UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (29th July 2020)
Dear All
It is hard to believe
that this is the twentieth of these weekly briefings, but it is. Things may be
moving towards a ‘new normal’, but we have yet to be sure of that and to see
just what that will be. None of us are yet really sure where we are headed and,
globally, the pandemic remains very much around. As we hear of fresh spikes, we
are reminded of the continuing risks and the need to try and safe and keep
others safe, whilst also allowing for the needs of society to get things going.
For the moment, as we
move into August, we are going to pause this newsletter, but we will return in
September, and certainly produce something each week for that month, while
reviewing whether or how we should continue beyond that. Anyhow, all being
well, the next one of these should be on THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3.
Best wishes
Paul
UPDATED GUIDANCE ON
OPENING CHURCHES FOR WORSHIP
In this time of
transition, which I suspect will last several months, in which some churches
are opening their buildings for worship, while others are choosing not to do so
yet, though with a slowly increasing number that have open buildings, can I
urge you to take care around what needs to happen before and when your
buildings are open.
I realise that much of
what follows will seem extremely restrictive, but we need to be models of good
practice. I also appreciate that much of it has been said before, but I think
it bears repeating. Some of what follows is advisory, rather than mandatory,
but we really ought to be taken the advice that is coming both from the
government, and from experienced colleagues. As some of you will be aware,
around the world, there are stories of churches that have been centres of covid
19 outbreaks. We really do not want to join their number!
Churches that are open,
or considering opening, should check for the latest government advice. As I write,
this was updated as recently as Monday and can be found at - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july
However, please note,
in particular, the following:
1) Risk Assessment. You
must complete a risk assessment before re-opening your building. A number of
you have been sending these to me. That is absolutely fine – and logical, as I
am requesting you to do it. However, please note that it is your document and
your responsibility. With a very few exceptions, where I have a particular
interest or responsibility, I am not reviewing these as I could only do so sensibly
on site and with a reasonable knowledge of the building. However, in the
(hopefully unlikely) event that anything goes wrong, I would need to review the
document with you.
2) Informing the Trust
Company. At the time when buildings could only open for private prayer, URC
advice was that the Trust Company should be informed when this was happening. I
do not see any continuing need for the Trust Company to be formally informed as
to buildings opening.
3) Facemasks. Good
practice would be that all worshippers should be asked to wear facemasks.
However, some people do rely on lip reading and it may be appropriate to remove
a mask (or have one with a vision panel) when addressing the congregation.
4) Social Distancing
and Sanitising. Please keep these appropriately in place.
5) Refreshments. Please
DO NOT serve refreshments.
6) Leaving and
Interaction. This runs counter to everything we stand for but, for the moment,
please encourage people to leave promptly, though separately, and to avoid
interaction with those from other households. Government advice on this is
clear, saying –
“Once completed,
participants should be encouraged to move on promptly, to minimise the risk of
contact and spread of infection. If appropriate, you should reconfigure spaces
to enable worshippers to be seated rather than standing which reduces the risk
of contact.
Worshippers should
limit their interactions with anyone they are not attending your Place of
Worship with, i.e. if they are attending a communal service with one other
household, wherever possible they should try not to engage in conversation with
anyone outside of this group.”
7) Shared Items.
Reusable and communal items should be avoided. For us, this mainly impacts
Communion. If you are going to celebrate Communion, please think carefully
about how that can happen. It also applies to hymn books, Bibles etc. and would
apply to cups and plates – do not use church ones.
8) Offerings. Please
try and avoid cash.
9) Singing. Please
avoid singing. Professional singers may
perform outside, but that is the only exception, though advice may change from
August 1.
10) Cleaning. The building
should be cleaned adequately after every use. If you have fabric, for example
fabric seats, there should be at least 72 hours between successive uses of that
part of the building.
11) Test and Trace.
Please keep a record of attendees in case it becomes necessary to identify who
has been in your building.
12) Notices and Information.
Please consider, and put in place, the notices and other information you
consider necessary to communicate concerns and practice with those who may come
to the building.
I am sure that I am a
long way from having covered everything, but these are the main points that
occur to me and/or have been raised with me.
If you want information
on using buildings for other purposes, please seek out and follow the appropriate
government guidance. There are links to the most likely areas in which you might
need guidance towards the end of Section 1 – the Introduction – of the
government guidance for places of worship.
