Dear Friends,

This is the second of the emails I promised today. It’s a practical email just setting out a few things to expect if you are joining in with worship in church this week. My aim is that you can feel familiarity and reassurance about coming to church, especially if you haven’t been into church for quite some months. All this is in place to help us show love for our neighbour as we show our love for God in worship.

In each church we are required to maintain physical distancing and seating has been organised or marked, or will be stewarded to insure this.

We ask everyone attending any of these services to wear face coverings. Hand sanitiser is available but you may wish to bring your own so you can use it at will.

There will still be no communal singing.

When Communion is offered it will always be in one kind (the bread/host).

Please avoid congregating after the service – hard though that is!

At St Mary’s cleaning will take place between the services.

MAUNDY THURSDAY: 1st April

7pm St Mary’s Lynton Holy Communion followed by the Gethsemane watch

There will be a sung interlude with a single voice (allowed by current rules) taking the place of the traditional washing of feet which cannot take place.

There will be an invitation to private prayer (for up to an hour) in the Lady Chapel after the service. If you plan to stay it would be helpful if you could let me know so we can make sure appropriate seating is planned.

GOOD FRIDAY: 2nd April

2pm St Mary’s Lynton Liturgy of the Cross

There will be a sung call and response by single voices.

The adoration of the cross will not include any touching of the cross this year.

HOLY SATURDAY: 3rd April

8pm St Mary’s Lynton Easter Vigil

A single voice will sing parts of the Vigil Liturgy

We will light candles together with care to remain physically distanced.

EASTER DAY: 4th April

6am Countisbury, Dawn Service for Easter (Outdoors)

This year this service will be entirely outside so it will be weather dependent.

Please take care to retain physical distance between households as you arrive at the churchyard and as you spread out for the service in the churchyard.

Candles will be lit together with care to remain physically distanced.

9.00am Parracombe Holy Communion

The notes at the top apply here.

11.00 Lynton Holy Communion

Again, see the notes at the top.

It is good to add to this list the addition of a service at Martinhoe next Sunday:

11th April 11.00 am Martinhoe Holy Communion

The notes at the top apply.

God bless you, as you plan your route through this Holy Week

Samantha