To:Members of the benefice of 4,Sharnford Road
Sapcote, Sharnford and Wigston Parva Sapcote LE9 4JN
4 June 2020
Church is Changing, what’s happening?
Three weeks ago ago I sent you details of our Ascension Day worship together with Thy Kingdom Come information. Thank you to everyone who took on board the message and supported the Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative.
Also I reminded you of the new Church of England prayer line (0800 804 8044) and our Wednesday 7.30pm Bible Study Zoom meetings (ID 81762098875 - password obtained from host, Dave Harrold, tel: 07786985932 or email: [email protected] ).
Below are details of two more local videos followed by my thoughts on what might happen later this year if lockdown restrictions ease further.
My latest worship videos are available now on YouTube. Please enter the YouTube site and
search for “worship with rev mick on trinity sunday” or click here. The songs and talk from the video are
attached with this letter for everybody. In addition I have teamed up with Richard Dixon, our
evangelist with permission to officiate, to produce a further video. Again please enter the YouTube
site and search for “worship with rev mick once you’ve seen this” or click here which is aimed at those who
are less familiar with Christian worship, to explain why we do what we do.
People are starting to ask me when our buildings might open. We were hoping to have a
Government announcement about this at the end of May but it didn’t happen! Our bishops wrote
to us about this explaining that the delay may be due to the ‘R’ value being too close to 1.
Reading between the lines it looks like that there may be phasing ahead if restrictions ease eg
Phase 1: Church buildings open for private prayer with social distancing
Phase 2: Church buildings open for worship for very small numbers with social distancing.
Phase 3: Church buildings open for worship for numbers allowable within social distancing
All of the above are subject to Government/Church authorities approval and to the local
completion of assessments/systems/signage. This means that different church buildings could
open for different purposes at different dates- nationally and locally. I am aware that some of our
members will not feel able to join in any phases, such as 1-3, due to underlying health conditions
or due to shielding others with health conditions. Therefore I am hoping to offer garden
communions (home communion in a garden!) for those affected in this way (I will discuss this
with you on the phone first). If there is a phase 2, guidelines may allow us to hold outdoor
worship, in order to cater for a larger number more safely. Eventually we hope to put out some of
our worship on Zoom which can then be heard live by anyone with a phone - details to follow.
For now our church buildings continue to be closed. I continue to work, pray and worship from
home and I am usually available on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Please get hold of
me on the phone 01455-272215, especially during the day, or by email [email protected].
Please continue to ask for help whenever you need it, and encourage others to do the same.
With love and prayers
Rev Mick