to move on to the next stage of their ministry. For Mark he will be finishing his curacy in a rural context supporting the life of the church in the Framland Deanery. For Chris and Phillippa it is the start of their ordination training. We shall be making a small presentation to them at the end of the service and then everyone is invited to stay for a picnic on the parish green. Wrap up warm and although we often like to share food on this occasion you will need to bring your own picnic.
The September Herald will be out later today or tomorrow containing more church news and further details of services and events through the week on and offline.
Best Wishes
Reverend Wendy Dalrymple
Rector of All Saints with Holy Trinity