Parish Jottings

On Sunday 5^th July, Duncan held a socially-distanced service in church as a trial-run, to see how services under pandemic conditions would go. About eight churchgoers went to the service, the first one held since 15^th March at the beginning of Lockdown. This followed the Prime Minister’s announcement that, from July 4^th, places of worship could reopen.

The intention is to hold a short service every Sunday morning; the pattern of services has yet to be established. As the risk of catching the virus disease out in the community remains, Trinity church is taking precautions to keep churchgoers safe. Hand sanitiser is provided to be used on entering the church, and you must keep a minimum of two metres apart from others.

As usual, the digital hymnal will provide the music, but no singing will be allowed. Hymn books and Bibles will not be used. At the end of the service, churchgoers are asked to cleanse their chairs with the wipes provided. Not all churchgoers will feel confident enough to attend church at this stage of the pandemic crisis, but no one need feel under pressure to go. In addition, weddings, funerals, and other services can take place, subject to following the Government’s guidelines.

Trinity at Four has also returned to holding its meetings in church, on Sunday afternoons. A short video is available to see on ‘You Tube’, which shows what the church looks like under the new normality. The website address is:-

https://youtu.be/-Akjy52yjy4

Wearing face masks in church is mandatory for all those over the age on 11. There are exceptions to this. The Church of England advises those in the vulnerable groups or with underlying problems, of the risks of attending public worship, and says their decision to do so is theirs alone. Government guidance includes a request for names of attendees to be recorded, and kept for 21 days to assist ‘track and trace’, if required.

The new socially-distanced normality in Holy Trinity church