Church Bulletin

Last week I went to Millennium Place in Coventry to an outdoor cinema screening of a film called Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain. The film is available on the BBC ,but we sat  in the car and watched, on a big screen, the reimagining and rebuilding of Coventry. Although I am not a  Coventrian I am proud of the city in which I live and as a lover of history  interested in the past and how it informs  the present and the future.

The film was great. Some of the images I had seen before in books and in the Herbert Museum but there was footage I hadn’t seen: of Coventry during the war, after the bombing raid of November 1940 and of  the reconstruction of the city and the cathedral. The film included excerpts of the inauguration service of the cathedral in 1962, with the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury present and thousands of people outside the cathedral to witness this momentous event.  Interviews with the architect Basil Spence highlighted his vision for a new, modern  cathedral rising from the ashes of the old cathedral ruins;  the  new cathedral linked to the old cathedral a powerful image  I feel.

Whatever we feel about the architecture of our city and our cathedral, the  idea of something  rising from what seems empty and forsaken is a lesson for us we move slowly through the next stages of the covid pandemic. How we rise as a church community from what has gone before into the future that looks maybe a little different, will  be our focus in the coming months and into a new year.  Our return to worship, to fellowship and to outreach, rethought and renewed as we move forward as  a community. Things may be different in some instances, especially in the early days, as we renew our vison for our church and community and  go forward into the future.  In all of this we know that the Lord doesn’t change: ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,  (Hebrews13:8). We move into the future with God  who loves us and holds us in the turmoil and uncertainty with his promise through Christ: I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

Sue Masters
Reader

Church Guidelines

The PCC met on Monday 2^nd August and have agreed the following changes. These changes will start from week commencing 16^th August 2021, this allows time for preparations to be made to the church:

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.
• The online service will continue to support those who are not able to return currently.
• Wednesday Service – Wednesday service at 10:00am will start again from the 18^th August.
• Life Events Weddings/Baptisms/Funerals – The church can accommodate 60 people utilising upstairs and downstairs. 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

Sidespersons Rota

We are looking to resume a sidespersons rota for Sunday services. If you are willing to do sides duty please let Julie or one of the churchwardens know.

Covid-19

Message from Coventry Public Health Team

Rates have begun to see a decrease again across the city. Please continue to be vigilant and remember that we all must continue to take personal responsibility to do the right things and protect ourselves and one another from the virus, as rates do still remain higher than where they were in May/June.

The Public Health Team  are encouraging those who have not taken up the offer of a vaccine to do so now. You can make an appointment via the National Booking System which can be reached at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. If you cannot use the website, you can phone 119 free of charge, 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week.

There are also many drop-in Covid vaccination clinics across Coventry and Warwickshire. You do not need an appointment or be contacted to attend, just pop in. Our nearest site is : Amazon UK Services (BHX4), Lyons Park, Coventry, CV5 9PF

Tuesday 10th August 3pm – 5pm, then 7pm – 9pm

Thursday 12th August 3pm – 5pm, then 7pm – 9pm

Drop-in appointments available for 1st and 2nd doses for those aged 18 years and over: Pfizer and AZ Vaccinations available.

St Andrew’s ‘Rocks’  

This Summer we would like you to join us in designing and painting a rock on the theme ‘Why I love our Area’.

If you would like to paint a rock there will be a box outside the Church Entrance on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the Summer for you to pop your finished rocks in.

We will then display these rocks in our Rockery at the front of the Church to view and spread a little joy this Summer.

We can’t wait to see what you create!

If you have any further questions then feel free to contact our Youth Worker Emma on standrewscovyouth@gmail.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 

Please Pray

For the next stage of the appointment process for our 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 and Becky Crowe – 07875 552518

Parish Administrator: Julie Crow – 07756 918847