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 2020Due 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.
The need for communication Through being encouraged to keep in touch we have had some good phone conversations and ( I think)got to know one another better. This leads to a greater appreciation both that we are ' all in this together' but also how different we all are in personality, life experience and gifts, and that we find different aspects of the current situation challenging. I hope this leads to greater self- awareness and acceptance of others generally. I think that anxiety/depression can make a person withdrawn and less likely to ask or see the need for contact so someone in the group making regular contact is important. One member of the group sets me a good example in this.Opportunities to live out our faith?It's good to have more time to listen to other people, now that we are at home without the 'distractions' of nice things like holidays etc. The difficulties give us extra opportunities to acknowledge our dependence on God, to be more trusting in God for the future, and to try to be kinder and more accepting towards others, to try to become more like Jesus.Challenges?Inadequate practical IT skills. We've just communicated by email if it's been sharing info , or by phone for 1:1. I am OK with this. We haven't tried to set up a whatsapp group or zoom meetings.It is difficult getting a balance between keeping in regular contact, but avoiding pestering or prying. Probably all members of our group have concerns about family members and some who would otherwise be busy with practical grandparenting locally feel frustrated they may not or cannot do this. Maintaining good family and friend relationships is harder when we can't meet physically: misunderstandings easily arise and people may take offence more easily when stressed.Prayer points?We thank God that so far we are reasonably well ,or at least stable , and that we are coping practically.Please pray for good communication and family relationships. Pray for us not to feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar things we have to deal with. Pray that we and our loved ones may rest in God's love.
