22/08/2020
We are delighted to resume worship on Sunday 23rd August. There will be a Eucharist for the whole Mission Community at 11am at St Mary's Lynton. For guidance about the preparation needed to make this as safe as possible during this time please read below:
Practicalities:
• Face coverings - Church of England guidelines require all who can safely do so to wear a face covering for the duration of the service (removing them to receive communion). The person leading worship can be exempt from this rule and my sense from conversations is that people would prefer me only to wear a mask for the distribution of communion).
• Hand sanitiser - should be used on arrival and leaving the church and will be available in these locations. It is also recommended that it is used before receiving communion and after touching a mask. If you have your own hand sanistiser it would be wise to have it with you so that you can use it easily at any time that suits you
• Seating - The seating has been re-arranged to enable 2m social distancing to be the norm. Only those who are part of the same household should sit together and it would be appreciated if we can leave the larger groups of chairs for larger households. A steward will give help with this when you
come in. We are allowing for a maximum capacity of 40
people.
• Movement around the church - There will be stewards to help
with all aspects of moving around the church so it should feel
straight forward. Please observe the 2m distancing we are
now used to. The main door will be the entrance and the
side door near the Lady Chapel will be the exit and there will
be a one way system marked on the floor. You will be
guided when the time comes to receive communion and
how to leave safely.
• Track and Trace - Forms will be available on your chairs that
enable you to leave you contact details for track and trace
purposes. This is voluntary but would clearly be something
helpful to the cause of helping communal safety. It would be
great if you could bring your own pen to fill these in. The
forms can be left on the table as you exit, will be stored
safely and destroyed after 21 days according to law.
• Collection - I would encourage everyone who can to
organise the way they give to their own church with their
treasurer. We will not be able to pass a plate during the
service and if there is a desire for a plate at the door we can
probably do that – but we want to avoid volunteers having
to come into contact with cash if at all possible.
• Service Sheets - A simple service sheet will be placed on your
seat. If you are going to come to church regularly you may
wish to take it home and bring it with you each time.
Alternatively if you could return them to the table on leaving
they will be isolated between services (ie over 72 hours)
• Music - we will not be able to sing hymns, but I hope to have
musical interludes organised to help us reflect.
• Communion - This will be offered in one kind only (the bread).
Those who wish to receive it will be guided up by stewards. I
will administer the bread from the nave steps and people will
come up one by one via the central aisle to receive
standing, returning to their seats by the side aisles.
