We are pleased that we are now able to reopen St James to members of the congregation and community, albeit with changes to our regular pattern of worshipThe main Sunday morning communion service will start 30mins earlier, at 9.00am to allow sufficient time between this service and the one at St Pauls. It will be a said service, as singing is not currently permitted in churches, and members of the congregation will not receive the host (the bread and wine) directly but will recieve spiritually. Spaces will be set to maintain social distancing and the congregation are asked to wear a face covering for the mutual benefit of each other.Midweek services will not resume as yet, but we plan that the church will be open for private prayer on 5 occasions during the week: Tuesday & Thursday 11am-1.00pm and 5pm-7pm and Sunday afternoon 2-4pm (dependent on staffing).We are continuing to broadcast the Sunday morning service live on St James Facebook page each week whilst there are still members of the congregation who are unable to attend in person
One of the worries about planning a Christingle service is "will we have enough Christingle oranges for everyone...or just a bad, will there be loads left over and wasted. Following a Saturday night working party at the vicarage, the Christingles were all boxed up and taken down to the church ready for the service, and guess what? Despite making more than last year, there was an anxious moment for churchwarden Robert Thompson as he looked round the church and did a quick headcount; it was going to be very close! However, all turned out well, as when everyone had collected their christingles there was just one left over.Everyone enjoyed the lovely service, celebrating Christ's coming as the 'light of the world. When everyone had lit their Christingle candles, the church lights were all turned out and there was a beautiful sight and sound as the choir and congregation all sang the Christingle hymn by candlelight, creating a lovely atmosphere.It was fantastic to welcome so many people of all ages along, including some who had come for the first time, and it made great start to our advent and Christmas celebrations.
