Church Bulletin
Forget me Not
Recently I had one of those reminders that pop up on Facebook of a picture I posted in the past. It was a picture I took in a supermarket in France showing a pallet of toilet rolls, and it was taken at the time when everyone in the UK was panic buying them. I expect there are still people with toilet rolls bought at that time stored somewhere in their house, and they are holding on to them, just in case. I remember how news reports at the time said that this type of panic buying was ridiculous and there were plenty to go around if people just bought what they needed. Jump forward 18 months and a careless word or news report has yet again created mass panic within society, this time regarding fuel. How quickly we forget the lessons of the past.
This week I conducted the funeral of Peter Bruton a member of our church for many years. During the service and later, at the reception for his life, people were recounting stories and memories of Peters’ life. Although a sad occasion, it was uplifting to hear the many stories that people had to tell. On more than one occasion I heard someone say “Oh I’d forgotten about that”.
There are lots of reasons we forget, the passage of time, growing older or just being too busy. We forget passwords, names of people or even where we’ve parked the car. My excuse is that there is only so much I can fit in my brain. I must delete something before I can remember something new.
Even back in Jesus’ time it was necessary to help people to remember. Many of the stories and parables Jesus used in his teachings were related to the everyday life of those who listened, to help them understand and remember the important message he was giving. Even today when you are in church, you will hear the person giving the talk follow the same pattern. They will relate the Bible reading to a current story or something that both helps us to understand, but importantly remember the message.
A few weeks ago, I received a lovely email from someone who attended our church as a youngster. They were writing to let me know that they remembered a talk my dad gave at a Harvest service they attended some 30 years earlier! They now attend a church where they live and at the Harvest Festival Service at their church, they were going to preach the same talk. I was so impressed they remembered it.
So how reassuring it is for us to know that not only can we continue to remind ourselves of the story of Jesus and his time on earth, through the Gospel readings in our Bible, but more importantly that God never forgets us even when at times we forget him.
Matt 28 vs 20 “ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”
Nick Tooby – Churchwarden
Church Guidelines
The PCC met on Monday 2nd August and have agreed the following changes which will be reviewed regularly.
People are requested to:
Use the sanitiser when entering church.
Social distance.
Use a face covering when in church.
Singing – will now be allowed but requested to be done behind a face covering.
Move to a 1 metre distance – therefore all pews will be open, but only 2 people (related or formally in a bubble) are allowed to sit in each pew. People will be asked to sit at the opposite end of the pew from the people in the pew in front/behind. This is to achieve the 1 metre social distance.
Upstairs will now be open on Sundays to increase capacity.
If people, due to mobility or preference, wish to sit downstairs for the Sunday service you will need to contact Julie to book a place. Otherwise, the booking arrangements will be suspended, and people will be seated on a first come first served basis, utilising both the main body of the church and upstairs. The capacity of the church will be 60 people.
People will still be encouraged to record via the track and trace app.
We will continue with the current arrangements for sharing the peace.
Communion – will be administered in the pews as now. We will follow the option to administer the bread only at this time. We will request that people continue to wear a face covering when receiving Communion to protect both themselves and visiting clergy.
Coffee – will not be available after any service at this stage.
Wednesday Service – Wednesday service at 10am has resumed.
Life Events Weddings/Baptisms/Funerals – The church can accommodate 68 people utilising upstairs and downstairs and choir stalls. The number able to attend will be at the discretion of the person officiating at the service. Singing will be requested to be undertaken behind face coverings.
As you can imagine trying to get the balance right is very difficult, but we will keep the guidance under review. We will continue to take our steer from the Church of England and Public Health England guidance to make sure that we are keeping us all as safe as possible.
The church will continue to open on Thursdays and Sundays from 9am until 5pm.
Nick Tooby – Churchwarden
On behalf of the PCC
Church Opening Times
The church is open for private prayer on Thursday (9am – 5pm) and after the service on Sunday until 5pm.
