Church is Changing, what’s happening?

From_the_Vicar News_about_our_building

To:Members of the benefice of 4,Sharnford Road

Sapcote, Sharnford and Wigston Parva Sapcote LE9 4JN

4 June 2020

Church is Changing, what’s happening?

Three weeks ago ago I sent you details of our Ascension Day worship together with Thy Kingdom Come information. Thank you to everyone who took on board the message and supported the Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative. 

Also I reminded you of the new Church of England prayer line (0800 804 8044) and our Wednesday 7.30pm Bible Study Zoom meetings (ID 81762098875 - password obtained from host, Dave Harrold, tel: 07786985932 or email: [email protected] ). 

Below are details of two more local videos followed by my thoughts on what might happen later this year if lockdown restrictions ease further.

My latest worship videos are available now on YouTube. Please enter the YouTube site and

search for “worship with rev mick on trinity sunday” or click here. The songs and talk from the video are

attached with this letter for everybody. In addition I have teamed up with Richard Dixon, our

evangelist with permission to officiate, to produce a further video. Again please enter the YouTube

site and search for “worship with rev mick once you’ve seen this” or click here which is aimed at those who

are less familiar with Christian worship, to explain why we do what we do.


People are starting to ask me when our buildings might open. We were hoping to have a

Government announcement about this at the end of May but it didn’t happen! Our bishops wrote

to us about this explaining that the delay may be due to the ‘R’ value being too close to 1.

Reading between the lines it looks like that there may be phasing ahead if restrictions ease eg

Phase 1: Church buildings open for private prayer with social distancing

Phase 2: Church buildings open for worship for very small numbers with social distancing.

Phase 3: Church buildings open for worship for numbers allowable within social distancing

All of the above are subject to Government/Church authorities approval and to the local

completion of assessments/systems/signage. This means that different church buildings could

open for different purposes at different dates- nationally and locally. I am aware that some of our

members will not feel able to join in any phases, such as 1-3, due to underlying health conditions

or due to shielding others with health conditions. Therefore I am hoping to offer garden

communions (home communion in a garden!) for those affected in this way (I will discuss this

with you on the phone first). If there is a phase 2, guidelines may allow us to hold outdoor

worship, in order to cater for a larger number more safely. Eventually we hope to put out some of

our worship on Zoom which can then be heard live by anyone with a phone - details to follow.

For now our church buildings continue to be closed. I continue to work, pray and worship from

home and I am usually available on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Please get hold of

me on the phone 01455-272215, especially during the day, or by email [email protected].

Please continue to ask for help whenever you need it, and encourage others to do the same.

With love and prayers

Rev Mick