29/06/2020
*A message from David Busk*
Dear Family of St Mary's, Godmanchester
You will all probably know that last Tuesday the government announced that public worship would be possible from July 4th. I am sorry I have not been in touch sooner, but it has taken a while to work out what the next step should be for us. After consulting with the Standing Committee of the PCC, we have decided that there will be a service of Matins (morning prayer) in St Mary's at 9.30 am on Sunday July 5th. There will be no other service in church that day, and I regret it does not seem possible to hold any kind of communion service in church just yet.
Please note: Children's Church will not be taking place in church for now. Paula Williams has agreed to continue her online Children's Church for the rest of this term, and I know we are all extremely grateful to her for this.
For those unable to attend in the morning, the Eucharist on Zoom will still take place on the 5th, but at 3.00 pm. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/86232431955
Compline every day at 6.30 pm (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87068429876), Wednesday morning Bible study and fellowship at 10.30 am (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87418596237), and Thursday morning communion at 9.45 am (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81171131589) will all continue as usual on Zoom for now.
There are several things to note about our worship on July 5th, which will be very different from what we are all used to:
Please use common sense in keeping your distance from those not in your own household, especially when entering or leaving.
We are required to ask for your contact details (name and phone no.) for Covid19 contact tracing. Forms are on the table by the door, with a box to place them in. The details will not be used for any other purpose, and will be destroyed in due course.
Alternate rows of the pews will be closed, and if you are not with members of your own household each row of pews should only have two people in it.
Hand sanitiser is available at the entrance to the church should you want it.
Pew bibles will be tidied away, and there will be a simple single-use service sheet to follow. There will not be the regular weekly news letter.
There will be no singing, alas. I am delighted that Colin Thirlwall has agreed to play organ voluntaries before and after the service, and there will a recorded choir anthem during it.
There will be no refreshments after the service, and the toilets in the hall will not be available.
There is no requirement to wear a mask, but please do not feel self-conscious if you choose to do so.
My guess is that numbers at this first service will not be great, and there should be room for all who come, as long as people spread out across the church. If I am wrong, and there do not appear to be enough spaces, please use your discretion about whether you wish to stand during the service or, sadly, leave. I do not think it is practical to set up any kind of booking system for public worship, so although this is an unfortunate turn of phrase in the context, it will be first come first served for seating.
As always, please get in touch if you have any questions or anything at all you would like to talk to me about.
With love,
David
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