November begins with All Souls, including, in many places, a commemoration of loved ones who have died. Then we mark Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday, each with a different flavour but with the emphasis on all who have lost their lives in times of conflict and prayer for those who are currently serving in the Armed Forces. And as we observe Remembrance we join with millions across the nation and world who do the same.

As Christians our gaze then turns towards Advent and we anticipate the four great themes of the season, ‘Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell’. The season of ‘preparation for the coming (adventus) of Christ in his incarnation.

This year we have become conscious of a new kind of ‘front line’. No longer is this term used solely to refer to the military or to armed conflict but it refers to those who serve others in a different kind of uniform in the NHS, health and social care, teaching and the essential services which keep society going.

As we remember those who have died this month the experience of loss has come very close to all. For we may feel that in addition to the loss through bereavement we have lost freedom, autonomy or self-sufficiency.

Remembering is a tool that we can use in finding our way into an uncertain and unclear future. When we remember we actually RE-MEMBER. We put together pieces which have become detached from others. The detachment could be because of death but it could equally be through estrangement, misunderstanding or even through lockdown restrictions.

As we continue in prayer for our nation and her leaders what is it that we could be RE-membering which will then be part of the uncertain future into which God calls us? We definitely don’t know what the future holds but we do know who holds the future.
 
Dean Dianna

Changes in Guidance

We are still waiting on changes but will share what we can, when we can.

We have developed an FAQ based on some of the questions we have received from parishes so far and will keep this up to date. 

There are a number of implications set out in this FAQ however please be aware that the most up-to-date guidance will be found on the Church of England’s coronavirus guidance page  and the government guidance pages (new national restrictions and guidance for places of worship) do check the date at which they were last updated at the top of each page.

If you have questions, please contact the parishcoordination@cofeguildford.org.uk.  
 

Living in Love and Faith 

Yesterday we saw the launch of Living in Love and Faith, an extensive collection of teaching and learning resources to enable the whole church to think more deeply about identity, relationships, marriage and sexuality, in the bigger context of what it means to be human, as those ‘made in God’s image’.

When the work started on Living in Love and Faith – and well before anyone had even dreamt of a national lockdown – who would have realised how important it would become to engage in the kind of open, honest, and gracious discussion that these resources seek to facilitate?

Living in Love and Faith is intended to help the whole church better understand each other and the different perspectives we hold. Clergy in the Diocese of Guildford will be introduced to these resources in a dedicated Clergy Study day (also open to our Licensed Lay Ministers and youth workers) at the end of November.

Bishop Andrew says: “I really look forward to spending time with our clergy and others, focussing on these rich reflections and looking at how we might make the most of them in the months to come. I pray that this process may help to change the way we understand, relate to, and love each other in the church, whatever the theological differences that our discussions might uncover. I also pray that we might understand ourselves a little better through the process, and better model the inclusive, challenging call of Christ in this generation.” 

Resources include a 480-page book, a series of films and podcasts, a course and an online library of other publications in what is thought to be the most extensive work in this area by any faith group in the world. These materials will guide a major process of listening, study and discussion throughout 2021, leading to a process of discernment and decision making in 2022.

Chaplaincy team for LGBTI+ community

In response to Living in Love and Faith we are developing a small chaplaincy team to offer listening, support and prayer to members of the LGBTI+ community and those who stand alongside them. Revd Steve Cox has agreed to head up the team, and we plan to have it up and running by the end of the year. More details to follow. 

Diocesan Safeguarding team – introduction to new members and a goodbye

Jackie is your first point of contact for safeguarding concerns during normal office hours at jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk or by telephone on 07918 559387.  On Fridays, all calls will be diverted to another member of the safeguarding team. For out of hours emergency contacts, please follow the Reporting link on the diocesan website here

We are sadly saying goodbye to Ian Berry who is leaving Guildford to focus on  his role as Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor in the Portsmouth Diocese. Ian has been a crucial and much respected member of the safeguarding team and we wish him well. 

Two Wednesday webinars this week 

Join us at 3pm to hear Bishop Andrew and Bishop Henrik from our link Diocese in Viborg.  One of the blessings of Zoom is the opportunity to meet with people from all around the world. In a unique Wednesday Webinar from 3-4pm tomorrow we will be hearing from one of our link dioceses, Viborg in Denmark, to reflect together on what the Coronavirus has done to our churches, and the wider questions that it’s raised. Four brief contributions from two bishops and two parish priests will inform our discussion – and there will also be time for questions and broader discussion. An optional 30-minute extension will be added to the initial hour for those who wish to take the conversation further (or to stray into the world of Danish mink farms or the background to Brexit!). Register here 

Join us at 7.30pm for a practical webinar for Celebrating Advent and Christmas regardless of restrictions. Emma Coy, from the Mission Enabler team will be hosting with ideas for celebrating the Advent and Christmas seasons with our congregations and communities.  Feel free to come dressed in your best Christmas outfits and bring some festive snacks as we encourage and inspire each other for the season ahead.    Register here
 

#PrayerForTheNation further resources

You can sign up to daily reflections and video content here

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extension – November 2020

Following on from the Chancellor’s announcement last week on the extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the government has now published a policy paper providing further information.

Whilst full guidance is expected to provide more detail on 10 November, below is the currents status:  
Overview

• The extended scheme is to support individuals and businesses who are “impacted by disruption” caused by COVID-19.
• It will remain open until 31 March 2021.
• For claim periods running to January 2021, employees will receive 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month (the cap is proportional to the hours not worked).
• The government will review the policy in January to decide whether economic circumstances are improving enough to ask employers to contribute more.
• Employees who were on the payroll on 23 September 2020, but who left after that, can be re-employed and claimed for.
• The job retention bonus will not now be paid in February 2021, but a “retention incentive” will be deployed at the appropriate time.

The full document is available on our website here

Sunday Sermon

Bishop Andrew tackles Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of the Talents, in our Bishops’ Sermon this week, following the lectionary gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday before Advent. He poses the challenge of whether we have got ourselves into a ‘convenient place’ – carefully placing our talent in a hole in the ground – rather than a place of faithfulness and risk. 

Diocesan resources to help you locally until Jan 1 2021

We have had a number of conversations with our clergy and lay ministers this week and we know this is an extremely challenging time. We asked what support you would like from us and what support you wouldn’t.

1. We will continue to share Bishops’ Sermons based on lectionary readings each week (this will carry on until at least Christmas)
2. We will continue to host practical workshops (Wednesday webinars) to share ideas on how to survive and thrive in this lockdown period and beyond
3. We will also create a stand alone all age pre-recorded service for you for the 27th December – we hope that this will encourage a number of you to take a well earned rest. Our intention is that this will be available from mid December for your planning purposes.  If you prefer something ‘classic’ that is not all-age, you may wish to point people to join the livestream from the cathedral’s service of Holy Eucharist.