FILMING
AND EDITING WORSHIP: BEGINNERS’ TRAINING
Nicola
and Lindsey will be offering three sessions (on Zoom) in September to support
churches who wish to record and/or stream their worship. We will
introduce the sort of equipment that might be useful, helpful features on
familiar software such as PowerPoint, and step-by-step help with editing
software. These sessions will be run on Thursdays 3rd, 10th
and 17th September, all at 2.30pm. If you would like to attend
please email Lindsey training@urceastern.org.uk.
HOLY HABITS ROADSHOW –
OR (AS IT WILL BE) ONLINE TRAINING
Following the series of
worship roadshows, in the autumn we are going to offer a training series of YouTube
videos on four of the ‘Holy Habits’. All the Holy Habits are things we should
do, but we have identified the four that we think particularly focus on things
we joing in together – fellowship, the breaking of bread, giving (or sharing
resources) and eating together.
We will offer three
sessions on each of these four holy habits. Paul will provide a Biblical or
ministry basis, Lindsey will offer some practical ‘stuff’ and Nicola will bring
an intergenerational approach. As with the worship roadshows, they will
(normally) be posted on YouTube each Thursday morning (ideally by 9am.),
starting on 17th September, and running through until 10th
December (with a week’s break at half term.)
ALL-AGE RESOURCES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Families at Home – The Big Picnic
Story time for under fives - The very big picnic
Singing together
Sharing is caring
Try drawing some pictures as you listen to the song or
make up some actions to go with the song.
Sharing is caring for someone else. (2X)
Giving something away gives you something back. (2X)
Sharing is Caring for Someone else. (2X)
When you share a chair, you take a friend off the floor,
When you share an umbrella, you can let it pour,
Sharing with friends, who could ask for more?
Sharing is caring for someone else.
Sharing is caring for someone else.
When you give a hug, you get one, tool
When you give a smile, it comes right back to you.
giving from the heart is the thing to do.
Sharing is caring for someone else.
Sharing is caring for someone else.
When you share your feelings others understand.
Tell us when you feel happy, angry or sad,
And if a friend seems lonely won't you take his/her hand, and say,
Sharing is caring for someone else.(2X)
Giving something away gives you something back. (2X)
Sharing is caring for someone else. (2X)
Giving something away gives you something back. (2X)
Sharing is caring for someone else. (2X)
Reading, listening, and watching together
Matthew 14.13-21
The Big Picnic – with Nicola
Feeding 5 ,000
You will need: five bread rolls; two fish. (see creating
together)
Read the story and encourage everyone to mime
the different actions of the people. You will need one person to be Jesus.
Jesus had been
spending some time alone in the boat. He came into the shore, climbed out of
the boat and saw a great crowd. He went towards them. He spent time telling
them about God. He spent time healing those who were ill. He spent time being
with them.
It was getting late in the day. Everyone was tired. Everyone was hungry. But no one had anything to eat!
Jesus told his disciples to go and get some food. But the disciples could find only a little.
They found five loaves of bread and two fish.
> GIVE THE BREAD AND FISH TO JESUS.
There were over 5,000 people. Surely that wasn’t going to be enough?
Jesus lifted up the loaves. Jesus lifted up the fish. He blessed them and gave them to the people. Everyone sat down and ate together.
> JESUS SHARES THE BREAD OUT AMONG THE GROUP. SPEND TIME EATING THE BREAD BEFORE YOU CARRY ON.
There was enough food for everyone. There was so much food that at the end there were 12 baskets of leftovers
It was getting late in the day. Everyone was tired. Everyone was hungry. But no one had anything to eat!
Jesus told his disciples to go and get some food. But the disciples could find only a little.
They found five loaves of bread and two fish.
> GIVE THE BREAD AND FISH TO JESUS.
There were over 5,000 people. Surely that wasn’t going to be enough?
Jesus lifted up the loaves. Jesus lifted up the fish. He blessed them and gave them to the people. Everyone sat down and ate together.
> JESUS SHARES THE BREAD OUT AMONG THE GROUP. SPEND TIME EATING THE BREAD BEFORE YOU CARRY ON.
There was enough food for everyone. There was so much food that at the end there were 12 baskets of leftovers
Praying
together
Being, Looking, Listening!
