Twenty-Eighth Emailing - Being Church in the Context of Covid 19

UPDATES AND USEFUL INFORMATION   (21^st October 2020)

 

 

Dear All

 

With a second spike, and its accompanying challenging numbers and different tiers, we remain in very challenging times.  Pray for those who have to make difficult decisions and those facing particularly challenging problems.

 

Do let others know that this information exists.  Please pass it on to anyone you think might find it (or any part of it) useful, and who may not be getting it.

 

It is posted on the Synod website and on the blog each week, so there is no need to get the reminder email to access it.  All past emailings and related documents remain on the Synod coronavirus blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/

 

 Best wishes

 

Paul

 

 

WHEN SHOULD A CHURCH CONSIDER CLOSING IN LIGHT OF INCREASING RATES OF CORONAVIRUS?

Advice from the Synod Moderators:

At this stage, it is not possible based on infection rates or other criteria to give a definite point at which a local United Reformed Church should close as Covid-19 rates increase.  Current Government guidance in England, Scotland and Wales allows places of worship to remain open even when higher levels of alert and restriction are in place, although the “fire-break” lockdown in Wales WILL require places of worship to close to the public, which includes for acts of worship.

However, the United Reformed Church stresses that whilst Governments allow churches to remain open, this is permissive, and not an obligation.  The Elders’ Meeting (and equivalent council in LEPs) are best placed to understand and assess the risk locally, bearing in mind the nature of the premises, and the activities that take place (including worship and other church-related meetings and groups) and external lettings.  Due consideration needs to be given the vulnerability of the people.  Without the appropriate volunteers to manage activities and the premises, churches will not be able to maintain Covid-secure buildings, in which case activities must cease until that can be remedied.

Further, churches are reminded that Risk Assessments are not documents to be created and then ignored.  It is essential to actually put into place the mitigations identified in order to open and operate safely.  Equally, when risks alter, the “venue managers” or “person responsible” (in Government terminology) – almost always the Elders’ Meeting within the United Reformed Church – will need to consider whether the changed circumstances require changes in practice to further reduce the risks prevailing, which might include closing for a time.  When a church enters the Tier 3 (Very High) risk level in England and any equivalent state should a similar system be developed for Scotland and Wales, we strongly encourage the Elders’ Meeting to consider whether it is now appropriate to close for worship and other non-essential activities (which would leave foodbanks, support groups for vulnerable people, etc. able to continue to operate as they did during the national lockdown).  Whatever decision is taken by the Elders, they should document the reasons for their decision.  This does not place an obligation on churches in the highest risk areas to close, but it is a strong encouragement that this is considered.

In all cases, if Governments tighten up their position, churches must follow that Government policy and regulation, and nothing here is intended to supersede that guidance.

 

TEST AND TRACE

If you have questions about test and trace and/or using QR codes, you might well find the answer at –

https://faq.covid19.nhs.uk/category/?id=CAT-01043&parentid=CAT-01027

 

HOLY HABITS ROADSHOW – OR (AS THEY ARE) ONLINE TRAINING

 

Our new series of training mini videos is now under way.

 

This week Nicola takes a Intergenerational look at the Breaking of Bread – you should find it easily (once it has been uploaded, hopefully, but not guaranteed, on Thursday morning), if you go to the Synod YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYncbpZJ4PKBBrjrcXBHrw?view_as=subscriber

 

We are taking a half term break, so there will be no new Holy Habits material next week – but we will be back in two weeks’ time with a Biblical/Theological look at Giving (Sharing Resources).

 

CHRISTMAS KIT FOR CHURCHES TO ENGAGE WITH FAMILIES

Advent Hope & Joy is a kit that can be given to families to show that the church remembers them, cares for them and wants to connect with them, and are sized so that they can be posted through letterboxes.

Inside each oversized A4 red box is a wealth of material to enable people of all ages to discover a little hope and joy in this most difficult of years. Over the six weeks from the start of Advent to Epiphany, six aspects of the Christmas story are explored. Each week has a pack with ideas for activities which range from quick and simple to more complex (and tasty!).

Each box includes: Colours of Christmas story book; A3 colouring sheet and Christmas story ‘spot the difference’ puzzle; weekly activities; colouring pencils; gold pen; labels; cookie cutter; tea light candle; postcards; wooden star; wooden crown; Walking the Way foot and cord;

stained glass window to decorate and display; Nativity set to make; conversation starters; craft ideas; reflective activities; social justice engagement; prayer practices; a link to the weekly Families on Faith Adventures@Home online resources for deeper faith-focussed engagement.

