Category Archives: The Church

COVID-19 Briefing 27/10

Posted on by

A new horizon of hope

We are in the middle of preparing our annual performance review for the Church House team which will be discussed at Bishops Council next month. This includes setting our objectives and priorities into 2021. This feels like a particularly strange activity this year. Trying to lift our horizons to peer into the next season is hard when so much is uncertain and like many of our clergy, wardens and lay volunteers across our diocese, we are feeling tired and weary from months of responding and reacting to short term and unplanned CV19 change.
 
As we have worked on next year’s priorities, I have found myself much encouraged by the words of Psalm 24, which prompts us to look ahead to our destination, to anticipate the celebrations both in this world and the next. It is a great antidote to the gravitational pull of our current reality of getting through and getting back to where we were before.
 
Whilst tough, the last six months has also been a period of such creativity, we have learnt so much and seen so much fruit in so many new places. Taking the time now to lift our heads and to look ahead, perhaps just a few months, provides the opportunity for God to show us a new horizon of hope and perhaps where to consolidate and build on what we have learnt. This will of course be different in each context and it will take energy to lift-up our heads and focus beyond the short term, but feels like a worthwhile and fruitful activity.
 
Again, I have found Psalm 24 helpful, particularly the symbolism of lifting the gates, v7: “lift up your heads, you gates ……that the King of glory may come in”. The top part of the gates are thought to have been a section of doorway that needed to be drawn up, like a portcullis. So, whilst the lifting up took intentional effort, dropping the gates down again would have been effortless and swift. Perhaps this is appropriate imagery for us right now and can help give us the confidence to lift our heads and look ahead to all that God would intend, safe in the knowledge that if we have further lockdown we can readily drop our gaze back to the here and now!
 
 
Peter Coles
Diocesan Secretary
 

Critical Reading

A revised PNP

We know that asking Parishes about long term plans in the midst of a pandemic isn’t helpful, so instead of the Parish Needs Process helping churches to plan over a 3-5 year time horizon we are introducing the Parish Support Process which will be our chance to hear from you about your more immediate priorities, plans and challenges in order to plan for the next few months. We hope to be able to be able to lighten the load and help you(where possible) to lift your heads up, look ahead and focus on the next few months rather than weeks. Over the next few months the Mission Enabler Team or Parish Coordination Team will be in touch with someone from each parish to arrange some time in the diary. We are wanting to listen to church leaders and to find out what needs you have, both as parishes, and as leaders right now, and as you plan your recovery. We are planning to work together with parishes, deaneries and others to help build plans to address these needs together.

These conversations are beginning in November, and should be concluded by the end of January/February. Please watch out for an email or phone call! If you have any questions about this, please be in touch with David, the Head of the Mission Enabler Team.

Diocesan and Deanery Synods can meet virtually

Bishop Andrew has published a Bishop’s Instrument temporarily allowing Diocesan and Deanery Synods to meet virtually. You can find the text of the instrument here.

 

Spiritual Care at the Royal Surrey Hospital

New guidance issued from Royal Surrey Hospital on restrictions to visitations. 

Managing the transition from furlough – October 2020

 
As the furlough scheme draws to an end, we recognise that some of our parishes will be welcoming staff back after many months on furlough.  Some parishes might be planning to introduce the government’s Job Support Scheme (JSS). We recognise also that some parishes are having to make tough decisions about reducing hours for some roles and some are considering, or are implementing, redundancies. Each of these situations are challenging on our clergy and parish teams. 
  
Please find some guidance on welcoming staff back after furlough and re-integrating them into the parish teams and workplace.  Also included is a link to the government website on the Job Support Scheme (JSS).

If you would like some guidance on alternative options that you might be considering at this point, such as reducing hours or redundancy situations, please contact our HR team as follows:  
Lynda.donaldson@cofeguildford.org.uk or Linda.wagner@cofeguildford.org.uk

Clergy Study Day – Monday 30th November 2020

To all clergy and LLMs

Our next Clergy Study Day – on Monday 30th November 2020, 9.30am-1.00pm by Zoom – will focus on Living in Love and Faith. This project, three years in the making, consists of a set of resources commissioned by the Archbishops and commended by the House of Bishops, to invite the whole church to reflect deeply on issues relating to identity, relationships, sexuality and marriage. The resources invite engagement and learning from us all – which is something I suggest would best happen at parish or deanery level in small groups, following the (five session) course at some point during 2021. 

