Church Bulletin
I have just had a week away on the Isle of Wight and it was great time of rest and restoration. It was a bit of a nostalgia trip as we have been there often, although not in the last ten years. It was a time to chill; with good food, good company and a chance to stop, even just for a short time. This wasn’t the holiday we had originally planned for this year, but the last eighteen months have been a time when plans have changed, been cancelled, rearranged and cancelled again. What we think is going to happen often doesn’t, and something different takes its place. In a spirit of optimism, I booked our Christmas Eve Pantomime tickets and a Christmas lantern walk before we had our summer holiday, in the hope that they will happen this year and Christmas won’t be cancelled, again.
Some of the things that Covid has brought about have been a trial and some have been an eye opener: who knew that siting outside a bar in the cold would be such a welcome treat, and that my husband Dave could walk that much?
What is unchanging though is Christ. ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever’.
(Hebrews 13:8). Let us say Amen to that.
Sue Masters
Reader
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.
Preparing for Jo’s arrival
We are getting close now to the date when Jo will be joining us. To make her feel really welcome I’d like to arrange a couple of working party days to get the vicarage and the gardens tidied up. I’m looking for some help to paint and decorate the vicarage lounge, kitchen and utility room, to freshen them up. I also want to give the vicarage garden a tidy up ready for Jo’s arrival. I have set aside the Saturday 16th and the 23rd, but if I can get some people who can decorate and would be able to offer a Thursday or Friday dates, let me know. If you are a dab hand with a brush and/or garden equipment please let me know and I’ll pull a plan together. You will need to bring your own equipment (paint will be provided). Nick Tooby – nicktooby@btinternet.com
Harvest Festival
We will be celebrating Harvest on 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
Annual Sponsored Walk
On 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.
Children’s Service
Our next Children’s service will take place in church on Sunday 7th November.
Building our Faith
There is no Zoom Bible study meeting next week, Wednesday 13th October. The next meeting will be on Wednesday 20th October.
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/
10th October 2021 – The nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
Readings
Hebrews 4.12-16 & Mark 10.17-31
Reader
Jill Joyce
Preacher
Sue Masters
President
Lynnette Clarke
Intercessions
Lynnette Clarke
Next week
Hebrews 5.1-10 & Mark 10.35-45
| Diary Dates October | ||
| Sun 10th | 10.00am | Harvest Parish Communion |
| 3.30pm | St Andy’s Service at St Oswald’s | |
| 6.00pm | Rock Solid | |
| Mon 11th | 7.30pm | PCC meeting on zoom |
| Tues 12th | 6.00pm | Drama Club at St Oswald’s Church Hall |
| Weds 13th | 10.00am | Wednesday Service of either communion or morning prayer |
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