News and notices from across the benefice
Diocesan services continue to be streamed 'as live' at 10am each Sunday. The link can be found at oxford.anglican.org/livestream - it will be put there on Sunday morning.
Download the order of service and join online on Sunday at 10am.
Dear Friends
It is with great sadness that I have realised we are starting Holy Week today (Palm Sunday) and that we won’t be able to meet either for our Reflections during Holy Week or services during the Paschal Triduum this year. It is such an important event in the Church calendar. We had services planned right round the Benefice and I was particularly looking forward to celebrating Holy Communion on Easter Sunday with you all. I had even bought 2 kilos of mini foil-wrapped eggs to celebrate Easter with you (they are still in sealed bags untouched by human hands!)
However what I thought might help us during the coming week is a little booklet which one of my fellow curates-in-training has produced. It prints off in a booklet format (print both sides, left binding, portrait.
On Sunday Morning I was thinking about Psalm 137 and the question 'How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' The times are strange right now, we have to do everything differently. My thoughts on the psalm resonated with the situation we are in, so I thought I'd share them with you.
A candle in your window as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ
Dear Friends
Most of you will know that very sadly we have had to suspend our usual pattern of Sunday services and other midweek meetings under instruction from the Archbishops who are responding to the Government’s introduction of additional measures to help prevent the further spread of the corona virus.
We are looking at ways in which we might do some live streaming of services and producing and providing resources for prayer and worship at home. We have been asked in particular by our Archbishops to pray for our Government and nation, for each other, and especially for those who work in our health and emergency services.
We are fully committed to providing practical and pastoral care so please do contact us if you would like to talk. It is wonderful how everyone in our local community has risen to the great challenge we face and networks have been established right across the community to support neighbours who may need help and support or who are lonely.
With our prayers and blessings to you all at this difficult time.
Revd Katy Weston (07765 255569) Rosemary and Jonathan Sandbach LLMs (01491 672494) Mike Penny (01491 671357)
THE UNITED BENEFICE OF
BASILDON, ALDWORTH & ASHAMPSTEAD
Coronavirus COVID-19
In the light of the current Coronavirus pandemic, we want to keep all of you updated on what we are doing to protect everyone in the Benefice.
We have produced a Continuity/Contingency Plan and this will be held in the Church vestries. The Reverend Heather Parbury, our Area Dean has key responsibility during the continuing interregnum with the Churchwardens for ensuring that all necessary steps are taken. Please contact her on 0118 9842928 or rector.ptschurches@gmail.com. Her nominated deputy is the Revd Katy Weston (07765 255569 westonkaty@hotmail.com).
We want to reassure you all that we have put a protocol in place to ensure that all church services and activities as well as pastoral care continue as long as government guidelines allow.
We have taken some immediate steps and, under instruction from the Church of England, we have suspended the administration of the chalice during Holy Communion as well as physical contact during the sharing of the peace, blessing or “laying on of hands”. We will not ‘pass the plate’ for collections and activities and services will not have any catering for the present. Please donate your collection as you come into church or directly through the bank. Thank you for your understanding at this trying time.
We will be issuing regular communications through our email lists, social media and magazines and parish websites. We would ask you to take a look at the NHS’s latest advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.
If you are not feeling well, have a cough or fever, please do not attend church but let us know immediately so we can pray for you and provide any assistance necessary. Please also do not attend if you have recently returned from a high risk country or have been in contact with someone you believe has the virus. Please also have a duty of care for your neighbour: if there is anyone for whom you are concerned, please let us know.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We do hope that all of you continue to stay well during this difficult period and that we can all return to normality as soon as possible.
CHURCHWARDENS
Basildon: Jo Eley and Nick Schlee, Aldworth: Maurice Allen & Lily Rennie
Ashampstead: Caroline Butler & Sally Hardaker
MINISTRY TEAM
Revd Katy Weston, Dr Jonathan Sandbach, Mrs Rosemary Sandbach, Mr Michael Penny
Church Officers need to complete SAFEGUARDING Leadership training:
Please follow this link to book onto the session: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leadership-safeguarding-training-tickets-83135100323
Leadership safeguarding training is required for anyone who has safeguarding leadership responsibilities or responsibility for leading activities involving children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
Do you know anyone who might be ?
Confirmation is for those who have been baptised and now wish to confirm the promises that were made for them and begin to receive Holy Communion.
There is a Confirmation Service on 24th May when Kerry from St Stephen's is being confirmed; if anyone else is interested, or you think of someone who might be, please contact Rev. Katy Weston westonkaty@hotmail.com or Rosemary Sandbach rosemarysandbach@yahoo.co.uk
How often do we hear something about Jesus and wonder what it means?
Hear something on Sunday and consider how it impacts on our everyday life?
Do we investing ate, look into it further
This is what a true disciple is – not a mindless follower, but one who learns, grows in faith.
Let us respond to Jesus call to ‘Come and see’
Look into Jesus
Discover more
Let him impact our everyday lives.
No-one expected Christ’s ministry to be quite what it is – yet it is the model for our own ministry.
In Baptism, we are called to be Christ-like in our response to God’s loving-purposes. Jesus grew up to be compassionate, generous, kind-hearted, loving and forgiving. It is those Christ-like qualities which we nurture in ourselves and in others.