We have pre-ordered boxes and they can be ordered direct  from Nicola cydo@urceastern.org.uk at a cost of £2 per box

 

ALL AGE WORSHIP

Families at home 21^st October

Story time for the under fives

Be thankful -  counting your blessings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEVUK5zYdc

 

Singing together

Song - Build Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx8jkyxraAM

an idea for actions for Build Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2NV6K89DBk

 

Listening and watching together

An all age reflection

‘strong and gentle’ is A reflection on Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians 2:1 - 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsPq4hJ7b3Q

 

Praying together

Feather Prayers

A reminder of the need to be gentle

Hold a feather in your hand, touch the feather and feel and feel how gentle It is.

Think about the bible passage

Say together

Lord, help us to be gentle, to know when we need to be gentle and to have the strength to be gentle. Amen.

 

Strong and gentle prayers 

You will need: A ziplock or sealable bag, water and  sharp pencils
Fill the bag with water  leaving some space at the top and seal it.

What are the things that scare us and we worry about having to do? Where do we need to God to give us strength and help us to be gentle?    

Imagine the pencil is like the thing you are scared are worried might hurt or take our strength

away. We can pray to God to help us to trust in God and not rely on our own thoughts and understanding.

Get everyone to take a pencil while one person holds the bag securely. Holding the pencil and thinking of the things that worry you push take it in turns to push the pencil through the bag of water. Ask god to help you have strength and not to worry knowing that God holds us secure like the pencil in the water.

No Water leaks out until we remove the pencil!

 

Creating Together

Make a card to send to someone to show them you are thinking about them. 

 

Playing together

Playing with Oobleck

Think about the need to be gentle

Mix together two cups of cornflour and one cup of water in a large tray,

Help the children to make oobleck together by mixing the cornflour and the water in a bowl using a wooden spoon. Tip this onto a plate or tray.

Play with the oobleck without it becoming solid.  When you are gentle with it, the mixture is easy to move their fingers through. But if you force, hit or push the mixture, it becomes more solid.

Remember hat being gentle in our words and actions can often be the best thing, but sometimes it can be tricky to do.

You can try standing in the oobleck. Stand too long and you sink into it, jump on it and it is solid.  It is messy to best to protect your surfaces or do it outside.

 

1^st SYNOD QUIZ NIGHT

Many thanks to all those who joined us for our first Quiz Night on Monday.  It was yet another learning curve for working with online platforms, but everyone seemed to have a good time and it was down to a knife-edge at the end.  The winners were decided in the final round: the Norwich Dumplings, a group brought along by Audrey at Ipswich Road: your prizes are on their way!

 

LIGHT PARTIES

Many churches have for some years held an alternative to Hallowe’en, often called Light Parties. These offer an alternative of light-filled fun on an evening otherwise filled with a focus on the dark and scary things.  Unfortunately these parties won’t be going ahead this year, but Churches Together in Epping and District have come up with a plan to fill the gap: they are making available party bags filled with treats for children aged 5-11.  They will be put together in plenty of time to be quarantined ahead of collection from the Parish Church at designated times.  If you want to know what is being included and how they are reaching families in the community please get in touch with Lindsey. Scripture Union is also making available packs to be downloaded and printed off at home: https://content.scriptureunion.org.uk/what-we-do/light-parties. 

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY  (please include in your church notices)

Elders’ Training                  3^rd November     10am

Walking the Way ‘Day’       7^th November     10am-1pm

Elders’ Training                  18^th November   7pm (a repeat of the earlier session)

 

RESET THE DEBT

We hope that you are continuing to follow the progress of this campaign; if you have built a relationship with your church’s local MP please use the resources to raise the issues with them.  As always action is most powerful if done in conjunction with other groups, so use your local networks of churches, interfaith organisations, local outreach groups including Foodbank etc, to respond collectively. ResetTheDebt.uk

 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

We have two weeks left in October, a great ‘excuse’ to use the many resources on the Global and Intercultural Ministries new webpage https://urc.org.uk/legacies-of-slavery.html

 

URC INFO

All the latest information (and links to resources) from the United Reformed Church is on the Coronavirus Advice page of the denomination’s website –

https://urc.org.uk/coronavirus.html

 

 

A PRAYER FROM ARCHDEACON CAROLE HUGHES

AUCKLAND DIOCESE, NEW ZEALAND  International Anglican Women’s Network

Holy God, as we move

into being your church in new ways   

may we pray for and support one another,

and know the inner calm

that comes from faith in you.

 

Bless those who are sick

and those who are anxious and alone.

 

As we experience physical isolation may our social connections be made stronger.

 

As people of all nations may we unite in peace

so that your love will always be present.

 

Bless us through Jesus Christ our Liberator,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen

 

 

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,

 

PAUL                      moderator@urceastern.org.uk     07534 274668

LINDSEY                training@urceastern.org.uk          07801 352340

NICOLA                  cydo@urceastern.org.uk              07515 721172

STAY SAFE - PAUL