Church Bulletin
Friends Reunited is the theme for this week as many of us have been able to meet with friends for coffee, or lunch or a glass of something nice. The simple thing of sharing a coffee with a friend and catching up with their news is something that I have missed over the period of lockdown.
Zoom has been an asset that I didn’t know I needed fifteen months ago and has enabled me to stay in touch, to catch up and also to do things like Bible Study which has been really important for me, and I hope for others. But, actually, seeing people in the same room has been a joy.
That doesn’t mean that joy has been absent while being in lockdown, or, as I said to Dave this week being locked up, which may be nearer to what we have felt recently. I have found joy in walking, in the changing seasons, although not the wind and rain of recent days, and in my granddaughter who is such a joy. Joy in loving and giving and looking to the future; and it is easier at some times than others to appreciate the joy of small things.
One of my favourite psalms, Psalm 16, talks about joy. As the palmist praises God his words reverberate for me this week: ‘You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.‘ Joy in God’s goodness, joy in his plans for me even if I don’t always fully understand them, joy in the security of God’s love. These joys are built on a sure foundation and sustain us in good times and in challenging times. Look for that joy and thank God when you experience it.
Sue Masters
Reader
The Future – Finding a New Vicar
Today the advertisement for a vicar for St Andrew’s has been placed in the Church Times newspaper and on the Coventry Diocese website. The advert will run over four weeks and the accompanying Parish Profile will help people to see who we are, and how God equips us in our church and community. Please continue to pray that God is calling the person who will work with us to serve God in our church and parish.
St Andrew’s PCC
At the APCM on Monday evening a new PCC was elected to serve our church in the coming year. The following people are PCC members:
Nick Tooby and Becky Crowe (Church Wardens), Lesley Lee and Sue Masters (Readers), Charley Watts (Deanery Synod), Linda Chylinski, Trevor Hill, Richard Marr, Paul Crowe, Diane Wilson, John Ross-Barnard, Rita Muir, Penny Wakefield, Clive Murden, Julia McNaney and Jeremy Thomas.
We thank them for their willingness to serve God and our church and ask you please to pray for them in their role as leaders of our church.
Farewell
We say farewell to Chris Jarvis and her husband Mick as they move from Coventry to Devon. Please hold them in your prayers as they move and settle in a new place.
Phil Richardson’s Licensing Service
Below is the link to Phil’s licensing service on Sunday.
https://app.faith.online/p/events/bEPqxUoqT
If this any reason it doesn’t work people can also try the Parish of Cove YouTube page.
https://youtube.com/user/coveparish
Covid 19
From 17th May stage three on the road map comes into place. Coventry Council’s public health team have given us the following advice.
We encourage you to socially distance from those outside of your household, continue to wear face masks in venues that these are required in and wash your hands regularly. We also encourage everyone to now be ensuring that they have a lateral flow test twice a week to help control the spread of the virus.
Hugging, embracing and handshaking has been prohibited since the start of the pandemic as it is known to transmit infection. It is advisable that physical contact such as hugging embracing and handshaking is as limited as possible. People have been longing to hug embrace and shake hands, it is advisable that for the time being this is restricted to people in your family/household/support bubble.
Physical contact greetings (hug, embrace handshake) should be the very rare exception not the norm and it is suggested you use other types of greetings such as a wave or the elbow bump. This will help to keep the transmission of Covid as low as possible.
Recruitment of Volunteers at St Andrew’s and St Andy’s
We would like to highlight that all church volunteers must be safely recruited and some volunteers are also required to undergo a DBS check and complete safeguarding modules. This isn’t St Andrew’s being picky, it is a legal requirement stipulated by the diocese for every volunteer role.
As lockdown eases, we must now be vigilant and ensure all the necessary checks are completed.
If you are a church volunteer and have not yet been safely recruited, please contact Julie (Parish Administrator) at administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or Linda Chylinski (Parish Safeguarding Officer) at onelindilou@gmail.com to arrange for this to be completed.
All members of the PCC must ensure that they complete Parish Safeguarding module C0 (Basic safeguarding Awareness) which is available online.
Church Opening
The church is now open for live worship every Sunday and for private prayer on Thursdays.
Due to limited seating, places may be reserved by contacting Julie on a first come, first served basis. As before, we urge you if you have an invitation not to forget and if you are suddenly unable to attend to let us know at the earliest possible moment. Face masks continue to be required. If you see anyone not wearing a face mask, it is because they have medical exemption. We are not allowing any other exception. It is imperative the rules are strictly adhered to. This means gelling hands immediately upon arrival, taking your pew straight away as directed by the steward including whether to sit by the wall or the aisle; not moving from your place at any point during the service; and leaving promptly afterwards.
To reserve a seat please contact Julie at administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or 07756 918847.
After booking a seat, if you find that you are unable to attend a service please inform one of the churchwardens so that it can be offered to another person.
Reserve List
Having had empty pews in previous weeks, we are looking to put together a reserve list of those people who are willing to be contacted at short notice to attend a service. If you would like to be included on this list then please let Julie know.
St Andy’s
If you would like to attend a service at St Andy’s please contact Julie as she will be taking bookings. Please contact administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or 07756 918847.
Children’s Service
Our next Children’s service will take place in church on Sunday 6th June. If you would like to reserve a place, please contact Julie before Wednesday 2nd June on 07756 918847 or administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk
After this date there may still be places so, please contact Becky Crowe on 07875 552518 or rebecca.crowe@ourfaith.online
Baptism Verger
With the church now open for public worship we are seeing an increase in requests for baptisms and therefore have an urgent need to add some people to our Baptism Verger rota. Baptisms take place after the morning service on Sundays usually at 12 noon and last about an hour to hour and half. If you are interested, please let Julie or the Churchwardens know and training can be arranged. This role is important as you will be the welcoming face of St Andrew’s to people who may not have been to church before. A fixed rate is paid for each baptism.
Baptism Visitor
We are also looking for a Baptism Visitor. This volunteer role involves contacting families to meet with them to obtain details for the baptism and assisting with baptism preparation. If you are interested, please contact Julie for a full job description.
Help Needed for an English Conversation Class
Are you a native English speaker? St Andy’s have started running a conversation class for refugees and asylum seekers in the Tile Hill area. We need volunteers to help run the conversation class on Wednesdays, 11.15am-12, currently meeting on Zoom. All you need is to be able to speak English and love God! If you are interested, please contact Sue Best (susanbest369@btinternet.com/07837488721).
Cleaning the Church
As we are opening the church again from Easter Day, our thoughts are turning back to cleaning the building. Currently, we have a very small team who are on the rota to clean once a week. The team is Phil and Denise Davies, Diane Wilson, Becky Crowe and I who clean on a voluntary basis. Ideally, we would like to add some more volunteers to help us.
It normally takes a couple of hours to clean the church and side room (we are not cleaning upstairs currently) to make sure it is ready for a service on Sunday.
Cleaning of the building is important at the moment, not just to show visitors that the church is cared for, but also as part of the arrangements to allow us to open the church safely. Would you be able to help? If so, please email me at nicktooby@btinternet.com
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/
Sunday Coffee Gathering
The access codes for the 11.15am Sunday gathering are available from the churchwardens.
Please Pray
Please pray for Rita Muir who has had a fall and is badly bruised; and for John Shelton whose health is improving but has a slow recovery ahead.
Please also pray for St Andrew’s as work continues to take place in the process of finding a new vicar.
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 or Becky Crowe – 07875 552518
Parish Administrator: Julie Crow – 07756 918847