Overview

While we want to remain calm, and not panic, as a church we have a responsibility, like all other organisations, to consider carefully how we react to the situation we face. We have received advice from several sources, including the government, both national churches, local professional advice, and consulted with the leaders of some activities and among the officers of the church.

We are concerned that many of our members are in the age-related “at risk” group, and many of us have “underlying health issues”. As such they are beginning to take early self-protection actions. The guidance of the World Health Organisation notes that churches often have close and intimate actions, such as hand-shake, the Peace, warm greetings, sharing communion bread and wine etc., and these can exacerbate the situation. Also, we do not want people feel that they ‘ought’ to come. And especially we feel strongly that people with duties to perform, who would otherwise stay away for their own protection, might feel they had a responsibility to come to fulfil their duty.

We ask everyone to ensure that if they have any symptoms, or come into contact with anyone who has symptoms, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO WORSHIP OR OTHER ACTIVITIES.

While we may have a variety of views, we will respect each others’ views, but as your minister, I have had to agree with the officers how we will handle this.

It is important to remember that this is a rapidly changing situation, and this may not be the last word. We continue to get detailed advice from the national churches and government, and we will respond accordingly.

Church Services

At the moment we wish to continue to make it possible for members who choose to do so to attend a service of worship on a Sunday. Therefore we have not cancelled the service THIS Sunday. But we will review the situation after discussing it today, and in the light of any further developments, and we should be prepared

for a time when it will be the right time to stop all communal services. If we do have to suspend services we will find a way of enabling people to worship together using social media.

We will take the following specific precautions today:

Ask everyone, including the children, to wash their hands with soap and hot water, and use the hand-sanitiser.

The church notices will be in a pile for you to take your own copy; they will not be handed out.

We will not use hymn books (except the choir who have their own designated books; we will use the overhead projector for the congregation

Ask people to leave a spare seat between each person. Ask people not to shake hands, hug or kiss. Instead of passing the offertory bags round, we will have a bowl on the

table at the back and ask people to put their offering in there. We will give thanks for our offering in prayer, but without asking the children to participate.

We will not pass the microphone around. The minister will not engage the children in close activity. The recommendation is after-church coffee activity might be suspended as

being an increased risk of close meeting, and mechanical transfer, and not required for worship purposes. We have bought disposable cups and can decide today what we want.

Those counting the offertory must wash their hands after doing so.

We have decided NOT to hold the Lent Lunch today, and for following weeks.

We will not have evening services until further notice. The morning service gives an opportunity for those who wish to share in a public service; we do not need to have two services in these times.

We have detailed guidance on communion, and we will be reviewing that before the next communion service, and that review will also consider whether we should not have communion for one or two months while the situation exists.

Church Activities

The Lunch Club leadership, following similar advice and much consultation, has taken the decision to suspend lunch club. Other lunch clubs in the area are doing the same.

The Meeting Place and Busy Little Hands will be monitoring the situation closely and will make their own decisions as the situation develops. All church and non-church groups will be invited to consider their own situation.

Keeping in Touch

I am going to ask for a small team of volunteers to create a temporary team of Church Phone Buddies. These volunteers will be asked to take responsibility for a small number of members, perhaps 6 each, and to ring them every couple of days. This is not to offer services or shopping or visits. But to have a friendly chat, to help overcome a sense of being alone, and to continually assure people that the church is thinking of them and reaching out in love to them. I shall be asking the existing pastoral team and others to volunteer for this temporary support group.

I am going to adapt the front page of the church website, so that it is easy to see the latest situation in respect of church services and other activities. You can find this at www.christchurchonline.org

I am going to explore having a private Facebook TV channel, on the church’s Facebook page, so that we could have short broadcast service on Sunday mornings, that people could watch and share in worship together at the same time. This is not ready yet, but when it is it will be available through the Christ Church Facebook page at www.facebook.com/christ-church-stocksbridge . Update later.

If any member or friend needs to contact me, please use my mobile: 07428 744 014, or my landline, 0114 234 7153. (On the landline you might have to say your name and press # the first time you phone me.)

Or you can always email me on ianlucraft@btinternet.com

Christ Church Stocksbridge

Message from your minister This is a worrying time, but we need to keep cool heads and take sensible precautions. We pray for those who are facing this illness, the families of those who have died, and for the thousands of medical and emergency staff who are caring for them and for us.

We must continue to walk in faith, and in love, caring for each other as best we can, and continuing to hold our Lord at the centre of our lives.

Though we may need to change things in the short term, we will hold together through the difficult times, and through prayer, regular contact and thoughtful actions we will maintain the Spirit of our Lord in this place. God Bless each of you.