Our goal for this study day is to introduce you to the materials by engaging with their objectives, surveying the content and understanding the process that has shaped them. I have invited two coordinating group consultants to join us for the morning, the Revd Dr Andrew Goddard (Assistant Minister, St James the Less, Pimlico and Senior Research Fellow at Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics) and the Revd Canon Giles Goddard (Vicar of St John’s Waterloo). 

Whilst stipendiary clergy are expected at this event, and SSMs and OLMs are most welcome if circumstances make it possible, I am also extending the invitation to LLMs – not least because together we seek to facilitate the learning processes in our parishes.

For your information 

Sunday Sermons – a choice this week

We are encouraging a focus on sermons from the Transforming Generosity resources during October, though our bishops will continue to offer a lectionary sermon each week.

Transforming Generosity Sunday Sermon

During October the Transforming Generosity sermons can be used and are in a playlist on YouTube.
This week, the Ven. Martin Breadmore preaches Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus

Sermon video: The Ven Martin Breadmore, Archdeacon of Dorking

Sermon transcript (Word)

Service outline (Word)

Service template (Powerpoint)

Sunday Sermon

Bishop Andrew’s sermon for next Sunday – All Saints Day – is on the theme of ‘From Ordinary to Extraordinary’, and is based on the gospel lectionary reading from Matthew 5:1-12. 

No Wednesday Webinar this week due to half-term but you can find out more about the upcoming webinars on our website or if you missed a session, you can catch up via our YouTube channel. 

Comfort & Joy resources and how to use them

The National team held a two day digital conference last week and shared ideas on how to use the Comfort & Joy materials (digital and print).

We have summarized below some of the quick wins that were suggested in a session with Emma Sijuwade from Sociobelle on what you and your church could do to take advantage of the national digital resources and use social media to amplify your plans this Advent and Christmas :-

If you predominantly use Facebook

  • Share the Church of England’s content
  • Tag the Church of England and Diocese in all your content
  • Follow and interact with other churches in the Diocese – sharing ideas 
  • Create original content
  • Create a campaign related event
  • Run a campaign related Facebook live session
  • Encourage your community to create content around theme
  • Use the branding available at ACNY

If you are using Instagram

  • Share high quality imagery of how you are taking part
  • Use Instagram stories to keep your audience up to date
  • Engage with and share National content
  • Follow Comfort & Joy Hashtag

If you are using Twitter

  • Tweet regularly about what you are doing
  • Use the official hashtag
  • Retweet official content from the National Church
  • Share Christmas campaign related resources
  • Tag @churchofengland and @cofeguildford in all your posts around campaign
  • Follow and interact with other churches in the Diocese on this content

More Wednesday Webinars launched until December

Please check the timing of sessions, as some will be held in the afternoon and some in the evening. 

Wednesday 4th November – 2pm – 3pm –  Inviting people back to church 

Led by Michael Harvey, co-founder of Back to Church Sunday in the UK and developer of the concept of invitation as a mission tool.

How can we invite people from our online spaces into the face to face worship? How to we use the opportunities that we have to invite people to join us? 

Wednesday 11th November – 3pm-4pm – Contributing to the new normal

Bishop Andrew Watson will be joined by Bishop Henrik and others from our link Diocese in Viborg, Denmark.

The webinar will explore how the Church might contribute to the new normal, particularly in our own parishes and contexts post lockdown.

Please note 3pm start
 JUST ADDED – Wednesday 11th November – Creative Christmas  (repeat from Sept) EVENING WEBINAR: 7.30- 8.30pm
 
TBC Wednesday 18th November – 2pm-3pm – Online and all age services

With special guests Nick and Becky Drake from Gas Street Church in Birmingham.

Intergenerational worship is tough in normal times – how does one lead children and adults in worship? Online it can be even harder to get right. This is a workshop for creative ideas and learning from people who are doing it well.
 