Online Service & Bulletin
The PCC met on Monday 13th September and has agreed that the online service will come to an end from this Sunday (19th September). The online service has been a great way for us as a church to meet together during the pandemic. We are so grateful for the IT team who have worked continuously during the pandemic putting the online services together (all working full-time), all the readers, leaders and preachers who have made it possible for us to worship throughout. It was also agreed that the bulletin would reduce to once a week with it being sent out on a Friday starting from 24th September.
Becky Crowe – Churchwarden
On behalf of the PCC
Harvest Festival
We will be celebrating Harvest on the 3rd October – 10am Children’s Service and also the 10th October at the 10am Holy Communion service. This year we will be collecting tins to be donated to the Foodbank. Please bring any contributions on either Sunday or when the church is open on a Thursday and place them in the box at the back of church.
St Andrews Infant School
The school will be supporting WaterAid this harvest, as well as giving the children the chance to bring tins for the Foodbank. If anyone would like to contribute money to support WaterAid please let the churchwardens have any donations. Thank you.
St Andrews Church – Weddings through the ages exhibition and Gift Day
Help required – As part of our Gift Day this year, to support the finances of the church, we want to hold an exhibition of weddings through the ages. This will focus on the people and wedding dresses worn in our church by the many couples who have held their “big day” in St Andrews Church.
Can you help?
We want to exhibit wedding dresses from people who have been married in our church. The church has been holding weddings since 1875, and it would be great to exhibit a selection of dresses from as early as possible up to the current day. The good news is you don’t need to wear them yourself! If you have a wedding dress, we could borrow please email me.
We are also wanting to exhibit wedding photos of the happy couple across the decades. Again, if you are willing to loan us your wedding photo to display, please email me.
The event will be held on the 30th October between 10am – 3pm in the church.
Thank you,
Nick Tooby – nicktooby@btinternet.com
Tailors Dummy or Mannequin
Does anyone have a tailors/dress makers dummy or a mannequin that the church could borrow for the above event? We would need them for 27th October to prepare for the event on 30th October. If you have one and are willing to let the church borrow it please contact Nick Tooby or the parish administrator. It is will well looked after. Thank you.
Annual Sponsored Walk
Last Saturday, 18th September, Steve, Veronika and Linda joined with Greg for a sponsored walk. Those of you who have been coming to church a long time will know this annual event, started about 15 years ago with a 40 mile walk across Wales. I, (Linda), only supported at this event along my husband, but have walked since. All these years later, and our hips, back and feet have aged somewhat and so we limit our walks to about 20 miles now.
This year, we joined with Greg Smith and a number of his congregation, who were raising money for the historic churches trust in Shropshire. However, with all the good works throughout the pandemic that St. Andrews have done, we decided that all the money we raise will go directly to St. Andrews church to enable us to continue our good work.
The walk started from St. George’s church in Pontesbury at eight in the morning. It was an early start for us as we needed to travel there, and so we set off at six o’clock. In itself it was a difficult walk as those who know the area will testify. It is really hilly and sometimes the terrain was quite tough underfoot. One particular area, going up stiperstones to nearby devils chair was particularly steep and it was rocky underfoot. The first half of the walk seemed all uphill, and the second part, when the feet were sore, seemed mainly downhill. We called into a number of churches along the way, and had a short reading and a prayer at each. The fellowship was wonderful, as was the hospitality as we were served refreshments and cakes at most churches and as facilities were not always available, one very kind lady opened up her home to us so that we could use her toilet too. In total about 25 people or slightly more participated in the walk. Only nine of us completed it all. This would not have been possible but the amazing support from my husband Paul, and Jeremy, who ferried people back and forth and gave moral support and encouragement as well as ensuring everyone had whatever was required. Finally, we ended up at the Nags Head, for a well-deserved drink and rest before returning home.
It is still possible to sponsor us using one of the following methods:
A big thank you to you all.
