CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – UPDATE 1 December 2020
We continue to follow Church of England and government guidance and law in all areas of our mission and ministry.
From 3 December 2020, churches are allowed to open, in a Covid-secure way, for acts of worship and private prayer and we will return to the pattern of services and prayer times offered prior to the second national lockdown. Regular worship includes:
-Sunday 10am St Helen’s Online (by Zoom), including virtual choir
-Sunday 12pm Service in Church
-Wednesday 10am Midweek Service (by Zoom)
-Thursday 10am to 12pm Church open for individual private prayer.
-3rd Saturday of the month 10am Messy Church at Home (by Zoom)
Services at 12pm on Sundays follow the pattern of Holy Communion on 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays and BCP Matins on 3rd Sunday. Services will be shorter than normal. At this time, we are still not allowed to sing in church or serve refreshments after the service.
Occasional services, for example over Christmas, will be advertised locally and on our website www.sthelenswm.org or Facebook: www.facebook.com/StHelensWelton/
Within the church building, certain conditions apply in order to maintain a Covid secure environment, in accordance with government guidance, If you have any symptoms of Covid-19, please do not come to the church but stay at home and seek advice. The government mandates that everyone over the age of 11 should wear a face covering in church unless medically exempt. Everyone is asked to use hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the church and to follow the directions of the welcomer on duty. Everyone entering the church will be asked for their name and contact details for NHS Test and Trace. This information will be kept for 28 days and will not be used for any other purpose.
Specific guidance on weddings and funerals is available. If you have booked, or would like to book, a wedding, or are enquiring about a funeral, please contact the Vicar, Revd Canon Elaine Bielby on 01482 666677 or by email.
We encourage you to join in ‘Daily Prayer’ from the Church of England, which can be found here. You can also download the Daily Prayer app for your mobile device free of charge.
If you would like to speak to someone about a spiritual or pastoral concern, please contact Revd Elaine – details above.
Spiritual Communion (for use when it is not possible to join in Holy Communion) details can be found here. A selection of prayers and a short service for worship at home can be found here.
God bless you all
Elaine