The Ellacome Chimes of St Michael and All Angels Church rang on Saturday afternoon for the first time since the church doors closed to public worship during the lockdown to call us to the Lord’s house for Andrew and Jenny’s wedding. Helen will be able to tell you more about the Ellacome chimes as she plays them. Hearing the bells ring again is very encouraging for us as we prepare to reopen our church building for worship.
My thanks to all those who have returned the completed survey on returning to worship in church building. Your input is important to us and I am heartened by the response to date. However, if you haven’t yet completed and returned your questionnaire, please take the time to do so by Monday 27th latest.
The current trend is towards having both in-church and online (Zoom) services, but it is too early to give a clear picture of how this might be achieved. We should know more as more completed questionnaires are returned. Only then can we have a real picture of what we may or may not be able to do. Meanwhile, full details of the services and what arrangements to expect in the church will be made available in a week or two.
Given the times we are living in with its many unknowns, we may not be able to provide the service that you would like at the time when you would like it. The main thing is that some of us will be able to attend worship in the church building and receive the sacrament (bread only). Others, who cannot or prefer not to, will continue to worship online, and will be able to join in a Spiritual communion. This may make us feel less united as a church community but I want to reassure you that whatever happens, we are, and always will be, united as a community of believers in the Body of Christ.
A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus
Keep us, good Lord,
in the light of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
DOING CHURCH DIFFERENTLY AT PIRBRIGHT
Over the weeks of lockdown, we have been welcoming 30 worshippers each week including one who hasn’t been able to get to church for a considerable time! Although it takes a little getting used to, there is no doubt that it is a special personal experience as we’re able to see each other’s faces as we worship.
Guidance about how to access the service will be provided in a separate email. You can join in online or via an ordinary phone-call. Alternatively, you can just download the order of service and follow it in your own way. However we share, it will still be worshipping together. We will know who is joining us on Zoom but we would love to know if you are following quietly at home or if you’re wanting to but don’t have a printer – please contact Catherine or Pauline!
UPDATE ON RE-OPENING THE CHURCH
Churches can reopen from the 4th July for public worship,
weddings, funerals and baptisms. Numbers attending will be limited depending on
the number of people that can be safely accommodated in the church building
whilst observing the appropriate social distancing rule (except those from the
same household). To this end, the PCC are preparing for our return by ensuring
that the necessary risk assessments, hand sanitisers, other safety items, e.g.
for cleaning after each service are in place before we can return. Please see
the front page for further information. Thanks for your patience.
Rev Bev, Catherine and Pauline
SUPPORTING PIRBRIGHT IN A TIME OF CRISIS - NEIGHBOURS NOT STRANGERS
The response to the idea of community support for
our most vulnerable neighbours during this lockdown has been amazing, thank
you. If you would welcome a little support, or just a little human contact,
there are people willing to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact PeriAid:
Lindsay Graham 476432 - pirbrightparishcouncil@yahoo.co.uk
Julia Douetil, 476215 - julia.douetil@gmail.com
Steve Fidgett, 07785978817- sdfidgett@icloud.com
Helen Myers, pirbrightpc@hotmail.co.uk
For more details: www.parish-council.com/pirbright/ or www.pirbrightchurch.org.uk/aboutus.htm
HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES
The Centre for Psychology is continuing to offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for anyone registered with a Surrey GP surgery and over 18 years old. CBT looks to provide practical tools and techniques to help people deal with common mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, stress, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and more. Currently the therapy appointments are held over the telephone and are completely free.
Anyone can make a self-referral to the service via the contact details below:
Guildford & Waverley 01483 570765 guildford@centreforpsychology.co.uk
Surrey Heath 01276 423020 camberley@centreforpsychology.co.uk
East Surrey 01737 306020 eastsurrey@centreforpsychology.co.uk
Surrey Downs 01372
610650 surrey@centreforpsychology.co.uk
North West Surrey 01932 506510 nwsurrey@centreforpsychology.co.uk
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