News

Churches to partially re-open (update 7th June 2020)

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You are probably aware that the government has given permission for places of worship to reopen for private prayer from Monday 15th June. This is great news for all of us,

It is now up to individual PCCs and clergy to decide when and how it is safe to do that in each church. Some churches will feel that they cannot meet the necessary requirements to keep people safe, and will continue to remain shut. Others will open, but with limitations on how or when the churches can be used in this way.

Next Sunday, I will post an update with the decisions of each PCC, and (if the decision is to open the church) some general guidelines on how we can use the buildings safely.

Please bear with us as we try to find a balance between opening up your buildings for you to use, and not wanting to put anyone at unnecessary risk.

With blessings
Matt

Pentecost service

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The service for Pentecost is now live via Youtube or the Online Services section of the website.

There is a version to download, but for copyright reasons I cannot include all the songs. You will find the video here on Saturday evening.

Blessings

Matt

Ascension Day service – updated 21st May

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***UPDATE***

Apologies to anyone who tried to watch this live. My computer claimed it was streaming, but I have since discovered that nothing was uploaded. I recorded the service, so will make an unedited version of it available as soon as possible.

***UPDATE***

This Thursday (21st May) is Ascension Day. Traditionally in Oldbury Benefice we have a service in St Mary’s, Calstone at 7.30am, followed by breakfast. Obviously that is not possible this year, so instead I will (attempt to) live-stream a short service from St Mary’s churchyard at that time. If you want to follow, you will need to go to YouTube and look for “Oldbury Benefice”. You should find an Ascension Day service set to go live on Thursday at 7.30am. Do watch if you can. If you want to click on a direct link, I think it might be here.

This is the countryside, so it is possible that the internet fails us – in which case I apologise in advance! Also, I haven’t got the means of showing you the words on the screen, just what the camera sees, so you might want to download this to join in.

I regret that public gatherings (and therefore public services) are still not permitted, so this is not an invitation to you to come and join me in person, just virtually.

Blessings

Matt

Update on church closures (15th May 2020)

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On Thursday last week (7th May), clergy were allowed back into their churches for prayer and to record services. As yet, this applies only to clergy, and I cannot yet make the churches available for private prayer—let alone services—but the opening has begun. I will let you know as soon as we are allowed to open them up for more people.

I am trying to get into each church at least once a week to pray, so you may see me around, or hear the bell rung (this is not possible in all the churches because some of the bells were left “up” and need to be checked by a proper bell-ringer before they are used).

We do not need churches to pray or meet with God, but I hope you are encouraged that the buildings are once again at least partially being used for the purpose for which they were built.

Blessings

Matt