Dear All
As Lockdown 2 draws to an end, I am pleased to be able to advise that the Stewards and I feel that we are able to re-open the church for worship on the 6th December.
As before however please remember that to re-open we will need to comply with certain “rules”:
- Face masks must be worn by everyone (excluding those who are medically exempt) – covering mouth and nose at all times.
- Track and trace details will be taken, in advance if possible and as before we will be running a booking system to assist with this and to ensure we don’t exceed the number of people we can safely accommodate. To book in you can click here. However if you don’t have internet access please speak to a steward, your pastoral visitor or a family member of friend who can do it on your behalf
- Attendance restrictions as per Risk Assessments must be abided by
- Social distancing of 2 metres must be observed
- People must not gather in groups outside, before or afterwards
- No singing is allowed
- Heating systems cannot be turned on, so make sure you wrap up warm.
Here are details of our Advent and Christmas services, noting that on Sunday 6 and 13 December
our Facebook Live worship will run concurrently with the church being open. On 20 December our Carol Service will be on line at 11.00 a.m.
6 December
11.00 a.m. Wimpole Road
11.00 a.m. Facebook Live
2.30 p.m. – Service Replay
13 December
11.00 a.m. Wimpole Road
11.00 a.m. Facebook Live
2.30 p.m. – Service Replay
20 December
11.00 a.m. Facebook Live Carol Service
2.30 p.m. – Service Replay
Christmas Eve
4.00 p.m. Wimpole Road
4.00 p.m. Facebook
Christmas Day
10.00 a.m. Facebook Live
2.30 p.m. – Service Replay
27 December
11.00 a.m. Wimpole Road
11.00 a.m. Facebook live
2.30 p.m. – Service Replay
3 January
11.00 a.m. Wimpole Road
4.00 p.m. Facebook live
2.30 p.m. – Service Replay
Please don’t forget that if you do not have internet access you can still join us on Service Replay at 2.30 p.m. on Sundays – (the sound quality has been massively improved and we are able to play music now). This also affords the opportunity to chat to the other participants and friends before and afterwards. Please see later for a reminder of how to dial into the Service Replay.
All of the above has been very “business like”, but let’s not forget this is Christmas a time to rejoice and celebrate the coming of our Lord and Saviour. However, as we know it all feels very different this year, in part as highlighted by the details above.
A recent Facebook post started “I don’t know who needs this, but if you woke up freaking out a little because it’s almost Christmas (like…what? How is that even possible? It was just August two days ago), remember that the first Christmas was pretty simple. It’s okay if yours is too”.
Many of us are freaking out that Christmas all of a sudden is nearly here. We have been so busy waiting for the end of the second lockdown, waiting for some clarity of what the Government is going to allow this year. Many are struggling financially; redundancy and lack of work make the money worries all the more stressful at Christmas.
It’s good to remember that the first Christmas was a very simple affair – it was the celebration of new life in a barn, in the back of an inn, with only a few visitors. The gifts were simple but meaningful.
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.” Matthew 2:10
Sometimes simplicity gives us a breath of fresh air. Maybe sometimes we just need an excuse to say, this year we’re going to do things a bit differently.
This Christmas will be different for all of us in so many ways. The traditional carol service will be replaced with an online one and so many of our own traditions will have to change. However, despite the restrictions we rejoice that we have the opportunity to gather together for worship as we continue to pray for God’s presence in our lives and those of our Church, family and community.
We pray God’s blessing on you this Christmas time.
Joe
Revd Joseph Neil Adams
Colchester Methodist Circuit 34/6
Bedfordshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire Methodist District
Wimpole Road
Lexden
Mersea Island
Tollgate
DETAILS OF HOW TO JOIN THE SERVICE REPLAY:
From your land line or mobile, phone one of the following numbers (there is a choice in case any of the lines get too busy and these will be charged at your normal tariff for 01, 02 or 03 calls):
0203 051 2874, 0203 481 5237, 0203 481 5240 or 0131 460 1196
You will then be asked to enter your “Meeting ID followed by #”.
This is: 458 171 4255#
The system will then ask you to enter your “Participant ID followed by #,
but if you don’t have one just press #”.
At this point just press the # key on your phone and you will join the Service Replay.