8am BCP Communion at St. Nicholas, Sandhurst10am C/W Communion at St. George's. (Revd David leading; Revd Rosemary preaching.)But it will not be "back to normal"; there are many restrictions:- Everyone must hand sanitise on entry and exit- Everyone must 2m social distance at all times. "Households" can sit together.- Use alternate pews (Marked with "green tick" and "red cross")- A register of names of people attending is being kept for 21 days- If someone is in the "70+" or another "vulnerable, at risk" group, they are advised not to come to church. But it is your choice; you will be very welcome if you do come. (But as part of the Government guidelines we have to advise of the increased risk in an indoor public gathering.)- Organ music, but no hymns, at the 10 o'clock service- Communion distribution (wafer only) standing at the chancel step; plus one-way system to return. The priest will wear a face visor during distribution. (Only the priest to receive the wine.)- Service Booklet to basket when leave. These will be quarantined for at least 48hrs.- No refreshments or fellowship time after the service, in church nor in the churchyard.- Exit: St. George's - north and west doors; St. Nicholas - west door.- Numbers will also be limited. (We estimate that St. George's can seat 60 people in "households" and St. Nicholas 40 at the 2m social distance.)- Next Sunday, 12th: 8am at St. George's, 10am at St. Nicholas- A video recording will be made of the live 10 o'clock service; this will be available on YouTube later in the day.Hopefully we will have some bells rung for 15 minutes before the 10 o'clock service.I will be leading and presiding and Revd Rosemary will be preaching at both services. The Risk Assessment will be available on the website, should you wish to read the detail. This will be reviewed, and if necessary amended, after our first services.I look forward to worshipping God with you tomorrow.Revd David
Daily Scripture“Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.” (Psalm 33:12)Daily Reflection Belonging is a fundamental part of our human nature. When we are cut off from others we feel rejected, left out, cast aside - we lose our sense of self worth and our lives seem empty and pointless. Being given the opportunity to belong, to be part of God’s family, is life changing and transformational. It restores our sense of belonging as we realise that we are part of one big family - we are happy to belong to God’s nation. Belonging gives us a sense of safety, comfort and ease - being cast aside makes us all at sea and at dis-ease. We are all connected together in the love of God - he has chosen us and all we need to do is to accept that love to belong to His nation.Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily Scripture:“Righteousness exalts a nation,but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)Daily Reflection: So what then is “righteousness” that, according to Solomon, exalts a nation? Let’s try approaching it a different way: Do you feel that, as a nation, we are exalted right now? I’m pretty sure I don’t feel we are exalted. There are some good things, for sure: the dedication and work of our NHS; the “community spirit” – thinking of and caring for your neighbour, rather than just thinking of self. Many people are working hard to make things the best they can be. But exalted? No.Righteousness is being in a right relationship with God. That is what exalts a nation; that is what lifts each and every one of us. Sin brings us down; but being right with God – living his way – that brings real life. So look for the right way, today.Revd David
Daily Scripture“The heart is devious above all else;it is perverse—who can understand it?I the Lord test the mindand search the heart,to give to all according to their ways,according to the fruit of their doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)Daily Reflection One feature of the Bible is the honesty shown about human nature. St Paul, no less, writes “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” and pinpoints this as a law, the law that leaves us feeling trapped and makes us feel failures.We live with this moral awareness which constantly challenges our actions and consciences, and also with a strong concept of justice, which leads us to want to see evil dealt with. Jeremiah warns his morally corrupt contemporaries that the Lord does deal out justice. That cry for justice, for punishment, for intervention gets no simple answer because the law of love takes precedence: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive…”.David Harmsworth
