UPDATES AND USEFUL INFORMATION (3rd September 2020)
Dear All
Hoping you have had a
good August. Things continue to change, and relatively quickly. Blessings as you
engage with all that is happening in both the covid and the non-covid world,
both personally and as church communities.
As previously
indicated, this weekly briefly will continue through September now, and very
probably beyond – we are reviewing that over the next week or so. Because of the Bank Holiday and holidays,
this comes a day later in the week than has been our practice, but we
anticipate reverting to posting it, and sending a reminder email, some time on
a Wednesday from next week.
Best wishes
Paul
PASTORAL LETTER FROM
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MODERATORS
Revd. Clare Downing and
Mr. Peter Pay, Moderators of General Assembly, 2020-2022, have written a letter
to all of us. Please read it at https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/09/pastoral-letter-from-moderators-of.html
COVID SAFE BUILDINGS
FOR PHYSICAL WORSHIP
Guidelines are
frequently changing and you are advised to regularly consult the latest
government advice - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july
What follows now is not
necessarily mandatory in every respect, though much of it is. However, it is all good practice. Please do
carefully consider every aspect if you are (or are planning to be) physically
open for worship.
FACE-COVERINGS
– Everyone must wear a face covering when in church. A person leading
worship may remove their faced covering whilst actually leading but must be (at
least) 2m away from others, and must wear their covering before and after and
elsewhere in the building. Churches and Worship Leaders are also
encouraged to consider Perspex screens and/or face visors in addition.
PERSONAL RISK
ASSESSMENT – Churches and individuals should continue to consider the personal
risks involved in leading worship, undertaking church duties and even
attending. If you are high risk, should you be doing any of these at the
moment? As a church, please consider carefully before inviting someone who is
(or is likely to be, if you don’t know) high risk. For more information and the
scoring chart on a personal risk assessment, please go to https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/06/personal-risk-assessment.html
OTHER GOOD (OR VITAL) PRACTICE
1) No hymn singing,
though there is now some permission for small choirs/singing groups.
2) Only one person
should be at the lectern/pulpit during a single service, so probably better for
the worship leader to read the lessons and do all the prayers.
3) Keep records of
attendees for ‘track and trace’.
4) Please ensure
congregants can sanitise their hands on entering and leaving.
5) Please keep
greetings/conversations socially distanced.
6) Have a one-way system
or ensure people are not going to be going in opposite directions at the same
time.
7) Remind everyone (include
preachers) to bring their own bottle of water if they wish.
8) If there are any soft
fabrics, please ensure a gap of at least 72 hours between uses of the space.
9) Consider whether you
need a ticketing system, but certainly do not exceed the socially distanced
capacity (remembering folk in bubbles may sit together).
10) Ensure toilets can
be used safely.
11) If you are moving
(have moved) from Zoom/YouTube etc., consider whether you need a hybrid system
to include those who can/should not attend.
HOLY HABITS ROADSHOW – OR (AS IT WILL BE) ONLINE TRAINING
A reminder that, following
the series of worship roadshows in the spring and early summer, we (Paul,
Lindsey and Nicola) 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 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.)
SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
Face to face Safeguarding training is still not possible in our church buildings. However, it is possible for it to be delivered via Zoom. It is available in three 1.25hr sessions that can be delivered either during the day or in the evening over a three weeks period or on consecutive days in a week. For more information please get in touch with Nicola Grieves cydo@urceastern.org.uk (Synod Safeguarding Officer)
CONVERSATIONS WITH NICOLA VIA ZOOM
Welcoming Children when Junior Church and youth groups are not possible
Wednesday 23rd September 2.30pm
Connecting and staying in touch with Toddler groups
Thursday 24th September 2.30pm
Messy Church
Wednesday 30th September 2.30pm
If you are interested in joining Please
contact Nicola Grieves cydo@urceastern.org.uk to book a place and Zoom links
will be sent out for each event.
Harvest Thank you - A Reflection of Harvest
thanks following the journey from sowing seed to a loaf of bread.
A FREE conference
for all those engaging with under-fives in faith settings running over three
consecutive evenings.
This
conference is sponsored by URC Children and ROOTS for Churches.
Participants
may choose to attend one, two or all of the live sessions by registering for
tickets.