Wednesday 25th November – 7.30 – 8.30 pm – Worship without singing

With special guests Sam and Sarah Hargreaves, who run the Music and Worship Foundation resourcing local churches for creative, innovative and world-changing worship; engaging with God, each other and the world around us

As we return to face to face worship, it is not currently permitted to sing. How can we practically plan worship that engages the whole congregation in communal worship in a way that is uplifting, creative and glorifying to God?

JANUARY Course – ‘In conversation with pioneers’

 
Has the Covid-19 pandemic prompted you to ask questions about the focus of your ministry and vocation? Are you noticing the need to do things differently within your own church tradition and would benefit from hearing about the experiences of pioneers to support you in exploring this? (e.g. how to innovate, live with uncertainty, take risks, adapt, co-create with your community etc). Or maybe you are feeling a nudge to think about pioneer ministry in some way and would value finding out more from people who are doing this already? The National Anglican Community of Pioneers is hosting a series of ‘in conversation with…’ seminars aimed at lay and ordained Anglican Church leaders with little or no pioneering experience who would like to find out more. It will be an opportunity to meet with experienced pioneer practitioners and to ask questions.
 
Book now via Eventbrite as places will be limited to ensure an interactive experience.
 
​Thursday January 7th, 2021 10am – 11.30am https://inconvo71.eventbrite.co.uk
Wednesday January 13th, 2021 10am – 11.30am https://inconvo131.eventbrite.co.uk
Wednesday January 27th, 2021 10am – 11.30am  https://inconvo271.eventbrite.co.uk
 
For more information email pioneers@churchofengland.org

For the latest National guidance click here
For the latest Diocesan guidance click here
Next briefing will be issued on 3rd November 2020

The post COVID-19 Briefing 27/10 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

weekly news sheet 25/10/2020

Posted on by

Dear friends,

Please find attached this weeks weekly sheets and this weeks sermon from Bishop Jo. She uses a different reading but it is at the top of the sermon. Revd. Liz will be doing a sermon based on the story of Zaccheus from Luke 19, which is part of the Transforming generosity series.

A few dates for events that are coming soon:
Next Sunday 1 November will see our services of Remembrance for the Bereaved – 3pm at Capel and 5.30pm at Ockley. Sadly we won’t be able to serve refreshments at these services but please do leave names that you would like to remember on the lists in both churches. As we can’t all be together we thought it would be a nice idea to light candles at 6pm in remembrance of all those we have lost. The normal morning services will also take place.

Sunday 8 November is the usual Service of Remembrance 10.45am at Ockley and 3.00pm at Capel. There will also be Cafe church at the Crown in Capel at the normal time of 10.30am

We are also hoping to hold another socially distanced waitress served tea on Sunday 6 December 3-5pm. Please put the date in your diary and come and join us.

As our minds turn towards Christmas we are hoping to once again put together hampers for those who are struggling in our parishes. Would you be able to help organise this? Please get in touch with Revd. Liz if you can.

This weeks photo is from our rather damp walk this morning on the path from Friday Street to Abinger Bottom, the beautiful Autumn colours made it feel sunnier than it was!

With love and prayers

Debbie von Bergen
debbievonbergen@icloud.com
07774 784008

{CAPTION}

doc icon 201027-loving-god-neighbour-self-matt-22v34-46.docx
pdf icon SundayBlue-20.10.25.pdf
pdf icon weekly-sheet-20.10.25.pdf

Post expires at 5:40pm on Sunday October 24th, 2021

The post weekly news sheet 25/10/2020 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

COVID-19 Briefing 20/10

Posted on by

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept” – these words from Ps 137 keep coming to mind (I am desperately trying to resist the tune from Boney M!).  It speaks to me of profound sadness that I feel at the moment with the way things are, just as the people of God experienced an even deeper sadness going into exile.   There are other experiences that we have in common with the exiles.   In the overthrow of Judah and Jerusalem many would have died, so we too are lamenting those we have lost to Covid.   They had lost their temple, so we too have lost our ‘normal’ worship.  They had lost their culture, to a large extent so have we.   They had lost their leaders; our national leaders are struggling.  Materially they had lost everything, many in our communities are losing their jobs.  They were disorientated and discombobulated – and so are many of us. 
 