Go outside and look around you perhaps go for a walk
and look and listen. What sounds
Be still and Know that I Am God
Be still and know that I Am
Be still and know
Be Still
Be
We pray for a world
where no one goes hungry,
where no one lacks shelter,
where no one feels lonely, unwanted or unloved.
Lord, help us to follow your example of loving hospitality
to build your kingdom of love and justice and peace
in our homes, our schools, our communities.
Amen.
where no one lacks shelter,
where no one feels lonely, unwanted or unloved.
Lord, help us to follow your example of loving hospitality
to build your kingdom of love and justice and peace
in our homes, our schools, our communities.
Amen.
Creating together
Salt dough
Here is an idea to make
loaves and fishes to tell the story. Once
you baked your dough you
Have Fun!
You will need:
·
1 cupful of
plain flour (about 250g)
·
half a cupful
of table salt (about 125g)
·
half a cupful
of water (about 125ml)
1. Preheat the oven to its lowest setting and line
a baking sheet with baking parchment.
2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the water and stir until it comes together into a ball.
3. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and shape into your chosen model. You can roll it out and cut out shapes, numbers or letters using biscuit cutters, or make any kind of model you can think of.
2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the water and stir until it comes together into a ball.
3. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and shape into your chosen model. You can roll it out and cut out shapes, numbers or letters using biscuit cutters, or make any kind of model you can think of.
4. Put your finished items on the lined
baking sheet and bake for 3 hrs or until solid.
5. Leave to cool and then paint.
Playing together
Use a large sheet of paper or a disposable
tablecloth and lay it on the floor ready to make a picnic prayer rug.
Provide crayons and pens and encourage everyone to
decorate the picnic mat with pictures and prayers of thanks for Jesus’ love.
Share a picnic together using the picnic mat that
you have made and enjoy eating together.
Look at the mat together and say,
Thank you, Jesus, that you show how much you love
and care for us. Amen
WHAT’S AROUND
Just a reminder of some
of the things that are there as a resource from the Synod, though recognising
there is lots of other stuff.
The most recent of these
newsletters and other relevant information are posted on the Synod website.
However, all of the newsletters,
plus other documents to which we have referred are on the Synod Coronavirus
blog, to be found at - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
The other main source
of Synod material is the collection of videos published on the Synod YouTube
channel. This includes the worship roadshows, material for all-age worship,
story times for under fives and (will shortly include) the holiday club at home
material. The channel is to be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYncbpZJ4PKBBrjrcXBHrw?view_as=subscriber
Please go there and click on ‘videos’
for a full list.
Additionally, you can find from Paul, a
brief series of video reflections at his YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOisCXiElqiJSYoq_EolF8w?view_as=subscriber
and also a series of written reflections
at his blog - http://gettingthechurchsorted.blogspot.com/
and a series of reflections on ‘Bible’
(mainly Mark’s Gospel) at his ‘Bible stuff’ blog - http://paulsbiblestuff.blogspot.com/
RURAL RESOURCES/HARVEST 2020
Together Apart: A rural church response to
coronavirus from the Arthur Rank Centre <https://arthurrankcentre.cmail19.com/t/i-l-xkkyhdt-fouyqf-t/>
Harvest 2020: Thank you to our farmers!
While the Arthur Rank Centre has long been
known as a source of ideas and resources for rural churches, it’s been quite
some time since we produced a substantial new harvest resource. But this month,
we’re launching our Harvest 2020: Thank you to our farmers! <https://arthurrankcentre.cmail19.com/t/i-l-xkkyhdt-fouyqf-k/> campaign, inspired in large part by the
recognition of people across the UK have gained of the role ‘key workers’ have
played in keeping us all going through the COVID-19 epidemic.
Farmers are one such group of key workers, and
over the last few months many people have become aware – some for the first
time – of the vital role UK farms play in feeding our nation, while the food
shortages we experienced in the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown reminded us
how fragile the supply chain can be.
As churches and communities across the UK
prepare to celebrate harvest, let’s embrace this opportunity to thank both the
farmers across the UK who grow our food for us, and the Creator God that
sustains and nurtures each of us.