Linda Chylinski
Flower Rota
We would like to return to the tradition of placing flowers on our altar table each week. As from Sunday, 26th September, there will be a Rota available on the Notice Board at the rear of the Church for the period October-December, 2021. If you would like to reserve a week in which to remember a loved one by having flowers in Church, please would you sign up for the appropriate Sunday.
The procedure has changed, and we will not be collecting money from you. Instead, we are returning to the original system: You are asked to provide your own flowers and bring them to Church on the Thursday before the relevant Sunday. Please arrange them in the brass vases and stand them on the altar table. (Water is available in the kitchen and scissors are in the kitchen drawer.) Any flowers from the previous week with remaining life can be transferred to the stoneware jug which stands at the back of church or other appropriate vases. Dead flowers/cuttings and any rubbish should be taken to the appropriate bins outside church.
A special thank you to Ann and Frank Dove, for their amazing commitment and hard work in maintaining our flowers inside church over so many years.
If you have any queries, please speak to Lesley Lee.
Wednesday Service
Our Wednesday Service has now resumed and commences weekly at 10am. Everyone welcome. There is no need to reserve a seat.
Building Our Faith
Our Wednesday evening bible study and fellowship takes place on Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Zoom. We will be looking at Old Testament characters over the next few weeks and everyone is welcome to join us.
If you have not joined us before you are very welcome. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Sue Masters, Tel: 07958 322026, Email: susanmasters@sky.com
Church Volunteers
This is a reminder that anyone who volunteers for a role at St Andrew’s, whether paid or unpaid, must be safely recruited and may also require a DBS check. St Andrew’s are proud to abide by the regulations stipulated by the diocese to ensure the safety of all as far as we possibly can.
If you have a role, or volunteered for a role within the church and have not been safely recruited please contact either Julie Crow (Parish Administrator) or Linda Chylinksi (Parish Safeguarding Officer) immediately. The contact details are:
Parish Administrator: Julie Crow – 07756 918847 or administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk
Parish Safeguarding Officer: Linda Chylinski – 024 7646 8535
Sidespersons Rota
We are looking to resume a sidespersons rota for Sunday services. If you are willing to do sidesperson duty please let Julie or one of the churchwardens know.
Please note that each individual will need to be safely recruited for this role. We will need a short application form completing and contact details to obtain 2 references. A DBS check will not be required for this role.
Youth Work
We are looking to safer recruit volunteers for our Youth work. If you feel you could help with either the Drama Club, Rock Solid or the Youth Wellbeing course then please get in touch with Emma at standrewscovyouth@gmail.com
Foodbank Donations
To donate to Central foodbank, Sue Barnes is coordinating this so please contact her to drop off food at her house. Contact Sue at susanbarnes1960@outlook.com
If you are unable to give food you can also donate online here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/rddonate-checkout/
A Service for Baby Loss Awareness Week
In Coventry Cathedral on Sunday October 10th at 2pm. This is a short but beautiful service of remembrance, and it’s for anyone who has ever experienced the death of a baby at any stage of pregnancy or after birth. It might have happened recently or years ago. Everyone is welcome, children too. It’s very informal, and it takes place just inside the big glass doors. It’s a chance to take some time together in an amazing space, to listen to people talk about their own experience, to light candles and to pray. Afterwards, we’re inviting people to bring a picnic and gather together on the lawn outside the cathedral, for a chance to talk to others, if you want to. We’d love you to come. There’s no need to book, just turn up. For more information contact chaplaincy@swft.nhs.uk
Prayer Guide
Below is the prayer guide for October.
Do send Julie your favourite bible verses or hymn verses, names for prayer and any birthdays, celebrations or articles for inclusion in the bulletin. Julie can be contacted on 07756 918847 or administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk
Church Contacts
Churchwardens: Nick Tooby – 07951 925772 and Becky Crowe – 07875 552518
Parish Administrator: Julie Crow – 07756 918847
Parish Safeguarding Officer and Children’s Advocate: Linda Chylinski – 024 7646 8535