And so, lament we should and we shouldn’t rush that.  But the Exiles then did some deep theological reflection, going back to the scriptures as they were then, leading to spiritual renewal.  How will our own theological reflection and spiritual renewal echo that of the exiles?   I have recently heard some drawing on Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles (Jer 29).  For me, I will be turning to the Psalms.  The fifth book of the Psalms from Ps 107 seems to be put together for those in exile.   I won’t give it all away, but to give you a taster –  Psalms 120-134 are the songs of ascent – sung by the pilgrim people of God as they approach Jerusalem to worship at the temple, culminating with the two hallelujah psalms 135 & 136.  And then crisis – Ps 137.  But Psalms 138 resolves the crisis by going back to David and we are reminded that the temple was for his Name but he dwells in the heavens, and he is sovereign over all the nations, not least Babylon.   Psalm 139 reminds us that Temple or no Temple, there is no place we can go where God is not present and he watches over us.  What rich truths came out of the exile!  (For more on this, see http://bit.ly/exilicpsalms)
 
My prayer is that in this crisis, in all the demands laid upon us, we might carve out the time to turn to God, to really spend time with him, to lament and do the deep theological reflection that in time, we might know spiritual renewal.    

Peter Harwood

Critical Reading

Tier 1/2/3 Guidance (including at a glance table)

The Church of England website updates on public worship, baptisms and funerals. It also has an ‘at a glance’ table for various regular activities that you might be planning at the moment. This at a glance guide covers what is permissible at different levels, and what needs to be modified at the different Tier levels. You might find this helpful. Start here for the latest guidance. Private baptisms are now limited to building capacity, and the details have been amending in the light of the tier 2/3 guidance from the government.

As ever the latest news is found on our Facebook group.
 

Can we still hold a Remembrance Sunday Service? 
 

Yes. If the service is to take place within a church, please follow the guidelines on public worship. If there is an outdoor element to the service, but still on church owned land, please follow the outdoor worship guidance on the Government’s Places of Worship guidance. Public worship is permitted in all three tiers, but social distancing guidance is different in each of the three tiers, so please check you comply with this.

If the service is taking place at a public memorial, not on church owned land, please see the Government’s guidance for Local Authorities on Remembrance Sunday and the section on outdoor worship in the Government’s Places of Worship guidance. You will need to contact your local authority for permission to conduct any service not on church owned land, their permission and advice will be appropriate to the tier the service will take place in. The guidance stresses that numbers should be kept to a minimum, there should be no communal singing and that social distancing guidelines should be maintained. Please ensure your arrangements for social distancing are appropriate to the tier your parish is currently in.  

Following our APCM how should we send copies of our Annual Report and Financial Statements to the DBF?

Church House Guildford is currently not being used on a regular basis as staff are working from home, please do not send hard copies of Annual Reports or Financial Statements through the post. Please send through an electronic copy to parish.support@cofeguildford.org.uk.

If you would usually sent a document through the post please check with the recipient whether they would still like you to do so, for example cheques should not longer be sent to Church House, but instead an electronic payment arranged.
 

For your information 

Licensed Lay Ministers

Last Saturday (17th October), 9 Lay Ministers were newly-licensed by Bishop Andrew for ministry in the Diocese of Guildford, in two separate services at St Thomas-on-the-Bourne, Farnham.  While the numbers physically attending the service had to be heavily restricted, hundreds were able to participate in these celebrations through live-streaming.

Please welcome Philippa Baker, Kester de Oliveira, Keith Harper, Trevor Lewis, Graeme Lodge, Louisa Mason, Jane Quicke, Andrew Shaw and Christine Acock to lay ministry in our Diocese. 
 

Sunday Sermons – a choice this week

We are encouraging a focus on sermons from the Transforming Generosity resources during October, though our bishops will continue to offer a lectionary sermon each week.