LENT 2021 AND CHURCH ACTION ON POVERTY SUNDAY
21 February: Church Action on Poverty Sunday,
'New Wineskins'
Church Action on Poverty Sunday 2021 will
explore the theme 'New Wineskins' - as we journey together through these
difficult times, how can we ensure people on the margins are fully included in
our work for a new and better world? Use our resources to reflect on the theme
in church, and raise funds to ensure people in poverty have dignity, agency and
power.
Please mark the date in your diary - and make
sure your church and worship team know about it. Register your interest below,
and we will send you a resource pack in October with fundraising and worship
materials.
Register to take part in Church Action on
Poverty Sunday <https://www.e-activist.com/page/email/click/128/4838166?email=P%2Fq%2F0y%2BM%2FjHvDtmhGXYGwaveXctvK5kjPuOx63GKymE=&campid=XTQtqTlF5f2ZkArzVWMSmA==>
<https://aaf1a18515da0e792f78-c27fdabe952dfc357fe25ebf5c8897ee.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/128/Life-Changing+Stories.jpg?v=1595421154000>
Lent 2021: Life-Changing Stories
If you run Lent programmes in your church,
please consider using our Scripture on the Margins materials. In 2021, we're
looking at the Acts of the Apostles, as a story of how people on the margins
were empowered to go out and change the world. There will be five studies by
Nick Jowett, Raj Patta, Sue Richardson, Jan Sutch Pickard and Ruth Wilde.
Life-Changing Stories will be published on 8
October. If you can, please talk to the people who plan your church's Lent
programme, and encourage them to bear it in mind when they start planning!
URC ADVICE
Just
a reminder that the coronavirus advice page on the URC website is being updated
with resources and advice on a regular 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:
Our prayers and our best
wishes,
A PRAYER FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Living God,
In our hour of need we turn again to you, for
we have nowhere else to turn.
We put our faith in you, because you have
proved your faithfulness time and again.
We reaffirm our love for you because you have
never let us go.
We thank you that you are not distant from us.
but have drawn near, in your Son, our Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
He has shared our life, tasted our death and
defeated it;
He understands our worries and our fears.
Help us to respond as your children now.
We pray for this pandemic spreading across our
world,
remembering all who have lost loved ones.
and praying for those seriously ill at this
time.
We uphold the National Health Service.
as it responds to this added pressure on its
already overstretched services.
We pray for doctors and nurses and all in the
caring professions,
who work to help and support people as best they
can.
We remember those working behind the scenes.
testing samples, confirming results, giving information
to patients.
We uphold others trying to understand this
virus better.
working to create an effective remedy.
We pray for our Government,
as it work with the best medical advice.
to guide us on how we should respond.
and what action we should take.
We pray that these guidelines might be taken
seriously.
and that all would put them into action.
May this crisis bring out the best in us, not
the worst.
Help us to live by faith and not by fear;
to build bridges not barriers,
and to resist all who would speak ill of any
other group.
May we not forget our responsibility to one
another,
not least to the vulnerable and voiceless in
our communities.
Help us to find ways of keeping in touch and
offering reassurance.
to those with underlying health issues;
for any who feel particularly vulnerable.
or in danger at present.
As the virus spreads.
we pray for the disruption it causes to normal
life,
bringing new fears and anxieties:
We pray for those who have been laid off as
their work disappears;
for financial hardship for individuals and
businesses;
for the impact on the economy and pensions,
when austerity has already left its mark.
We pray for those whose trips, both for
business and pleasure, have been cancelled;
and others where events, long anticipated and
planned for, have been postponed;
for those making contingency planning for home
based work or child care or exams.
May our inconvenience not blind us to others’
loss.
We remember those.
who cannot visit loved ones in locked-down care
homes;
for the elderly whose social contacts have
been severely curtailed;
help us to find creative ways of keeping in
touch,
of assuring them they are not forgotten or
ignored.
May congregations find new ways of living
though this time.
May we not forget our faith, but draw strength
from it.
So may our worship be heartfelt,
our fellowship deepen.
and our service increase.
God of grace and God of mercy,
hear our prayers at this time.
Strengthen us, by your Spirit, so that:
we may carry on our lives as best as we are
able,
looking out for others,
showing love in action,
being faithful in prayer,
and bringing encouragement, hope and peace;
always trusting in you.
our Rock and our Redeemer.
These prayers we bring to you.
in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Rt Revd Colin Sinclair, Moderator of General
Assembly
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL! GOD BLESS! PAUL
