Coronavirus

Church of England Guidance for COVID-19

if you or someone you know needs pastoral support for example if self-isolating & need assistance at this time or for prayer requests, please contact us as follows:
Revd Marion de Quidt (Hook Rectory) 01256 763211
Revd Shona Hoad (Mattingley Rectory, Hound Green) 07871 740158

 

Government and Church of England Guidelines updated for 19th July 2021

The Church of England is here for you during this difficult time. 

In the Whitewater Benefice we study Government detailed guidance when it is available and amend our advice as necessary. See https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches#na which was updated 19th July.

There will be information on the Calendar pages which will give details of whether services are in church or online - and our services page will have a page for each Sunday with any Zoom codes required.  There may be times when our Churches for prayer will be open and we will update our weekly notices/Calendar with details (the weekly notices can be downloaded from the home page of our website). 

We are currently reviewing the guidance with a view to opening up more of our churches and services. 

Whilst wearing masks and social distancing may no longer be legally required, and restrictions on numbers in church are removed/reduced, we are aware that COVID-19 is still in the community and we would recommend that people attending any churches continue to wear face coverings and respect social distancing as it will help protect those in the wider community.  If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you may need to take additional precautions (and may wish to speak to one of the team).

1 We will be having a mix of services via Zoom and in Church - we will be keeping our 10am Sunday service via Zoom for the short term, but will have other services in church with smaller numbers of people. Places for church services at this time, will need to be booked.  We are hoping to be able to open up for more regular worship soon - see notices for details.
2 Pastoral Visits:
  • when someone is self-isolating we will offer phone support.
  • If pastoral visiting is necessary – we will take rigorous action to maintain health and hygiene; we will maintain social distancing
3 Please use the contact number above to let us know your needs. OR please phone Marion on 01256 763211.
4 #LoveYourNeighbour is an scheme we have set up to be of help during these difficult times - if you need help, please contact us.  See the #LoveYourNeighbour page for details - but shopping, gardening, help with IT, walking the dog, or just being a friendly voice at the end of the phone. 
5 We encourage everyone to remember: hands - face - space - ventilation

Opening our Churches

We are planning to be able to open our churches for private prayer, as follows, but please check the online calendar or the weekly notices to confirm:

St John's Hook The lady Chapel is open daily for private prayer, from 8:30 - 18:00
Mattingley Church Open daily for private prayer, from 10:00 - 16:00
Rotherwich Church Open daily for private prayer, from 10:00 - 16:00

Please come to pray, and enjoy the peace and comfort of being in God’s house. Please keep praying as we prepare wisely and carefully. Thank you for all the loving kindness shown during the season of coronavirus. The guidance is continually being updated, so please look out for any instructions when you arrive.

 

 

 

Remembering those who have died

Useful resources

Each Sunday we are aiming to worship in a variety of ways, you may join our service using Zoom from your computer, tablet or phone.  Each week we while provide a page for that sunday, it will contain somethings to read, activity sheets for any children, then, after the weekend, we will upload the sermon or talk, usually as an audio file, but sometimes we may have a video.  The services page for each Sunday which will include any Zoom details. We also have a link which will enable you to test connecting to and using zoom. 

We have a Whatsapp prayer groups which you may like to join, contact us for details.

Time to pray presents everything you need for Prayer During the Day, with variations according to the day of the week and the season of the Church’s year.  Its is a free app you can download.

Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind. When you dial in, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes you. When you press 'star' there are a range of options.

A prayer for the Nation is a booklet for produced by the Church of England.  It has been suggested that we unite to pray at 6pm every day and to use these prayers. The Church of England also has further useful booklets which are available with some prayers you may wish to use at this time. I also have an excellent booklet from the Church of England that I would be delighted to post to you, called 'Everyday Faith'. Please do call me and ask for one (01256 763211). 

You can sign up for our weekly notices to be emailed to you. If your neighbour is not using this service, you might like to encourage them or to print the notices sheet out for them?  Weekly notices can also be downloaded from the home page.

Small groups are continuing to meet, if you would like to join one, the contacts are on the Midweek activities page, or contact me and I can put you in touch with one of the groups.

We are following Church of England recommendations - please check here for latest guidance https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches and https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-07///COVID%2019%20advice%20on%20face%20coverings%20v1.0.pdf 

Marion de Quidt, Rector of Whitewater Benefice, from Church of England guidance

20th July 2020