Transforming Generosity Sunday Sermon

During October the Transforming Generosity sermons can be used and are in a playlist on YouTube.
This week, Bishop Jo preaches Luke 21:1-4 – The Widow’s Might

Sermon video: The Rt Revd Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of Dorking

Sermon transcript (Word)

Service outline (Word)

Service template (Powerpoint)

Sunday Sermon

In this Sunday’s lectionary sermon, Bishop Jo preaches from Matthew 22:34-46 on the theme of Loving God, neighbour AND self.

Have you signed up to this week’s Wednesday Webinar? 

Join Bishop Jo this Wednesday with co-leader to the Revd Dr Mark Earey, The Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham

Is spiritual communion a sacrament? What is lost when there’s no common cup? How do we gather around the table together when some are in church and others online? These and other questions of our times will be explored by Bishop Jo in conversation with the Revd Mark Earey.

More Wednesday Webinars launched until December

Please check the timing of sessions, as some will be held in the afternoon and some in the evening. 

Wednesday 4th November – 2pm – 3pm –  Inviting people back to church 

Led by Michael Harvey, co-founder of Back to Church Sunday in the UK and developer of the concept of invitation as a mission tool.

How can we invite people from our online spaces into the face to face worship? How to we use the opportunities that we have to invite people to join us? 

Wednesday 11th November – 3pm-4pm – Contributing to the new normal

Bishop Andrew Watson will be joined by Bishop Henrik and others from our link Diocese in Viborg, Denmark.

The webinar will explore how the Church might contribute to the new normal, particularly in our own parishes and contexts post lockdown.
TBC Wednesday 18th November – 2pm-3pm – Online and all age services

With special guests Nick and Becky Drake from Gas Street Church in Birmingham.

Intergenerational worship is tough in normal times – how does one lead children and adults in worship? Online it can be even harder to get right. This is a workshop for creative ideas and learning from people who are doing it well.
 
Wednesday 25th November – 7.30 – 8.30 pm – Worship without singing

With special guests Sam and Sarah Hargreaves, who run the Music and Worship Foundation resourcing local churches for creative, innovative and world-changing worship; engaging with God, each other and the world around us

As we return to face to face worship, it is not currently permitted to sing. How can we practically plan worship that engages the whole congregation in communal worship in a way that is uplifting, creative and glorifying to God?

For the latest National guidance click here
For the latest Diocesan guidance click here
Next briefing will be issued on 28th October 2020

The post COVID-19 Briefing 20/10 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

COVID-19 Briefing 13/10

Posted on by

It was a challenge I set myself as a young adult – to learn Romans chapter 8 by heart. Compared with the old Jewish practice of learning the whole Pentateuch (or the Muslim memorisation of the Koran) it should have been a stroll in the park, though it still took this bear-of-little-brain a while to achieve it. But even now, those rolling phrases from that great chapter frequently come to mind just when I need them: ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his good purpose’. ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’
 
Christian hope is at the heart of this chapter – not some false cheerfulness or mindless optimism, but a hope that is set against the darkest backdrop of suffering and persecution, and is inextricably linked with the life, death and resurrection of God’s Son and the coming of His Spirit. There is plenty of groaning along the way: the whole creation is groaning, we are groaning, the Spirit is groaning – but groaning ‘as in the pains of childbirth’, the image itself speaking of wonderful and unimaginable things to come. And following the great series of rhetorical questions at the end of the chapter, we come to the most moving verses of all, which I intoned, through the tears, at my own father’s funeral a year ago on Sunday:
 
‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’.   
 
Let’s never settle for a bargain-basement hope, the ‘Peace, Peace, where there is no peace’, which is always a feature of false prophecy. Let’s continue to be nourished by the hope of Romans 8, with all its frustration and its groanings and with its roots deeply embedded in the amazing grace of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bishop Andrew

Critical Reading

Lay Minister Licensing

This Saturday, 17th October, eight new people will be admitted as Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers), and licensed to the Diocese along with one other LLM who has moved to Guildford.  Because of COVID-19 restrictions, there will be two services (with limited-size congregations), at 5.00 and 6.15, both at St Thomas-on-the-Bourne, Farnham.  The services will however be livestreamed from the church’s website https://www.thebourne.org.uk so that everyone can participate.  

Please do pray for these LLMs as they begin their new ministry.
 

