We hope that you will be able to join us for this special united services outdoors this Sunday followed by refreshments in the hall at Wimpole Road.

Printed orders of service will be available on the day or you can click here to access it on line and download.

Click here to see further details of meetings and services planned

Please don’t be put off by the weather forecast; if the weather is bad we have an alternative indoors plan.

We hope that you will be able to join us for this special joint celebration followed by refreshments.

We will have paper copies of the order of service and song words, but you can also click here of on the link below and download it and bring it on your phone or tablet:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aUhN-qU6w4VFDfqY2W_r1hxDszQSR0dB/view?usp=sharing

Please see APCM page

Just a quick update:

Weekly Prayer Meeting (Tuesday at 10:00)

We will be starting back this coming Tuesday 4 Jan.  I won’t be able to join, but Sally has agreed to lead and Debbie will open up and run the Zoom part.  Thank you both.

Bible Study

Sally has kindly found some really exciting looking material we can use for Bible Study, where we will be asked to explore specific themes or topics each week and will be directed to scriptural texts to see what the Bible says and how this might inform our thinking and discussions.  Sally has, I think, agreed to lead the first one or two of these and then hopefully we will be able to take turns in leading these.  We will start back with this from Thursday 13 Jan at 7:30 pm.

Andrew

Messy Church is online only this Sunday at 11am.
Get your craft boxes out ready!

Regrettably, due to people having to isolate due to COVID the Christmas Eve midnight Holy Communion Service at St Margaret’s has had to be cancelled.  We are really sorry about this.

All the other published services should still be able to proceed as planned.

Our church will be socially distanced and ventilated over the Christmas period. If you’re coming in wrap up warm. But please stay at home if you can live stream- we will live stream all services- you are very welcome to come in if you can’t.

Click here or on the link below to see letter from Archdeacon Ruth:

http://ststephens-colchester.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Letter-from-Archdeacon-Ruth-Nov-2021-1.pdf

Following the government announcements about relaxation of Covid restrictions from 19^th July, the PCC has agreed that a cautious approach is appropriate until further notice. The following arrangements will be in place from Sunday 15^th August:

1. Booking for services is no longer required. Attenders asked to enter by the front entrance and exit, as before, through the garden.
2. As before, attenders encouraged to use hand sanitiser in the entrance area on arrival and sign in using the NHS app or the written list.
3. Worship area for both Wednesday and Sunday worship: Doors and windows open for maximum ventilation. Seating ‘bubbles’ will no longer provided and chairs will be set out with a seat-width size gap between. 2 seat length gaps between rows. It is likely that attenders will automatically tend to space themselves out leaving unoccupied chairs.
4. But some in the congregation may feel particularly vulnerable and anxious at the possibility of being seated closer to other people. If someone would feel safer, chairs to their right and left may be reserved to maintain more distance.  Cards will be provided to allow people to maintain social distance by placing cards on adjacent seats.
5. Attenders are asked to use facemasks when entering and moving around the building. Attenders have a choice as to whether to use them when seated, being mindful of those close-by.
6. No regulations now exist on social distancing. But attenders are asked to particularly avoid speaking face to face in close proximity to others, shaking hands or hugging.
7. The worship band can continue to sing unmasked. Wind instruments are now allowed. Congregational singing is allowed but using facemasks is suggested for congregational singing.
8. At Holy Communion services the President will wear a mask during administration. As before, the President will bring wafers to communicants who remain seated. The President to be the only person who receives Holy Communion in the form of wine.
9. No refreshments to be provided, but the congregation is no longer required to leave the building / church grounds immediately after the service. We can become more sociable again!

John Clifton  Martin Kerins
Churchwardens on behalf of St Stephens Parochial Church Council

26 July 2021