Humility has been noticeably absent in the church, we realise, in just glimpsing the vast resource of Living in Love & Faith, published last week. I’m ashamed of the homophobia experienced by so many people. I hope you will join me in committing yourself anew to listening more deeply to God and others and playing your part in a humbler conversation about human sexuality.

Trust has been further shattered through the harrowing IICSA Report published a few weeks ago. Safeguarding is at the heart of the Gospel. Whilst I don’t expect to regain the trust of some, I hope you will join me in committing yourself anew to listening more deeply to God and courageous victims or survivors, and playing your part in ensuring a safer, more trustworthy church.

Wisdom is rather late to the Creationtide party – highlighted at our diocesan synod last week. I was aghast at the fact that by 2030 the effects of climate change will have plunged another 120 million people into abject poverty. Again, I hope you will join me in committing yourself to listening more deeply to God and scientists and playing your part in being environmentally wiser.

I received an email from one of my colleagues this week who understandably feels rather overwhelmed by these agendas: ‘With all that’s going on at the moment, I don’t know if I have capacity to change people’s attitudes to human sexuality, embrace all the implications of IICSA and solve climate change… certainly not if you want it all done before Christmas!’.

My sense is that this is not all about doing but being, becoming and mature faith. Let’s pray that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may be transformed into a church which, reflecting the psalmist, is more humble, trustworthy and wise. Much of this is rooted in repentance, listening and judgement: appropriate themes on the threshold of Advent.

Archdeacon Paul

Government guidance 

Following recent government announcements we have amended our FAQs regarding reopening churches from 2nd December. You can find them on our Coronavirus page here. Please note that we are still awaiting more detailed guidance from both the Government and the Church of England so some answers may change. It is clear that places of worship in all tiers may open for worship services from 2nd December. We expect building capacity to be based on 2m social distancing between households and the use of face masks. We anticipate further guidance will be forthcoming regarding both public worship in December and during the Christmas period (which may be different).

If you have any further questions please contact parishcoordination@cofeguildford.org.uk.
 

Financial update from Diocesan Synod

At the recent Diocesan Synod, Nigel Lewis (Chair of Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance) gave an update on finances alongside his presentation on the diocesan 2021 budget and forecast for 2022-3. You can see the slides and read the speaking notes here (link).

While there have been huge challenges this year that have led to a large forecast deficit for 2020, the response and generosity of our parishes, who helped us understand their financial position and paid parish share in advance, has been a huge step toward being able to weather the storm. Church House Guildford use of the furlough scheme and holding vacancies also helped to reduce the size of our forecast deficit, as did a one-off contribution from the Church Commissioners.

Looking ahead at the budget for 2021, it looks like another year where our income will be challenged, not least as our parishes recover from a second lockdown. Bishops Council and Diocesan Synod have therefore approved a number of assumptions for the 2021 budget to help reduce the shortfall, albeit still leaving a large deficit. This includes an assumption that there will be no stipend or staff salary increases, a need to reduce parish share shortfalls through the Health & Viability Review, and a need to find further ongoing savings at CHG.

Government launches Faith Engagement Review

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who leads the Church of England’s Recovery Group, has welcomed the opportunity for people nationally to respond to an independent review on Government engagement with faith communities.

The review, which predates the Covid-19 pandemic, will nonetheless inform how government engages with faith groups during the Covid-19 recovery phase and beyond. This consultation will last for 4 weeks from 13 November until 11 December 2020. 

This survey is to inform a report exploring the following issues:
 

• the first section asks the question, “Are faith groups, places of worship and people of faith a force for good in society?”
• the second section explores the extent to which government and its agencies have sufficient faith literacy and considers the partnership between faith groups and the State
• the third section looks at some aspects where harm might be caused through religious or faith-based practices and a review of the government’s role in tackling them
• the fourth and final section will be a set of recommendations for the government to consider and respond to

You can fill in the survey here – please share your voice with this important review and encourage your parish congregations to be heard as well. 

For those involved with Church of England schools, there are specific questions on their role in the country’s education provision, so if you are involved in working or supporting a Church school as a governor, member of the clergy or a teacher, do please complete the survey – the questions on schools and education begin at question 33.

#PrayerForTheNation further resources

You can sign up to daily reflections and video content here

Sunday Sermon

In the Bishop’s Sermon for Advent Sunday,  Bishop Andrew looks at the theme of ‘the end of the world’, focussing on the lectionary readings for the day and especially the gospel reading from Mark 13:24-end

This webinar marks the launch of the Creation Care awards scheme, which is designed to help households better care for God’s earth. The webinar will feature

• Bishop Ruth Bushyager, Bishop of Horsham
• Revd Dr Dave Bookless, Director of Theology, A Rocha International
• Annabelle South, St Paul’s Action on Climate and the Environment

Diocesan resources to help you locally until Epiphany 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. To confirm what we are going to offer this year:

1. We will continue to share Bishops’ Sermons based on lectionary readings each week (this will definitely carry on to and will include Epiphany – Jan 3rd)
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.
4. The Cathedral live-streamed services of 9 Lessons and Carols and their midnight service will be open to all digitally. Links will be provided by the end of this month.
5. The bishops will be providing an additional Christmas sermon for use in Christmas services. This will be available by mid December.
6. The bishops will also be providing a 2 minute Christmas greeting (which may be particularly useful if you are doing your own sermon). Available mid December.

Sharing resources from other Dioceses

This project is called The Hope of Christmas www.thehopeofchristmas.co.uk and is focussed on Christ, God’s hope among us in a year like no other.  The diocesan mission and education teams, the Cathedral and Soul Survivor Watford have collaborated to produce  a heart-warming nativity film (with a real not-quite-perfect school nativity feel).  The film comes with accompanying resources to enable worship and mission for churches and schools this Christmas (either online or in person).  You can watch a short promo film here – https://bit.ly/33g0gT8

They have created a ‘pick and mix’ suite of downloadable resources to help clergy, readers and teachers to tailor worship for their context:
The nativity film is available in:

• Two episodes – i) Hope in Uncertainty and ii) Light in the Darkness
• Full version
• Full version with a Christmas message

PDFs are available for:
• School assemblies / collective worship
• Family and children’s worship and craft session
• All Age service
• Prayer resources
• Discussion session