We feel that parents, especially parents of newborns and toddlers, really gain from socialising with other recent parents, because parenthood can be mentally exhausting.Young children also gain from socialising, albeit often via ‘parallel play’.We are therefore proposing that we don’t run Sunbeams exactly as it was. However, we are proposing that we do run a version of Sunbeams this autumn. This is where we would really appreciate your feedback.Our proposal is that each week, people are pre-booked for Sunbeams, i.e. carer plus child/ children. There would be a maximum for this, possibly those coming six households; typically about six adults and ten children.We then wouldn’t require 2 metres social distancing within the hall. So while we would discourage shaking hands/ dangling other people’s babies on your knee etc., we wouldn’t expect your children to stay 2 metres apart from each other, and we wouldn’t require 2 metres distancing between each adult. We would consider also offering refreshments. There wouldn’t be singing, but there could be lots of other playing.There might be two or three bubbles going and your bubble might only meet once every two or three weeks. So while a version of Sunbeams would run each week, you might only get to come once every three weeks. Unfortunately, while we have hitherto been able to welcome people ‘on the day’, we would have to turn aside newcomers until a new term or until a new bubble can be developed.This is where we would really appreciate your feedback.At its simplest, is this the sort of thing you would value and would like to be part of?Beyond that, how could we improve the idea or should we consider doing something completely different?Please email sasms@btinternet.com with your feedback on this proposal for Sunbeams meeting at St Mark's Hall. lots of love The Sunbeams Team
During August we are taking a break with our 9:15am Family services online . We are hoping to be back in September refreshed and ready to go with Family services at St Mark's Church.In the meantime we have a 11am Eucharist Sunday service online via Zoom which you can join by contacting the parish office for the online codes or checking the weekly email from Robert. Or to book a seat to attend the services physically please book with the parish office.Please check our social media and for updated details.www.surbitonchurch.org.uk
At 11am, we will have a service of Matins (BCP Morning Prayer) at St Andrew’s. This will include Psalm 85, readings from the Song of Solomon and 2 Peter, along with the Venite and the Te Deum, a sermon and a hymn. There is no Eucharist at the 11am service this week, but it will be back next week. You may not be familiar with services in “traditional English”. We hope, however, that you will appreciate the beauty of the language we will use. The forms of words found in the BCP and the King James’ Version of the Bible are from a formational period in the history of church and state, and have sustained the spiritual lives of generations of churchgoers – to this day!Please contact the parish office: sasms@btinternet.com for the online code to join this service via Zoom.
