Latest News from the Rector
17.9.21
Dear Church Family,
Hello
Please find this weeks Notice Sheet here and the Daily Prayer sheet for the coming week here.
There is a copy of the service plan going forward here
The new worship rota is now available (up to 7th November) which you should have received by email if you are involved in one of the weekly duties. Paper copies are available too at the back of church.
God Bless
Alison
There are also some additional notice items as follows:
For this Sunday at St Andrew's, there will be forest church during the service.
Suicide Awareness Forum
The New Worshipping Community (Presence) is hosting a suicide awareness forum on zoom on Tuesday 21st September at 8pm. Suicde is the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK. If you know anyone who may benefit from getting involved, please forward them the details, which can be found here: www.presenceonline.church/suicide
Alpha Online
This term 'Presence' will be running alpha online on Tuesday evenings at 8pm, starting on Tuesday 28th September. Please pray for the course.
First Aid
St Michael le Belfrey will be hosting a course and looking for more people to attend to make up the numbers, although the date has not yet been confirmed. If you would like to do this, particularly if you are involved with any of our children's and youth groups, please let James Simister know.
Thursday Night Youth Work
We are in need of female adults to get involved with our older youth group (14-18s) on Thursday evenings, either weekly or on a rota basis. 7.45-9.30pm. There's currently a great bunch of young people who are a joy to get to know. If you can help, please contact James Simister: james@huntingtonparish.org.uk
Information Regarding our Services
Some people are more cautious than others when it comes to Covid restrictions, either by nature or for personal medical reasons. For that reason we are ‘doing church differently’ at each of the three regular Sunday services to offer a choice:
8.30 am fortnightly at All Saints Our most ‘careful’ service. No singing. We ask that everyone wears a face covering unless exempt. Holy Communion (bread only) will be distributed in the pews for the time being.
10.30 am at All Saints Our ‘middle’ response. The service will include singing. Face coverings are ‘expected and recommended’ in line with government recommendations. When there is Holy Communion, the bread will be distributed at the rail and by the font, standing rather than kneeling.
10.30 am at St Andrew’s Our most ‘relaxed’ approach. The service will include singing. All-age worship every week, so face coverings are a matter of personal choice, in line with schools. When there is Holy Communion, the bread will be distributed at the rail, standing rather than kneeling. We will have fewer chairs, with more space than usual between the rows.
At all services
· If you would like to ask other people to keep their distance, there will be cards available which you can place on the pew or chair next to you to say, ‘Please give me space.’
· Please avoid shaking hands or hugging anyone beyond your family ‘bubble’ e.g. during The Peace.
· We do not plan to offer refreshments for the time being.
· We will not offer prayer ministry until we have seen how everything is working out.
· The sign-in sheets have been removed but the QR codes will remain for those who use the NHS app.
· There will be a bowl for the offering by the door on the way in - and also on the way out!
· We will do our best to keep the buildings well-ventilated.
Other things to be aware of
· We will continue to livestream one of the 10.30 am services via the church Facebook page.
· Many families had to postpone the baptism of their children during lockdown so there will be quite a few baptism services over the next few months (2nd Sundays at All Saints and 3rd Sundays at St Andrew’s). We will encourage our guests to fit in with the arrangements but it can’t be guaranteed that they will do so.
I’m sorry that there is so much to take in. Service leaders, churchwardens and welcomers will be on hand to help, and I’ve no doubt that the arrangements will be tweaked and adjusted as the weeks go by. Thank you very much for your patience.
We have had a great summer: ten weeks of worshipping outdoors, and a good crowd at each of the 8.30 Communion services. The Lord has been good to us. It is exciting, though, to be going home…
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