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Hello <<First Name>>
In the northern hemisphere the New Year dawns at the darkest time of the year. It is also a very dark time for all of us as we are living with the restrictions necessary in order to bring the spread of Covid-19 under control. We don’t know when or how this phase will end. Living with uncertainty is very difficult.
We are in the middle of Epiphany, which is a season of uncertainty, beginning with the Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January and concluding with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple – on 2 February. Three themes are woven together throughout Epiphany all of which are about God making Christ’s presence real in uncertain times.
The first theme is the arrival of the visitors from the East, who took two years of travelling by night to find Jesus, far from the stable of his birth. The second recollection of God making the presence of Christ known was celebrated on the Sunday just past – the Baptism of Christ – and in the gospel reading we heard Jesus’ recollection of God telling him that he was God’s beloved. And the third theme which we’ll mark on the final Sunday of Epiphany is the wonderful account of ordinary water becoming extraordinary wine in the presence of Christ. God’s generosity indeed. And great uncertainty.
The magi followed a star they had seen rising and to follow a star the journey must take place at night, in the uncertain darkness. John the Baptist, whilst baptising for the repentance of sins, told the people, ‘there is one greater who is coming after me’, but he didn’t know who he was. There’d been many claiming to be Messiah. At Jesus’ baptism the uncertainty gave way to certainty. And too, at the wedding in Cana, the servants were simply told by an exasperated Mary to ‘do whatever Jesus tells you to do’. There was no certainty at all that there would be any wine of any quality, let alone the ‘best kept for last’.
Into human uncertainty God’s Christ comes. He is locked down with us; he is sad with us; he rejoices with us; weeps with us; and just sits in silence with us. Christ’s presence doesn’t make certain the uncertain, but it does mean that we’re never on our own. At a time when the one thing we may crave – engaging in real life with people we don’t live with – is the most important thing to go without, it is easy to feel alone, but we are not. May this season of Epiphany remind us of Christ’s presence with us in the ordinary as well as in the extraordinary.
Dean Dianna
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Government Guidance
New Government Places of Worship Guidelines
The government has released new guidelines for places of worship here. Most guidance is unchanged e.g. you must still keep to social distance guidance and wear masks in church, however the rules on singing have been tightened. Where singing is essential to an act of worship this should be limited to one person wherever possible. Exceptionally and again where it is essential up to three individuals may sing, but social distancing must be strictly adhered to and the use of plexi-glass shields considered. Communal singing is still prohibited. Blown instruments should also be avoided. So choirs may no longer sing together. Please read the guidance in full for information on baptisms, weddings and funerals.
You can find Church of England guidance here and please contact the parish coordination team if you have any questions.
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Lent 2021 – Diocesan resources available
While parishes will be making their own decisions on how to mark Lent this year, we are planning a number of diocesan resources based around the theme ‘See, I am doing a new thing!’ (Isaiah 43:19). This will consist of a weekly Lent Parish Briefing every Monday (with our more general Parish Briefing moving to a Wednesday) and an opportunity to pray together with the senior team from 12.30 – 1pm every Wednesday in Lent, which will include a simple form of midday prayer.
The Lent Parish Briefing will comprise a thought for the week (in video form, with a more extended written version), a video highlighting projects supported by the Bishop of Guildford’s Community Fund, the latest Bishop’s sermon, and some signposting to national resources which might be of use. We are hoping that these resources might be rolled more generally, not least as part of online services across the diocese.
Do put the Wednesday prayer meetings in your diary where you can, and also the Chrism Eucharist on Maundy Thursday 1st April at 11am, however we decide to do that this year.
Details of how to share the Lent Parish Briefing more widely and plans for Bishop of Guildford’s Community Fund Lent appeal are below.
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Repair work to Property
In the light of the increased COVID lockdown restrictions we thought it appropriate to clarify our current procedure regarding work inside your homes.