Archdeacon visitations 

Virtual Archdeacon’s Visitations will take place between 1930 to 2000 on the following twelve dates through November.
   All registrations can be found on our page dedicated to Churchwardens.

We hope that churchwardens will be able to join the Archdeacon and Area Dean in the Zoom for their Deanery in order to meet local colleagues but please register for the date that suits your diary.   Once registered you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. The visitations have enough capacity for each churchwarden to be joined, in addition to household members on their screen,  by their incumbent and a supporter who is not on the same Zoom call.  If your parish has assistant wardens please invite them to register to join the virtual gathering too. Remember to send your completed declarations and certificates to the Archdeacons Office after your APCM. 
 

 

IICSA report

The final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) into the Church of England has been published.

The National Church of England has issued a statement on its publication.

Commenting on the final report, the Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson said, “I, for one, am desperately sorry for the ways in which the Church has failed victims of abuse, and am very conscious of their pain today. We must do better in building a culture where the needs of survivors are paramount, where  perpetrators can’t hide, and where all can experience the ‘life in all its fulness’ that lies at the heart of the Christian good news.”

Support is available for victims and survivors via the Safe Spaces service.

For your information 

Prisons Week 2020 United in Lockdown

The Diocese of Guildford joins the Christian community to pray for the needs of all those affected by prisons: prisoners and victims, their families, their communities, those working and volunteering in prisons and the criminal justice system.

This week, the Bishop’s leadership team are praying for our Prison Chaplains and the work they are doing in such a different time. 

Listen to Lesley (a prison Chaplain) talk about her experiences in and out of lockdown. 

Modern Slavery & Exploitation, The Clewer Initiative, Antislavery Day 18th October 2020

More than 200 years after the abolition of slavery there are still estimated over 45 million men, women and children trapped in modern slavery today, 136,000 in the UK.

The Clewer Initiative’s aim is to enable Church of England dioceses and wider Church networks to develop strategies to detect modern slavery in their communities and help provide victim support and care. It involves working with the Church locally, identifying resources that can be utilised, developing partnerships, and creating a wider network of advocates seeking to end modern slavery together.

On this year’s antislavery day, 18th October please pray for the trafficked, the exploited, the enslaved; Pray for those working day & night to rescue and support victims. Pray that together we can whole heartedly say WE SEE YOU.

Ordinations 

The postponed ordinations which are usually held in services at the cathedral, with 1,000 guests, were held over seven services this weekend, with only 30 people permitted per service. 

The two Bishops, Archdeacons and Diocesan Director of Ordinands travelled across the diocese to each service which were live streamed by our expert Parish tech teams to the Diocesan YouTube channel.

Over the weekend the recordings were viewed 5,615 times and the live chats were filled with support, congratulations and amens after the prayers. People tuned in from across the diocese and from as far away as New Zealand, Italy and America. 

Sunday Sermons – a choice this week

We are encouraging a focus on sermons from the Transforming Generosity resources during October, though our bishops will continue to offer a lectionary sermon each week.

Transforming Generosity Sunday Sermon

During October the Transforming Generosity sermons can be used and are in a playlist on YouTube.

This week, Bishop Andrew preaches from Luke 18:18-30 – The Rich Ruler
Sermon video: The Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford

Sermon transcript (Word)

Service outline (Word)

Service template (Powerpoint)

Sunday Sermon

In this Sunday’s lectionary sermon, Bishop Andrew preaches from Matthew 22:15-22 on the theme of tax, tithing and our dual citizenship in a Covid age, and coins the phrase ‘God loves a cheerful taxpayer’. 
 

Join us this Wednesday afternoon for Inhabiting innovation

2-3pm Wednesday, October 14th

Led by Ed Olsworth-Peter, National Adviser for Pioneer Development, for the Church of England.

A digital seminar for those in church leadership exploring what mission and ministry could look like beyond lockdown. Joined by members of the National Anglican Community of Pioneers who will share their insights from lockdown, this session will draw on pioneering principles and qualities as a foundation for thinking in fresh ways within the local church and community. It will explore how to innovate something new within your church tradition in response to the changing world around us as well as exploring what a physically gathered and digital mixed ecology of church could look like.

