UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (15th April
2020)
Dear All
Hoping you remain safe
and well, that you had a good Easter, and that some of this information might
be of use.
Just a reminder that
this emailing appears both on the Synod Coronavirus blog https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
and on the Synod website. The blog also contains relevant associated documents.
SAFEGUARDING
As a lot of interaction moves online, it
is important to be aware of potential safeguarding issues, particularly in
respect of children and young people.
To assist, we have place a risk assessment
tool on the Synod website –
You may also access codes of conduct for
online engagement and consent amd information forms from the Synod Coronavirus blog
–
Codes of conduct - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/online-codes-of-conduct-for-yp-children.html
Information and Consent forms - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/online-engagement-information-and.html
ONLINE WORSHIP AND COPYRIGHT
Copyright
for streaming services:
Last week Paul helpfully drew our attention to the need for us to remain
vigilant about licences when offering alternative ways of worship during the
current lockdown.
·
You
may need a CCLI Streaming Licence to put on your website or stream (broadcast online) the
same content that you need a standard CCLI licence for. You must have a
standard CCLI licence to apply for a streaming licence. This includes using
music in Zoom / Lifesize / Webex etc services. There is currently a
slight discount for the licence https://uk.ccli.com/streaming.
·
If
you are using others’ liturgy please check the copyright and acknowledge where
it came from; if you are using pictures please check that they are
copyright-free, as normal.
This
is from one of the CCLI’s fact files:
“Web-streaming
church services:
If your church makes its worship services available
over the internet (live, or as a downloadable file) you should remember that a
number of components will be involved; live and/or recorded music, the liturgy,
the sermon. Each of these elements is covered by copyright, so before a
service is made available over the internet, care should be taken to ensure
that each element has been cleared for distribution by the appropriate
copyright owner. In addition, permission must be sought from all musicians,
readers, prayers and preachers before you record or broadcast their
performance.
The CCLI Streaming Licence provides a solution for
churches wishing to stream or webcast their services, including the live
worship, as video and audio. The Streaming Licence includes the right to show
lyrics as part of the stream, to enable viewers to sing along. If you are
hosting the stream on your own church website you will also require a Limited
Online Music Licence (LOML) from PRS for Music. The CCLI Streaming Licence
permits you to stream or webcast on platforms which are normally intended for
personal, domestic use only, such as YouTube or Facebook Live.
We recommend always checking the terms and
conditions of the site you wish to use for streaming/webcasting, and never
assume that such sites permit you either to upload copyrighted material or play
content from them in a public setting without a licence or permission. Visit
ccli.com/streaming and prsformusic.com/loml for further details. If you only
wish to stream the audio of your services, which include the worship songs, the
PRS for Music LOML will cover this.”
We will update this information further next week.
If you have concerns or would like more information meanwhile please contact
Lindsey directly.
EMPLOYMENT
LAW
There
have been further detailed updates from the government on Employer and Employee
Eligibility for the furlough scheme. If you have concerns about employee
eligibility contact Lindsey for more information.
CHURCH SERVICES
As mentioned last week,
there are lots of opportunities for online worship, so a chance to sample different
services, some are posting online and others are live streaming. Several can be accessed from the church’s
website, for example:
FRESH
EXPRESSIONS LISTEN AND PRAY GATHERING
This
was a moving online gathering of 50+ from across the country and denominations
to try to discern God’s voice at this time and try to pray into some of the
dominant issues.
·
Common
factors included: the joy of finding new and creative ways to worship together
and of reaching many new people, but acknowledging that we didn’t always know
who we’re not reaching through these new ways: who is this online world
not working for? The roles of those involved in church are growing and
changing, and many people are becoming much more involved; while worship can be
fun and exciting, mission is more of a struggle. The likelihood of real
financial struggle for churches is a deep concern.
·
Many
people felt strongly that we must not go ‘back’ once the lockdown is
lifted. Recent discussions that have been taking place (as a result of
the climate crisis) about reducing road travel and moving to online meetings
have until now been very slow and indecisive, and suddenly we are finding that
both are possible and often beneficial (but again, who is the online world not
working for?). Opportunities have opened up for almost daily, interactive
church for many people, and beyond the congregations we started with. To
go back to ‘just’ a passive hour-long Sunday service could dishonour
that.
·
Many
have appreciated the liberation of time to allow for (“almost monastic”)
contemplation and reflection; there were many calls for us to ‘hold the space’,
to stop listen and be present…
What
are the issues for you / your church community? What solutions are you
finding? Please let Lindsey know: I’m interested in the challenges as well as
the good news stories!
WORSHIP RESOURCES (related to next Sunday)
For the family together at home - Easter 2
A Gathering prayer to say together
The disciples met in a
locked room, Lord, and you came and
stood among them, and you said:
Peace be with you.
They were filled with joy and rejoiced.
Peace be with you.
You breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Thomas doubted, as he wasn’t there.
Peace be with you.
A week later you appeared again, and again you said:
Peace be with you.
Thomas touched your hands and felt your side.
Peace be with you.
Thomas exclaimed, ‘My Lord and my God!’
Peace be with you.
You are our Lord and our God.
Peace be with you.
stood among them, and you said:
Peace be with you.
They were filled with joy and rejoiced.
Peace be with you.
You breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Thomas doubted, as he wasn’t there.
Peace be with you.
A week later you appeared again, and again you said:
Peace be with you.
Thomas touched your hands and felt your side.
Peace be with you.
Thomas exclaimed, ‘My Lord and my God!’
Peace be with you.
You are our Lord and our God.
Peace be with you.
Singing together
Peace like a river
Why not try making some actions for the words
river ocean and fountain.
