The Beaminster Area Team
From The Hub Covid – 19 Weekly Update Friday 10th July 2020
I would like to start by thanking everyone who assisted in opening churches last Sunday we received some very kind and helpful comments especially regarding how safe those attending felt with the procedures that had been put into place.
We continue our phased opening programme with services this Sunday 12th July 2020 as follows;
Beaminster
08:00 BCP Eucharist
09:30 CW Eucharist
11:00 – 12:00 Open for private prayer
Netherbury
08:00 BCP Eucharist
South Perrott
09:30 CW Eucharist
Hooke
11:00 Morning Worship
I am in conversation with a number of our churches who are uncertain about reopening before I can confirm next week’s services and I am putting together a rota for August that can appear in the Team News. This will continue to be with reduced services for the time being as we feel our way back and as I have to work with staff holidays and those who are still shielding.
The Government guidelines are mainly unchanged from this time last week but should there be any significant changes I will send them out immediately.
I will be leading a funeral next Saturday in Beaminster followed by a wedding in Hooke which will be another good test of our safety procedures in different circumstances to Sunday services. I will also be meeting with one of our smaller PCC’s in church under strict social distancing to see if it works safely if so I will contact Secretaries to see if other PCC’s are happy to meet.
Once again thank you for your support and patience as we try to ensure that our return to worship keeps everyone safe at all times.
David
Our worship this week is made up of contributions from our 10.15@Salway Ash congregation, a guest appearance by the Bishop of Sherborne, and includes some heroic editing from Harry. A huge thanks to all of them for their hard word. It will be available on our Worship at Home page from 13:00 on Saturday.
Online worship will continue as churches begin to reopen and we always welcome contributions either with photos, recording readings, intercessions or short videos reflecting on what God is doing in your life. If you want help managing to record a message we are always ready to help.
If you are thinking of returning to worship this week, do read our what to expect when you return – the details are below. A huge thank you to those who have prepared churches for reopening and those who have attended. It feels strange but the overwhelming feedback has been positive.
Messy Church takes place online again this month, 4pm on Saturday 11 July on Facebook – find us at www.facebook.com/BeaminsterTeam. You can watch us without being a member of Facebook and you can send the link to grandchildren all over the world. We are exploring the parable of the sower.
Please pray for our school communities in the coming week as the end of term approaches: for those leaving and moving on under odd circumstances, those waiting for exam results having not actually been able to sit exams, for staff having had little time off since March and still facing a summer of planning for an unknown September, and for those for whom the holidays will be challenging.
With every blessing, Jo
Congregation guidelines for return to worship Beaminster Team July 2020
Church will look and feel different. The changes are to comply with government and Church of England guidelines. These guidelines are designed to keep us all safe when gathered for worship.
Please do not come to church if you have a new, continuous cough, or a high temperature or loss of or change to sense of smell or taste. This is to minimise risk of spread of COVID-19 to friends, the wider community, and particularly the vulnerable. If you have symptoms you need to self-isolate.
You may need to queue to get into church. Please observe two metre social distancing in the queue. When you attend worship in any of the churches in the Beaminster Area Team your name and phone number (if we don’t already have it) will be recorded and kept safely for three weeks in order to provide details for Track and trace if needed.
As you come into church you will need to sanitise your hands. We will provide hand sanitiser. You may wear a mask if you would like, it is not mandatory. Doors and windows will be open so it may be chilly or draughty, please dress accordingly.
You will be directed to a seat. Please go to the seat directed even it is not your usual seat or preferred place in church. Do not move the seats or signs on pews. In some churches you may be able to sit close to other family members from the same household. This may not be possible in all churches.
A service book will be left for you on your seat. Books must be left behind on the chair after worship.
Please remain seated throughout worship. Communion will be brought to you in your seat if you wish to receive it. It will be in one kind only. No words of administration will be used. If you would like to receive please extend your hand to receive the bread.
There will be no singing or loud responses. You are encouraged to join in congregational responses in a quiet voice. We will not be able to share the peace with each other.
Cash donations may be made in the plate at the back of church. We would encourage you to sign up to direct giving via your bank account if you don’t already.
At the end of the service you will be directed to leave church a row or pew at a time. You will be asked to sanitise your hands as you leave. Most churches will have a one-way system and you will leave through a different door.
Please do not gather for chat outside church or wait for friends. We need to disperse quickly, particularly in a church where there may be another service and cleaning needs to take place.
Only one person may be in the lift at Beaminster at a time.
If you would prefer not to attend worship at this time, we still have worship available online via our website, www.beaminsterteamchurches.org
Thank you so much for complying with these guidelines and keeping 2 metres apart from each other, by doing so we are helping to keep each other as safe as possible.