Rector’s Update

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As you will have heard we now have to keep our beloved churches locked until further notice. No activities can take place including daily devotions by the parish priest. During this time please could you ensure that the building is checked as those intent on breaking in will not adhere to lock down or from stealing lead.

Please could you inform me of the contact details of those church members who are isolated, ill or vulnerable as I am forming a chain of contact by the staff and lay people, if you already have a set up in the village please could you let me know if any one needs a pastoral call from us.

David Pain the Diocesan Secretary as this afternoon sent out a letter to all PCC Secs and other contacts explaining the help and support that is being offered by the Diocese this includes special information about parish share if you do not see this in the next couple of days let me know and I will forward it to you.

At this time all Weddings and Baptisms cannot take place Jo has already contacted all booked baptism families to inform them and assuring them of rearrangements once we are open again I am in contact with wedding couples similarly and we have already rearranged a couple for the autumn. I have this afternoon taken the first of what I expect to be many graveside funerals with the restricted number of family only present this is the only form of service we can hold in our church yards and I will contact CW’s individually should this be required.

I held a staff meeting this morning via Zoom and we discussed how we continue to prayer together whilst being dispersed there will be a service on the website each Sunday as well as other aids to daily prayer. We are also planning how we uphold Holy Week and I will ask Jo to update you on that and all things prayerful and spiritual next week. We will also be posting 3 short reflections and comments each day on our various platforms. Jo will post each morning to wake you up, Fiona and (I hope our partner priests) will post a mid day reflection of hope and I will post at the end of day all this I hope will help people to see that Church is not closed but we are doing church differently.

The Team News will be coming into the office on Friday and Mandy Alford will be in the office between 3.30 and 4.00 for those who wish to collect them but I must stress that they should only be delivered if the rules on safe distancing can be maintained, I understand if distributors do not wish to collect them they will wait patiently in the office until brighter days. We are exploring if we can put an electronic copy on the website for all to read.
Please keep looking at the website for regular update and I personally want to thank you all for the magnificent job you are all doing in the service of the Kingdom across the team. Please be assured of our prayers for you all and your families at this time.