UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (22nd April
2020)
Dear All
As we continue to move
through these strange times, though with still no clarity as to when things may
change significantly, I pray that all is well with you and yours and, though we
all face many challenges, I am greatly encouraged by the positive news I hear
of folk creatively being in touch with each other and engaging with the demands
of these times.
It is hard to believe
that this is already the sixth of these emailings. That being so, we are going to take the
previous off the website, so as not to keep creating a longer list, but they
will remain available if you scroll back on the Synod Coronavirus blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
However, partly because of that, I am
going to recap some key areas:
FUNERAL ADVICE
I have now (belatedly) posted updated
advice on the blog – https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/updated-advice-on-wedding-and-funeral.html
This is, unsurprisingly, the matter on which
I have been asked most questions. What
is permitted seems to vary from facility to facility, so I would advise
checking any questions on attendance numbers with the funeral director. I would anticipate that it is unlikely for
any services to take place in churches.
However, so far as I can see, that is not banned. However, numbers attending should be very
small and restricted to close family members.
If there were literally no family members to attend, I think it would be
permissible for a very few close friends.
In all cases social distancing must be maintained.
Also please note, that URC advice is to
follow government guidance as to who should conduct such services, and so any leaders in our Church who are
vulnerable – either because they are over 70, or because of health issues –
must stand down from public duty but may work remotely from home where that
applies.
FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
Equally
unsurprisingly, the matter on which I have been asked the second most questions
is that of finance. At both denominational
and Synod level, we are very aware that there are, and will be, financial
issues to address. However, except those
relatively few cases where there is an immediate and acute problem, we are
currently deliberately waiting for a slightly longer and broader view. However, if you have immediate problems, particularly
and most likely in respect of M&M payments, do contact your Area
Partnership M&M Advocate and/or the Synod M&M Advocate and, if you are
not sure who to contact, then contact Paul.
I will also remind you of the letter from the denominational team - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/03/financial-implications-info-from.html
-
though we would prefer you to come to
the Synod in the first instance.
ONLINE SAFETY FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE
I would also take the opportunity to
remind you of the importance of online safety, especially for young people, and
of the guidance and consent forms we have made available –
VIRTUAL COMMUNION
The last reminder for
the moment is to mention virtual communion and the guidance on that - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/guidance-on-virtual-communion.html
Post-Easter, I am guessing most have
minds their minds up about virtual Communion, and many will have experienced
it. Just a reminder about ecumenical
sensitivity – and that an agape is one possible alternative. Another is ‘spiritual communion’, which we
have mentioned in an emailing – and I will update the advice to say something
of that for reference purposes. (On a
personal note, I am to conduct virtual Communion for the first time in a couple
of weeks’ time.)
WORSHIP ROADSHOWS
One of the training plans for May was a
series of roadshows around the Synod around the theme of worship and worship
leading. As that is not now possible, as
mentioned in last week’s emailing, we are now going to offer these as a series
of mini ‘stay-at-homes’ (rather than roadshows.) There will be nine, and they will be posted
weekly as YouTube videos (15 minutes each).
MINISTERS AND CHURCH SECRETARIES, please make this known to anyone who
might be interested, especially those who may not see this emailing. The videos will be posted on YouTube late
Wednesday or early Thursday, starting next week. They will be on the Synod YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYncbpZJ4PKBBrjrcXBHrw
We are also happy to email (or post) the
written script to anyone who would like to receive it, either instead of
watching, or to accompany the watching.
If you would like to receive the emailed script, please email Lindsey to
request it – training@urceastern.org.uk - If you, or anyone you know who doesn’t have
email, would like a posted script, please let one of us know by phone or
email. The first session will be
presented by Paul and will be published on YouTube not later than 9am on Thursday
30th April – “A Brief Introduction to Worship and the Theology of
Worship.”
CLARIFICATION
OF COPYRIGHT LAW
Broadcasting
on any online platform (including Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, Lifesize etc)
- If you have a speaker only no licence
is required (even if the speaker is reading from a text by someone else)
- If you are showing pictures /
lyrics / printouts a licence is required
- If you are playing / singing
worship songs (accompanied or not) a streaming licence, for example from
CCLI, is required…
- …unless the worship songs are ‘in
the public domain’ (usually 70+ years old: check the lyrics (text) and
music (tune) by searching on www.hymnary.org
- If you are using commercial songs in
an act of worship a PRS licence is required if you are on an open
platform (eg Facebook / YouTube); no licence is required if you are on a
closed platform (eg Zoom, Lifesize, Webex, WhatsApp group etc, to which people
are invited)
For
more detail please see the booklet produced by Church House: https://urc.org.uk/images/Communications/copyright_booklet_web.pdf
UPDATES
ON EMPLOYMENT LAW/FURLOUGHING STAFF
The UK government published updated guidance on the Coronavirus
Job Retention Scheme on 17 April.
