Being Church in the Context of Covid-19
As we face
these challenging times, here are some practical suggestions from Lindsey,
Nicola and Paul. We will try and
maintain a weekly mailing, probably on a Tuesday, so do look out for that. We realise that there is a lot of out of
stuff out there, but thought that our own Synod ‘offering’ would be good to
make, though there will be duplication of information. At the end of this note
you will find our contact details, a reminder of what to do in the event of any
safeguarding issues, and (one of the things we have been asked about) URC
advice on weddings and funerals.
Mothering
Sunday – THIS Sunday
Remember the
note about 7pm and lighting a candle in Paul’s letter of yesterday, but other
suggestions would be:
A prayer
activity to do together at home for Mothering Sunday
Together plant
some seeds either in a plant pot or in the garden. As you plant each seed think
about how it is a symbol of the growth we are asking God for in our prayers.
It’s not just
babies and children who need a helping hand to learn how to grow well.
Sometimes families and communities need help to make the most of their lives.
Some feel a bit weak and need help to grow strong; others feel worried and
unsure about the way they are living and need help to grow in confidence; there
are some who live where there’s a lot of fighting and they need help to grow
peace instead of conflict.
Pray together
Loving Lord, as
we plant these seeds, we pray that strength will grow and flourish in families
and communities. Amen
Loving Lord, as
we plant these seeds, we pray that confidence will grow and flourish in
families and communities. Amen
Loving Lord, as
we plant these seeds, we pray for peace to grow and flourish in families and
communities. Amen
The Church
Building
·
What
do your noticeboards say about your church at the moment? While the building may be closed it is
really important not to send the message that the Church is! Have notices up -and clearly visible- for how
members / friends / the community can still contact your church networks; offer
reassurance and comfort.
Worship
·
URC
Daily Devotions’ Sunday services: subscribe to the Daily Devotions (‘click
here’ on the web page) for access to new Sunday services:
·
United
Reformed Churches’ live and recorded services
·
Want
to get an audio message to your church?
Read how to set up a podcast:
Pastoral
Care / community outreach
·
Are
your pastoral lists up-to-date? Do
those on pastoral care rotas have time to make phone calls every few days? A telephone cascade system is the most
inclusive way for us to keep in contact with our members (and not just the most
vulnerable: stopping services and groups means that we will lose touch with many
people if we don’t act). This is
something that everyone can be involved in: you don’t need technology or
transport or physical energy, just a phone, and it makes everyone feel useful.
·
Set
up a group to share prayer requests / needs etc on WhatsApp
·
Get
volunteers and print and distribute cards to neighbours / members of the church
community / those self-isolating etc letting people know what help you can
offer (example at the end; you may want to design your own including the name
of your church)
·
Start a ‘notelet ministry’, sending
cards to people. The message doesn’t have to be deeply profound, just
letting people know that you’re there.
·
Check
the status of your local Foodbank. They
need different kinds of support at the moment.
If it is at risk of closing consider setting up a box / cupboard outside
your building as a Little Free Pantry (leave what you can, take what you need)
Groups
·
Set
up your Lent / prayer / study group on WhatsApp to discuss and share ideas
·
If
you bought your resources for the group it is almost certainly permissible for
you to reproduce those materials by scanning pages / sharing video links (to
pre-existing members) so that you can do them independently then share your
thoughts
·
Messy
Church? Toddler Groups? Dementia Groups?
Put
packs together for the session being missed; either email, post or make
physically available for half an hour, for example, at the church door at the
time the group would have met.
Try
and include a reading / reflection, song and prayer as well as a description of
the activity. If you think the resources
would be available in a normal home don’t try and do all the shopping – it can
be part of the distraction of those self-isolating to gather things
together. Try a cooking / making /
planting activity that you might not have been able to do if you had met. Set up a WhatsApp group* or similar to
compare notes / pictures.
·
Film
Nights / book clubs (if you don’t have one already this is a good time to
start)
Nominate
the film or book as usual (if a film try and find something currently
available, on the BBC/ iPlayer for example).
Give participants questions / conversation starters before they watch
the film / read the book. Buddy up in
pairs on the phone or use a group chat (WhatsApp / Zoom / Lifesize / Skype) to
discuss afterwards.
·
For
children at home:
creative ideas for your families to do at home together
Church
Grounds
·
Do
you have a garden, courtyard or bench? Publicise it if it is open for reflection / getting
out of the house / being at one with nature / weeding / planting. Where possible make reflective material
available and update it every few days.
Safeguarding
update
For Any
safeguarding queries I am working from home. All enquires and concerns
can come to me in the usual way either via email or my mobile phone 07515721172. Please do not hesitate to get in
touch.
cydo@urceastern.org.uk Nicola
URC Advice on Wedding
and Funeral Services
Questions are likely
to arise in many congregations about whether we can host and conduct wedding
and funeral services in the current emergency.
Here are some
thoughts about what we might do at the moment. It is possible that this
guidance could change in the days and weeks ahead.
Wedding couples could
be asked to consider holding the service with the legal minimum number of
people present (five, I believe). Then they could defer their main celebration
to another time, when it could of course include a much fuller church service.
Funerals often
attract a lot of elderly mourners. So perhaps we should think instead about a
simple committal ceremony at cemetery or crematorium with an intentionally very
small number of people present.
Tributes can then be
paid in other ways for larger numbers of people to read – either online, or in
a church newsletter – or given in a memorial service later in the year.
All of that may feel
very unsatisfactory. But there is not a satisfactory way to deal with these
issues. We don’t want anyone’s life to end because they attended a funeral.
Further,
ministers or other worship leaders who are vulnerable – either because they are
over 70, or because of health issues – should surely stand down from public duty.
Much can be done from home, by phone and online. As a Church, we ask those who
care for us to care for themselves too, especially when life could be at risk.
A prayer for uncertain times
The Moderators of
the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (URC), the Revd Nigel Uden
and Derek Estill, have offered the following prayer as the UK and the rest of
the world come to terms with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
‘God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ Psalm 46:1, NRSV
As so much is
re-shaped by Coronavirus Covid 19,
us pray with people
left unwell, beckoned by death or bereaved;
people providing professional health care and advice, looking after loved ones at home or working to create treatments and cures;
people shaping the response of nations and neighbourhoods, of commerce and industry, of service and voluntary organisations and of communities of faith;
people who are anxious or afraid, alone or isolated.
people providing professional health care and advice, looking after loved ones at home or working to create treatments and cures;
people shaping the response of nations and neighbourhoods, of commerce and industry, of service and voluntary organisations and of communities of faith;
people who are anxious or afraid, alone or isolated.
Living, loving God,
we praise you, and through times of peril we lean into you,
for in Jesus Christ you have trodden paths as difficult as ours,
revealing there a love that nothing defeats, a love that bears us through.
for in Jesus Christ you have trodden paths as difficult as ours,
revealing there a love that nothing defeats, a love that bears us through.
Even as we strive
to behave responsibly, and to care reliably,
so we feel after you that in these uncertain times we might trust you are with us,
our refuge and strength, and our faith, hope and love might be renewed,
through Jesus Christ, Amen.
so we feel after you that in these uncertain times we might trust you are with us,
our refuge and strength, and our faith, hope and love might be renewed,
through Jesus Christ, Amen.
Our prayers and our
best wishes,
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