Dear Friends,
I hope you’ve had an enjoyable week and that the heat hasn’t been too much for you. We’ve certainly been very thankful for shade and a big paddling pool!
We had some good news this week: the Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that churches (among other things) could reopen for worship services from next weekend (5 July). I thank God that the time is soon drawing near when we can meet again face to face.
However, as I write (Friday) we are still waiting for more information on the Covid-safety guidelines our services will operate under. Apparently the bishops are locked in discussions with the government to get the information finalised, but with so many industries and organisations doing the same thing, the government and scientists are struggling to resolve matters swiftly enough. As a consequence we are unlikely to get the guidance Monday or Tuesday, which may make it difficult for us to restart services next weekend. Please be praying for the bishops and the government as they sort these things out – they’re working in our best interests on some pretty complex matters and I hope you’ll agree with me when I say it’s better we wait and get it right, rather than rushing into restarting services without fully understanding our Covid-19 related duty of care to our congregations.
When we do restart, it’s likely that for the first few weeks, we’ll only be able to offer one or two services a weekend, which we’ll move around the churches that can be safely reopened (ie those where we have an identified “Venue Manager” who is taking responsibility on behalf of the PCC for the cleaning and management of the building). From the results of our survey this week, I’ve been greatly heartened that most of you are willing to worship at a building that is not your usual church, so I would encourage youto worship where services are available, until such time as we have regular services everywhere.
Inevitably there are a few rumours circulating about what services will be like when we can restart. It seems likely we will not be allowed to sing for the foreseeable future (for some of you this will be a relief, for others devastating). We will certainly have to socially distance in church, and it seems likely that once inside a building, we’ll not be allowed to interact socially outside of our family groups. We’re hoping the rules for open air worship might be a bit more relaxed, and we’ll certainly look at that option when we know what we’re allowed to do.
In the meantime, please be patient, and keep praying for everyone involved in reopening buildings and restarting services: we need it!
Briefly, a few other bits of news.
1) Church finances – you can make a difference!
Like all small charities, your local church is suffering a significant financial shortfall as a result of lost income from collections and special fundraising events we’d have run through the summer.
Whilst there’s still some hope we might be able to run a few events in the open air later in the summer, we do face a very challenging future financially. If you are in a position to give an additional gift at this time, it would make a huge difference.
To make this simpler, we’ve set up a new GIVING page on our website (https://www.hopechurchfamily.org/giving), with all the information you’ll need to give a one-off, or regular gift to any of our churches.
2) Services on DVDs and CDs
Every week I produce the services on DVD and CD for a small number of folk across the area who don’t have internet access. It’s been a lovely way for them to stay in touch. If you know of anyone else who would be helped by this ministry, please let me know. And can I say a big thank-you to Alison, John and Robina, who are helping with distribution in Ripple and Welland!
3) Get Togethers
We still can’t meet physically as church at the moment but Zoom continues to be a good tool to help us keep in touch and meet with a crowd of folk! If you’ve not tried it yet, and have a computer, do give it a go – it’s possible to leave the video off and just talk, or even just to listen in to others chatting. Sunday 28 June, 10-11am, Coffee and Chat.
4) Churches Open For Individual Prayer.
Thanks to the hard work of our volunteer cleaners and organisers we’re able to open three of our churches for a short period each week for individual prayer. You can visit to pray at the following times:
- Mondays 10am-noon St James’ Welland
- Tuesdays 10am-noon St Gabriel’s, Hanley Swan
- Wednesdays 10am-noon St Mary’s, Hanley Castle
- Thursdays 10am-noon St James’, Welland
- Fridays 5pm-7pm St Gabriel’s, Hanley Swan
- Saturdays 10am-noon St Mary’s, Hanley Castle
To help keep you safe, the buildings are being cleaned before and after each opening period, and the three-day gap between each building opening will act as an additional “safety buffer” in which the scientists tell us any virus particles that the cleaners have missed will die.
Notwithstanding that, please help us keep the buildings clean and safe by minimising the things you touch while in the building, using the provided hand gel, observing social distancing, and following all safety instructions in the building.
Please do not enter the building if you are experiencing any of the key Covid-19 symptoms:
- a new continuous cough.
- a high temperature.
- a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
It’s also possible that we may need to close one of the buildings occasionally for a funeral, or other service, or because we haven’t been able to maintain cleaning safety. We’ll do our best to inform you of this.
5) This week’s Online Events
Click the links on the list below to take you direct to the event at the appropriate time.
Sunday 28 June
Live at 9:30am
- Church Family (modern music version) – Join in the planned premier post on the Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/hopechurchupton) from 9:27am, feel free to comment and chat using the links on Facebook.
Prerecorded, (stream at your convenience)
- Sunday Service (traditional hymn version) – PRERECORDED so you can watch anytime from midnight on Sunday (also avaliable through our Youtube channel).
- Church Family (modern music version) – PRERECORDED – watch anytime from midnight on Sunday at www.hopechurchfamily.org/virtual or through our Youtube channel or join the live Facebook Premiere at 9:30am.
- Evening Prayer – PRERECORDED – watch anytime from midnight on Sunday at www.hopechurchfamily.org/virtual or through our Youtube channel.
Wednesday 1 July
- Service of Spiritual Communion – Live – 6:30pm. LIVE – using Zoom. You can download a service sheet here.
Every Day except Sunday
- Daily Prayer – a short service of prayers and readings.
Services for Sunday 4 July
- Possibly 2 live communion services in church, depending on clergy availability, building safety, and the complexity of the government’s rules…More details in next week’s email.
- Service of the Word (traditional) – PRERECORDED available from midnight
- Church Family (contemporary)– Facebook Premiere at 9:30am and PRERECORDED available from midnight.
We long for the day when we can all gather together again, but in the meantime, stay safe, stay prayerful, and God bless!
Barry Unwin