The Beaminster Area Team
From The Hub Covid -19 Weekly Update Friday 24th July 2020
Here we are again another week has passed but I begin with some excellent news. Last Tuesday St Mary’s Beaminster were awarded the A Rocha Gold Eco Church award after three years of working towards it. This is only the eighth Gold award in the Church of England and the first to a church in Salisbury Diocese. Hilfield Friary was awarded the very first Gold award when it installed a new Biomass heating system a few years ago. I extend my profound thanks to Dr Gill Perrott and the Church environmental team for the many hours they have dedicated to achieving this and to the congregation for working with them and accepting the change this has brought about in how we live and care for God’s wonderful creation.
We continue to open churches for the first time since March with Melplash holding a Eucharist at 9.30. Other services this week are at Beaminster 8.00 and 9.30, and Hooke and South Perrott at 11.00 am. Next week we start the new service rota. This is based on services that can be taken by myself and Jo, with Fiona being a bonus as curates have a limited time in the team. Earlier this week the Bishop wrote to all clergy and included the advice that we should continue to protect our retired colleagues limiting how often we use their services for the time being.
We have received updated advice on the wearing of face masks in public worship. Whilst it is not compulsory to wear a mask it is strongly advised especially if congregating in larger numbers. The guidelines on gathering numbers for worship remained unchanged with each church setting the number based on two meter distancing advice. It is now possible to worship on land attached to the church again based on the number that can be socially distanced at two meters or a maximum of 30 people. Gathering for non worship purposes remains at six from different households which is why it is very difficult to hold PCC Meetings. I am exploring holding our APCMs in Sunday services which is a model I have used in previous parishes with great success.
It will be necessary to place a new order for sanitizing hand gel if there is any other cleansing equipment that your church needs please could you contact the Team Office and give your requirements to Anne. The Team News will be available for collection on Friday and Anne will contact those who pick it up to make the arrangements.
Once again thank you to everyone for your continued help and support.
David
Update from Jo
We have had a busy week preparing summer activity bags for families which go out next week. 25 families have requested a bag which means at least 50 children are benefiting. You can use the free resources as they will be available on the website from Monday 27th July
Online worship is available also on the website from 1pm on Saturday.
Link to face mask advice for churches is here on the Church of England website.
Please continue to pass on the weekly sheet with readings and reflections to those who can’t access church or online content.
Many thanks
Jo