Highlights of
sessions will be available to view via YouTube after the event. Read more and
book via Eventbrite
7pm to 8.45pm
Tuesday 24th November - Faith with under 5s in wider mixed-age groups
Keynote:
Becky May with discussion and small group time
7pm to 8.45pm
Wednesday 25th November - Faith with under 5s in church worship (creche and
pew)
Keynote: Gill
Ambrose with discussion and small group time
7pm to 8.45pm
Thursday 26th November - Faith with under 5s in toddler groups
Keynote:
Alison Hulse with discussion and small group time
Story time for the under-fives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwqlUKNJF4w&t=3s
Singing together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcSWpVKKMcs
For I am building a people of Power
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtxFK-cmVE8
Watching reading and listening together
A story of two brothers – Building Bridges
(Nicola)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TI8Kk6TKqs
Matthew 18:15-20
Telling the story with sounds/actions
Whenever the phrase ‘don’t listen’ or ‘won’t listen’ occurs in the story, ask everyone to cover their ears and make a ‘la la la la la’ noise. Read the story a second time and invite them to invent sounds and actions for the rest of the story.
Imagine,’ said Jesus, with his disciples gathered about him, ‘that somebody in the church has done something to upset you.’ The disciples had just been asking about who was the most important in the church, and Jesus had shocked them by saying it was the children. Now he was teaching them about relationships. Jesus continued, ‘Speak to the person alone and tell them what they’ve done wrong. If they listen, you’ll have solved the problem and got a brother or sister back.’ ‘What if they don’t listen?’ the disciples asked. ‘Take along one or two other people, who can hear what you say to one another,’ Jesus replied. ‘If the person still won’t listen, then tell the whole church what has happened. If they won’t even listen to the church, then that person is not like a brother or sister to you. They are like a Gentile or a tax collector, and you shouldn’t treat them as family.’ Jesus told the disciples that they would be the ones making judgements in the church. ‘You are in charge of deciding what is forbidden and what is allowed now. Whatever you forbid on earth, will also be forbidden in heaven. Whatever you allow on earth, will be allowed in heaven. And remember, if two of you agree when you ask for something on earth, my Father in heaven will give it to you.’ Looking at the group listening to him, Jesus said, ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
Creating and Praying together
God’s Love Prayer Envelopes
Cut a heart shape out of patterned paper (1)
Turn the heart shape over so that the pattern is facing downwards. Fold the sides of the heart inwards (2)
Now fold over the top of the heart to make the bottom of the envelope (3). The point at the bottom of the heart shape now becomes the top part of the envelope (4)
Cut up some small pieces of paper and write or draw pictures or people you love and care about. Jesus wanted everyone to be able to come close to him.
The envelope is like God’s heart. God wants the best for everyone.
Colour in the template of the family you could make lots of extras to include your wider family and friends. Cut around the shapes to make a set of cards. As an alternative you could make a group of your friends at school. Think of different ways in which you can use your cards to pray. If you have some playdoh or blu tack you can use that to make the cards stand up. Take it in turns to create your own family prayer or you can use the prayer below.
Dear God, You have made us members of your family,Help us to serve and care for one another cheerfully, so that we can show your love to others.
You have made
us parents and grandparents,
sisters and brothers and sons and daughters in a human family. Help us to grow
in trust and understanding, so that through each other we may see your love.
You will find the family colouring template at https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/09/colouring-template-for-family.html
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 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. You are welcome to join all of the sessions, or dip in as appropriate.
The three sessions will be held on three consecutive Thursdays (3rd, 10th and 17th) all at 2.30pm, and will be finished by 4pm.
Our second catch-up for Lay Preachers will take place on Wednesday 9th September at 7pm, via Zoom. Whether or not you were able to join us in July we would love to see any Lay Preachers or worship leaders and see how things are going, and would be interested too in what support we can offer going forwards. Please contact Lindsey for a link to the meeting at training@urceastern.org.uk.
https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/09/transitioning-from-lockdown-some-models.html
or
please email Lindsey if you would like it as a pdf.
HARVEST PICTURES
During my local walks earlier this summer I took some pictures of the fields around my home (in Epping). I thought I’d share them on the Synod Facebook page in case any one wants to use them in Harvest reflections or services: we all know it can be tricky finding copyright-free images online. I’m not any kind of photographer: the Creator does all the hard work!
There will be more picture-sharing in coming weeks as we enter the period for celebrating creation. We have a number of very talented ministers and members and Facebook is a useful way to share photographs (they are too big for the website).
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:
https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3365-urc-issues-coronavirus-advice-to-its-churches
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:
A PRAYER FROM THE SYNOD
MODERATOR
Loving God, who accompanies us through all the challenges and joys of life, be with us now as we continue to navigate the difficulties of a time of pandemic. Bless especially those caught up in unexpected self-isolating because of changing travel restrictions, those suddenly more restricted because of temporary local lockdowns, those struggling with the development of still somewhat unknown new normals.
You call us to bear one another’s burdens. Help us to remember that call and remember those who are too easily forgotten in a time such as this.
Bless us now, as we seek to be your faithful people, responding to this and every circumstance in which we find ourselves.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Our prayers and our best wishes,
PAUL moderator@urceastern.org.uk 07534
274668
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