For the latest National guidance click here
For the latest Diocesan guidance click here
Next briefing will be issued on 20th October 2020

The post COVID-19 Briefing 13/10 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

weekly news sheet 11/10/2020 – Harvest decorations

Posted on by

Dear friends,

Please find attached the weekly sheets for this Sunday, 18th after
Trinity and our Harvest festival.  Also attached is a sermon provided by
the diocese for transforming generosity.  It is attached in two formats
in case you prefer one to the other!

I have just been in St John’s to leave the paper news sheets for Sunday
and below are some photos of what greeted me!  Our wonderful team of
flower arrangers has been very busy indeed and it is a sight to behold!
Don’t forget to pop in and see it if you can’t make the service and you
can leave any harvest donations by the altar – thank you.

Also, a little reminder that the new InSpire is available at each church
together with copies of the new Traidcraft Autumn/Winter brochure.  In
the meantime, I hope you enjoy the harvest prayer below and just a few
of the many photos I took of the decorations in church just now!

With my best wishes and prayers,

Suzanne

Suzanne Cole 07923 517202

*A prayer for Harvest*
We bless you, God of Seed and Harvest,
And we bless each other,
That the beauty of this world,
And the love that created it,
Might be expressed though our lives
And be a blessing to others,
Now and always
Amen

pdf icon Sunday-11th_Eighteenth-after-Trinity_Harvest.pdf
doc icon tg-sermon-luke-12-13-21-the-rich-fool-2.docx
pdf icon tg-sermon-luke-12-13-21-the-rich-fool-2.pdf


Post expires at 6:48am on Monday October 11th, 2021

The post weekly news sheet 11/10/2020 – Harvest decorations appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

October 2020 Issue 43

Posted on by

October’s InSpire is packed with articles again which will hopefully engage you and enlighten you including news of a new Saint’s Day in October honouring the remarkable Edith Cavell (page 18), another interesting article from Stuart Cole on the ‘Moving of Easter’ and why it falls on different dates each year … so confusing! On page 26 there is an article entitled ‘When Oxford accepted women’. A century ago, on 7th October 1920, Oxford University allowed women to become full members and study for full degrees for the first time, and the first 100
women were admitted. Interesting to note that Cambridge University did not give women equal status until 1947.

We also have some lighter reads including a humourous Lockdown diary (page 24) done in July by Andrew Forsyth and a look at ‘The Language of Church Going’ on page 19.

Enjoy October!
The Editor

pdf icon October-2020_Issue-43.pdf

Post expires at 8:01am on Saturday October 9th, 2021

The post October 2020 Issue 43 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

COVID-19 Briefing 06/10

Posted on by

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us’. (Hebrews 12:1)

It was strange seeing people running the London Marathon through Godalming as I drove to church last Sunday – as if Storm Alex had blown them off course. It struck me that here is a picture of the race that faces leaders at present: relocating, reinventing and reorganizing themselves, through the storm of an ugly pandemic. In running terms, I avoid such extremes. In leadership terms, it’s not so easy. But if simple couch to 5k running has taught me anything, it’s that pace in challenging circumstances is crucial – and it’s closely related to endurance.

I’ve been reflecting on this in relation to two groups of people this week.

First, our ordinands who will be ordained (at last!) across seven services next weekend. Please do pray for those to be made deacon and ordained priest this year (I’ve got the Society of Catholic Priests [SCP] to join me in a Novena of Prayer for them – 9 mins @ 9pm each day this week – you’re welcome to join us – details below). They’re beginning their ministerial races at such a challenging time for church leaders. And for those parishes who have received or are receiving curates, please do watch out for them in a context in which they may be less visible than would ordinarily be the case.

Secondly, my prayers are particularly with our much loved church, school and chaplaincy leaders: clergy, churchwardens, heads, chairs of governors and all who share in leadership at this time. We are facing a situation which would never be expected of runners. Having completed what we thought would be a sprint, it’s been extended into a marathon. So many of us are naturally tired and feeling the pain at this stage in the race and, if we’re not careful, this will lead to an exhaustion that will at best effect good leadership and at worst make us ill.