Reading together
Watch the story Seeing and believing - The story of Thomas
Or read the story together John 20:19-31
Every time you the word ‘peace’ try and be still for 10 seconds or you
could make the sign for peace; take a deep breath in and out. time they hear
the word ‘Jesus’, give the biggest grin possible.
You could make the sign of peace and Jesus. Here is short video to show
you he two signs
The return of Jesus from the dead was all the
disciples could talk about. Every one of them was so excited about it. Well,
not exactly every one of them. Thomas wasn’t excited, because Thomas had missed
it. ‘Unless I see the marks the nails made in his hands, I won’t believe he’s
alive,’ Thomas said.
A week earlier, Jesus had appeared to 10 of
the disciples. They were gathered together, hiding because they were afraid they
would be killed next. Although they were in a locked room, Jesus appeared and
said, ‘Peace be with you.’ As the disciples rejoiced, Jesus said, ‘As God the
Father sent me, now I send you.’ Then he breathed on them, saying, ‘Receive the
Holy Spirit. When you forgive people their sins, they are forgiven. When you
find people guilty, they are guilty.’
Thomas was with the others in the house now.
‘I’ll only believe if I put my finger in the marks and my hand in his side,’ he
said. The doors were closed, just as they had been before, but again, Jesus
appeared. He said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he spoke to Thomas: ‘Look at my
hands and put your finger in the holes. Put your hand in the wound on my side.
Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas was suddenly as excited as the rest of the
disciples. ‘My Lord and my God!’ he cried.
Jesus asked Thomas, ‘Have you only believed
because you have seen me? God blesses all those who believe even though they
haven’t seen me.’ This is why the story of Jesus was written down; so that
people may believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God. All who believe in
Jesus will have life through him.
Sins the bad things that people
do, that go against what God wants;
Messiah the
‘anointed one’, someone chosen by God to save the Jewish people, also a title
used for Jesus.
© ROOTS
for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
Reproduced with permission.
Creating together
Peace doves
You will need Sellotape a paper dove, a small
rectangle of paper and a straw.
Wrap the paper rectangle around the straw (not
too tight) and then fold the top of the paper over to
make a 'pocket' for the end of the straw. Make sure that there is
a little gap between the fold of the pocket and the end of the straw.
Write or draw prayers for people or places who
need God's peace on the front of the dove shape.
Turn the dove over and Sellotape the paper
pocket to it.
Now you can make your dove fly. Turn the dove
the right way round, blow through the straw. Watch your peace dove fly as
a symbol of giving the prayers to God!
Praying together
Candle prayers
Think about times when you have felt God
being near to you, or times when you wanted God to be near. Light a candle
either a real one or a battery tealight or candle. Watch the flame. Spend some time in
silence and pray that everyone will know that God is with them during the
coming week.
A prayer
Lord Jesus,
we pray for people who are alone,
and for people who feel lonely;
people who don’t know what a loving hug feels like.
We pray that you will come close to them
and bring them into your embrace.
Amen.
we pray for people who are alone,
and for people who feel lonely;
people who don’t know what a loving hug feels like.
We pray that you will come close to them
and bring them into your embrace.
Amen.
Playing together
Make a card to send to someone to share Gods
peace with them.
See how many times you can share the sign for
peace with others – it is a great thing to be able to do via a video link or at
a distance and you can teach your friends the sign too.
A new URC initiative, worth checking out
to include younger folk is Families on Faith Adventures @ home. This will be published weekly and available
on the URC website https://urc.org.uk/resources-for-children-and-youth
and URCLE https://moodle.urc.org.uk/course/view.php?id=208 pages.
Nicola
will be happy to send it out directly to anyone who requests it, please do get
in touch.
Families
on Faith Adventures @ home
is designed to support families of all generations as they experience, explore
and express faith together through the week. It is a ‘pick and mix’ of activities,
games, prayers and challenges based around a story from the Bible.
Westminster College - A new principal
from 1st September
From 1st September, the new principal of
Westminster College will be Revd Samantha White who will serve for seven years
until August 2027. Currently the Director of Pastoral Studies and
Director of the Cheshunt Foundation, Samantha says: " I am delighted
to have been appointed to this role and I come bringing realism and enthusiasm
with me ..".
The current college Principal, Revd Neil
Thorogood, is returning to pastoral ministry at Trinity Henleaze URC, Bristol
and Thornbury URC. Neil says: "I've worked, and still
work, alongside awesome people. I know that God's call to move on
includes blessings for Westminster too as new chapters unfold here. Many
prayers as so much begins, and some things end".
WORSHIP
ROAD (STAY-AT-HOME) SHOWS
During
May we had been planning a series of roadshows around the Synod with the theme
of worship and the joys, challenges and opportunities of leading worship. Being on the road is clearly not now going to
be possible, so we are going to move them online and offer a series of nine
mini-sessions, starting in a couple of weeks’ time. Look out for full information in next week’s
emailing.
URC ADVICE
Just
a reminder that the coronavirus advice page on the URC website is being updated
with resources and advice on a daily basis:
Finally,
just a reminder from Lindsey, Nicola and myself that we are still there for you
and, if there is anything you think we might offer, or you just want a chat,
then do contact us:
And - Follow us on: facebook.com/URC-Eastern-Mission
Our prayers and our best
wishes,
AN EASTER PRAYER (from the URC’s Daily Devotions):
Living, Loving, All-Conquering
Lord!
Forgive us for those times
when we don’t see you,
when our minds forget how close
you really are.
Thank you that you have truly
risen,
giving us victory, even over
the last enemy of death itself.
Even in the darkest of
times may we acknowledge you,
feel you, trust you, love you
and worship you unreservedly. Amen.
(Verena
Walder, Lay Preacher and Local Church Leader, Tabernacle Mumbles)
STAY SAFE!
PAUL
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