The Beaminster Area Team
Weekly COVID – 19 Update Friday 18th September 2020
This week has seen a further three Annual Parochial Meetings take place. Marion Gadsby stood down at Salway Ash after thirty eight years of service and Robert Brown stood down as Treasurer. It was good to welcome four new members to the PCC making them the youngest PCC in the Team. I am delighted to welcome a second Churchwarden at Stoke Abbott. David French will work with Annie Kelsey.
Congratulations to Hooke on becoming the first parish to fill all the positions on their PCC including a new Deanery Synod member, which is unheard of in modern times. I would like to thank Marion, Rob, and all those who have stood down this year for the many years of service and commitment they have given to their respective parishes. So, on to next week and meetings at Seaborough and Beaminster. Broadwindsor, Blackdown, and Burstock which will hold a joint meeting with Drimpton joining the party. There will then be a temporary break until I return from my leave and the final hurrah in South Perrott in October.
Please could PCC Secretaries let Anne know the details of new PCC officers and those who have stood down so that she can update the database in the office in line with GDPR regulations? Also, if not already done, please ensure that all elected and ex-officio members complete the Charity Trustees form. Finally, please let Heidi Merritt the Deanery Synod Secretary have the names and email addresses of those who have been elected for the new Deanery Synod Triennium
Latest Covid guidelines remain as I reported last week but are constantly under review and I will update you with any changes that affect our situations as and when they change. I am studying the guidelines on worship outdoors as this may be an option we have to use for Remembrance Sunday across the Team. Covid Security is central to how we maintain safety for those who come into our churches. So a gentle reminder, especially in Beaminster, that no one should enter the building once it has been locked down on the Wednesday evening prior to worship the following Sunday, as instructed in the guidelines I issued a month ago. Should you feel that you need to do so you must contact me or the Church Wardens and we will assess in line with the risk assessment if this is a valid and safe entry. Please do not be upset if we deem that it can wait until Sunday. Thank you for your help and understanding in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all. Please remember to destroy any track and trace lists that are over twenty one days old as this is a requirement of law.
Please also remember you can download our Weekly Share Sheet to print and give others to read who may not have online access.
May the Lord Bless us and keep us all safe today and forever.
David
A huge thank you to those who are continuing to contribute to our online worship which is watched every week by about 50 people. If you would like to contribute a reading, prepare and lead prayers or send in photos then please do get in contact. Our online worship is available every week on the website.
The Lyme Bay Deanery are holding a taster event on 29th September for those interested in training to become either a lay pastoral assistant or a lay worship leader. Please see the attached flyer. The training and the taster evening may end up being online, or in person, or a mixture of the two. Please leave a message at the office to book your place or send an email either to the office or to Jo.
There has been a small buzz of excitement around our Advent window trail idea and we have Broadwindsor and Drimpton signed up ready to host 24 decorated windows each. I will prepare all the necessary information on how to run an Advent window trail event and put all the documents on the website. Then any other village who wants to can use the resources to plan their own event. The content will go live on our website on 1st October, giving us plenty of time to get planning before the first window is lit on 1st December. If you decide to host an Advent window project please do let me know so we can advertise your event.
Please note that Beaminster Foodbank has changed their contact details and have a new phone number and new email. Please could you print off the new poster and display it in your village and church? We are happy to collect food from Harvest festival but would prefer to not receive any cash donations at the moment, perhaps any money raised from Harvest festival could go to a different charity instead please?
Please hold Revd Fiona Beale, our team curate, in your prayers this week as she prepares for her ordination as priest on Saturday 26th September at St Aldhelm’s Radipole. She will celebrate her first Eucharist in the team at 11am on Sunday 27th September at South Perrott. We pray for all new deacons, priests and licenced lay ministers to be ordained and licensed in the Diocese of Salisbury next weekend.
Every blessing,
Jo