As you may well be aware from the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday (31/10/20) places of worship including our own will be closed for a period of national lockdown from Thursday (5/11/20) and this will mean our 9am services of Holy Communion in church on Sundays will need to stop. However our online services as previously mentioned (25/10/20) will continue.
Remembrance Sunday
This coming Sunday (8/11/20) is Remembrance Sunday and a local decision has been made about arrangements:
"Remembrance Sunday Parade Stannington 2020
Due to the national lockdown we have been left with little choice but to cancel the annual remembrance parade.
This has not been a decision that has been taken lightly but it is the only sensible option once taking into account the risks to veterans, service personnel, youth group volunteers, children and the general public who would normally attend. In the small space around the war memorial social distancing measures would not be easily achieved.
We encourage those that would normally attend to mark the occasion by joining us remotely on your doorstep at 1100 to observe the 2 minute silence.
Those wishing to lay a wreath at the war memorial are welcome to but please do so individually during the afternoon or later in the week in order to spread out the timing of visits and enable social distancing. Please observe social distancing and minimise any contact with the memorial or surroundings to reduce the risk of infection.
Although the march past in London is also cancelled there will be a reduced wreath laying ceremony that will be televised on BBC1 on Sunday Morning.
There will also be a pre-recorded service of remembrance broadcast on YouTube - here. By Christ Church Stannington.
Craft activities relating to Remembrance will be made available on the Church Website during the week (open attachment to this article). They will be encouraging people to make a poppy to display in their windows.
This year has been a difficult year for everyone and ex service personnel are no exception. The reach of the poppy appeal and ability of RBL volunteers to offer aid has been much restricted. If you would like to support the work of the RBL in supporting ex service personnel and their families please consider making a donation here - https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate."
As such we will offer a recorded Remembrance Sunday service via the website (video as normal) but more in line with the services at the memorial rather than a service of Holy Communion and make this available from 9am that Sunday to allow for people to join in with the 2 minute silence at their door steps at 11am.