As an amateur, I offer six running tips: (1) we must ensure to eat, sleep, pray and rest well; (2) as the race moves from a sprint to a marathon – we must change gear; (3) we must decide what is important for this part of the race – and offload things which are not for now; (4) when the storm gets impossibly difficult, we must rest up and shelter for a while; (5) we’re not running solo – we must learn to be better at teamwork; (6) please, please, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable and to call for help when needed – our love and support of you is a top priority.

I don’t know whether the author of the letter to the Hebrews was a runner. But he chose an appropriate metaphor to talk about endurance – particularly in encouraging those who must have felt weary in a different way. Let’s do all we can to help each other through this marathon, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Archdeacon Paul

SCP Zoom Prayer for those being ordained this week: 9 days at 9pm for 9mins:
https://zoom.us/j/99113224638?pwd=Sm96cmx3NHJTM1JMSmI2RllUSHE1UT09
Meeting ID: 991 1322 4638
Passcode: 727459

The post COVID-19 Briefing 06/10 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

weekly news sheet 27/09/2020

Posted on by

Dear all,

There are compensations to these lower temperatures, the fire we have every evening in our log burner is so welcoming, but it was quite a shock when the temperatures plummeted overnight, particularly for our son-in-law who had just arrived from Dubai!

I do hope you’ve still been managing to get out to enjoy the Autumn light, the leaves are starting to change, it’s a magical time of the year. The news maybe awful but nature is still bringing joy every day. This week’s photo is from our walk at Friday Street this morning.

For those of you who have had children or grandchildren going to university in the last couple of weeks I have a special prayer kindly given to me by Suzanne Cole:
A prayer for students going to college or university

Lord, be with the Freshers of 2020.
Guide them, fill them with hope and compassion
and give them a thirst for learning.
Though things might be different than planned,
let each of them grow in faith,
experience your call in their lives,
and know that even in the uncertainty,
you are with them.
In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The weekly sheets and Revd Liz’s sermon are attached.

With love and prayers,

Debbie von Bergen
debbievonbergen@icloud.com
07774 784008

{CAPTION}

pdf icon SundayBlue_Sept27.pdf

pdf icon weekly-sheet-20.09.27.pdf

pdf icon sermon-for-27th-Sept-Trinity-16.pdf

Post expires at 7:10am on Monday September 27th, 2021

The post weekly news sheet 27/09/2020 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

COVID-19 Briefing 22/09

Posted on by

‘The one who sings prays twice’. These words, attributed to Augustine of Hippo (354-430), are almost certainly not his but they do resonate through the centuries. We have been deprived of making music together, ‘the way we’re used to’ since March. Professional musicians and voluntary music groups are now permitted to sing indoors provided appropriate social distancing and other Covid-secure arrangements are in place.

We’re delighted that at our Cathedral our musicians are back making music which serves the liturgy and is to the glory of God.. We’ve had recorded music for Sunday worship since lockdown, thanks to very hard work from the whole team, but during those weeks, as now, we can’t sing with them. And that’s really difficult. It’s difficult because participating in music making is part of how we worship the Creator. It’s difficult because singing is fundamental to human beings. Singing together is good for us. It brings people together, it produces mood enhancing hormones, it aids wellbeing and contentment, and singing together makes many into one.

Whether we sing with others at a sporting event, the Last Night of the Proms, the familiar school song at the start of term or in our churches – making music contributes to making us. Those who lead the music in our churches are not performing for an audience, they are performing – presenting their gifts- to God. We give thanks to God for church musicians!

The reference to singing as ‘praying twice’ has to do with the offer of both lyrics and music. As we return in our churches to offering music to God in all its variety, instead of lamenting what’s prohibited let’s celebrate what’s permitted:  poetry, melody, harmony, creativity, praise, lamentation, remembering, and much more. As we quieten our hearts and voices and others sing on our behalf, let’s pray the words and the music we see and hear. Let’s give thanks for the creativity which God has entrusted to humanity. Perhaps we’ll hear familiar music afresh. ‘The one who sings prays twice’ could just as easily be written, ‘the one who prays, sings not with the voice but with the heart’.
 
Dean Dianna

The post COVID-19 Briefing 22/09 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.