·
The date that employees must have been on their employer’s payroll
to qualify for the scheme has been brought forward from 28 February 2020 to 19
March 2020, allowing a larger number of employees to benefit
·
The Chancellor has also extended the scheme until the end of June
2020 (previously due to terminate on 31 May)
The intention of this scheme is to avoid redundancy that would
have occurred as a result of the current lockdown. If they still have
work to do they do not qualify: an employee enrolled on the scheme must not
undertake any work for the employer, whether at home or elsewhere
FRESH
EXPRESSIONS COMMUNITY LISTENING AND PRAYER
A
summary of the gathering mentioned briefly last week can be found at https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/fresh-expressions-community-listening.html
. The next online event will take place on May 6th. You
can sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-fx-community-listening-prayer-tickets
RURAL
CHURCHES
Rural Churches: the Arthur Rank Centre is
developing an online ‘hub’ to help support the particular needs of rural
churches and communities, including farming and agriculture
support, information and resources,
government and denominational
advice and guidance, practical action and support,
guidance and advice on
teleconferencing and live-streaming, resources for children,
families and all-age gatherings, weekly reflections, and worship resources
https://arthurrankcentre.org.uk/together-apart
JOINT
PUBLIC ISSUES TEAM: GOOD NEWS STORIES SOUGHT
It
is uplifting to hear how congregations and individuals are supporting their
communities at this time, such as picking up groceries for a neighbour,
donating sacrificially or volunteering time to assist food banks while on
furlough.
The
Joint Public Issues team would love to share this good news more broadly.
Modesty can leave folks reluctant to share, but inspiring others to ‘do
likewise’ can be a great thing and could have a profound impact.
So,
have members of your congregation been making a difference in their local
community during lockdown?
No
matter how small, the Joint Public Issues Team would like to hear about
it. Please get in touch with Roo at roo.stewart@urc.org.uk or call 020
7916 8632.
WORSHIP RESOURCES (related to next Sunday –
April 26)
Roots resources are available at:
Roots
Links
For the family together at home - Easter 2
A Gathering prayer to say together
God, we gather
as your children.
We come to walk a journey together,
to talk and to share along the way,
to meet and to know Jesus.
Help us to praise, pray, and play for all that Jesus has done for us. Amen.
We come to walk a journey together,
to talk and to share along the way,
to meet and to know Jesus.
Help us to praise, pray, and play for all that Jesus has done for us. Amen.
Singing together
Follow the link to learn how to sign the song
Lord I lift your name on high
Lord I lift your name on high - Makaton Signed
by Becky George
Reading together
The Road to Emmaus – Walking with Jesus (A bible story
with Nicola)
Or tell the story together Luke 24.13-35
You will need
3 rectangles of coloured card or paper and some shiny paper.
Two of Jesus' followers
were on the road, walking to a place called Emmaus. They were very sad
because Jesus had just died.
A man, who they did not
recognise, joined them on the road. He asked them what they were talking
about and why they were sad. They explained to the man what had happened
to Jesus. They told the strange man that some of their women friends
believed that Jesus had risen to new life but they didn't know what to believe
as they had not seen him themselves.
The man walked with them and obviously knew a lot
about God and what the scriptures said (add a god piece to the 'Jesus' figure).
As they walked along, the man explained to them everything the scriptures said
about who Jesus was. The men learned a lot about what God had planned! (add
gold pieces to the 'men' figures). The men grew to like the strange man
because, when they reached Emmaus, they asked him to stay and eat with them.
The men gathered round the
table. The strange man took some bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it
to them.
As soon as the strange man
broke the bread, the men recognised that he was Jesus! (turn 'Jesus card over
to show a gold back).
As soon as they recognised him, Jesus disappeared, and the men were left alone. They spoke to each other: 'I knew there was something special about him! Didn't it feel like a fire burning inside us when he was telling us what the scriptures said?' one asked the other.
The men got up right away
and hurried back to the disciples so they could tell them that Jesus really was
alive, and they had seen him!
Telling the story idea
adapted from Flame creative Kids Blog
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com
Creating together
Walking with Jesus Flip
Flops
Thinking about walking with Jesus - how can we
show that in our daily lives?
Cut out a foot shape (lots of template are
available on line) Make three holes in an inverted V at the front and thread a
pipe cleaner through the holes to make the toe post. Coloured beads or buttons
can be used to decorate the pipe cleaner.
Think of things you can do in your daily lives
as a follower of Jesus. Here are few
ideas: -
• Praying
• Thinking
about God
• Listening
to others
• Being
kind and thoughtful
• Reading
the bible
Praying together
Say a simple mealtime
grace, then pass round bread or rolls, share them with each other. When all
have taken and eaten some bread, say together:
As we break bread together,
we remember a boy who gave
away his lunch
so that five thousand could
be fed.
As we break bread together,
we remember Martha and Mary
opening their home to
Jesus.
As we break bread together,
we remember Jesus
blessing and sharing bread
with his disciples,
including the one who
betrayed him.
As we break bread together
we remember that supper in Emmaus,
where Jesus revealed he was
risen
in the breaking of the
bread.
Amen
© ROOTS for Churches Ltd
(www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
Playing together
Bible story Charades
Think of a bible story and mime it to other to
see if they can recognise what it is without making any sound. You do play this with you friends and family
via video link.
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,
A PRAYER FOR A GLOBAL PANDEMIC FROM CHRISTIAN
AID:
Loving God, strengthen our
innermost being
with your love that bears
all things
even the weight of this
global pandemic
even the long haul of
watching for symptoms
of patiently waiting for
this to pass
watching and waiting,
keeping our gaze fixed on
you,
and looking out for our
neighbours near and far.
Instil in our shaken souls
the belief and hope that
all things
are possible with your
creative love
for strangers to become
friends
for science to source
solutions
for resources to be
generously shared
so everyone, everywhere,
may have what they need
for your perfect love that
knows no borders
may cast out any fear and
selfishness that divides.
May your love that never
ends
be our comfort, strength
and guide
for the wellbeing of all
and the glory of God.
Amen.
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL!
PAUL
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