We will only be carrying out emergency and essential maintenance work. Please report these through to the Property Help Desk. property@guildfordcofeguildford.org.uk
If you become aware of any routine repairs please make a note of these and inform us when lockdown is finished so that we can ensure these are dealt with in an orderly manner. Again please send these through to the Property Help Desk.
Our trusted contractors will always follow their company protocols to operate in a safe and socially distanced manor and will respect your wishes on how and when you would like them to enter your house. External work will continue wherever possible.
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Sharing sign up information with your parishes for Lent Parish Briefing.
As you already receive the weekly Parish Brief you will receive the Lent Parish Brief but please share the sign up details below to anyone who would find comfort in receiving these Lent specific briefings.
Sign up – http://eepurl.com/gWF3db
In the coming weeks, we will also be sharing details of how your parishes could support the Bishop of Guildford’s Community Fund Lent Appeal and each week a different project (supported during 2019 and 2020) will be profiled. Stay tuned for more information on how your parish could get involved – coming soon.
Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage grants
Application deadline = 26th January
Applications are now open for the new round of the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage grants scheme. All listed places of worship are eligible to apply. Full details and the application form can be found on the Heritage Fund website. Please also read the Church of England’s guidance note which details the sorts of costs that might be considered for a grant. Any grants awarded will have to be spent by the end of June 2021.
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| Sunday sermons will continue to be provided each week until at least Easter. |
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Sunday Sermon
Bishop Jo’s sermon explores the ‘Greater things than these’ that re-shape the lives of both Samuel and Nathanael (1 Sam 3:1-10 and John 1:43-51). How do we live in such a way that our lives do not make sense without God and the greater things of God’s Kingdom?
Her cat Rolo conveniently poses for her big moment as sermon illustration…
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| Transcript here and to download directly click here |
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| Clergy Study Day on the 27th Jan has been postponed in light of current situation. |
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NEW Online Worship Wednesday Webinar
Churches across the diocese have stepped up in all sorts of ways to provide worship for their local communities: whether a pre-recorded sermon, a hybrid service or interactive prayer meetings.
The hour-long webinar will be full of familiar faces from our parishes as they explore lessons learned, technology that is available that can support worship, and keeping everyone engaged.
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NEW – Weekly guided reflections on leadership
Leadership is testing and never more so than presently – for all sort of reasons.
Next week we are launching weekly guided reflections on leadership for clergy and LLMs, with discussion and prayer. Hosted on Zoom, the 30 minute weekly reflections will centre on scripture using Jonathan Sack’s brilliant book “Lessons in Leadership”.
Peter Harwood, Director of Mission, will be leading the sessions with Fiona Simon, Rector of Bisley & West End. Peter said: “We want to offer something completely different from anything we have done before to support you in your leadership – now and into the future. We expect this to deepen your knowledge of scripture, develop your leadership thinking, support you pastorally in these difficult times, immerse all this in prayer and further your ongoing continual ministerial development.”
At the first session Bishop Jo will be giving her reflections on Leadership.
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This is a list of training or events or important dates to remember
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Torch Trust, the Christian sight loss charity, are holding free 30-minute Taster sessions about becoming a Sight Loss Friendly Church (SLFC).
Thursday 21st January 2pm
Tuesday 26th January 2pm
Tuesday 23rd February 7pm
Wednesday 24th February 2pm
Thursday 18th March 2pm
Tuesday 23rd March 2pm.
These interactive Zoom sessions offer an opportunity to hear about all the benefits of this free resource, as well as a chance to meet the SLFC team and ask questions. Visit sightlossfriendlychurch.org.uk or email slfc@torchtrust.org for more information & to book your place. |
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Get the information as it happens
We have set up a Facebook Group, bringing together leadership across the diocese, to share best practice, to ask questions and encourage one another.
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| The next brief will be issued on Tuesday 19th January at 4pm. |
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The post Parish Brief – 12th January 2021 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
SundayBlue-21.01.24.pdf
Merry put her digital hand up straight away and prayed.
