It is nearly time to change things once more!

Over the last few months, we have been trying to offer both services in our buildings, for those who are able to return, and services on YouTube (or CD) for those who are not able or ready to meet in person just yet. Also, our YouTube services have given us a chance to do things that we can’t do in our buildings just now (like sing). Many people have made it along to both a morning service in person and online each week. So, I want to say a big thank you to everyone for meeting together, whichever way, as much as we have been able to. Lots of you have made a real effort to keep on encouraging each other by gathering in different ways – this is something that the Bible tells us to do (as Bishop Rod mentioned in last week’s sermon: see Hebs 10v25).

However, it’s quite complicated to work round attending both sorts of service… and it’s not easy preparing properly for both either – it all makes Sunday mornings a bit more of a rush than they should be.

So, as the situation with the pandemic improves locally, more of our congregation receive their second vaccine dose, and restrictions begin to be lifted on what we can do in church, it’s time to think about changing back to a more normal pattern of morning services – and allowing these to be a little longer and so a little less rushed. In time I’m hoping that we will also be allowed to serve refreshments and sing!

So I’m proposing that from the end of May (30th) we go back to having our morning services at 9am (St John’s) and 10.30 (St Mark’s) and that we move our main YouTube service to the evening. I’m hoping that this will make it easier and better for people to join in person, while still making use of YouTube, which has been so useful to us recently. (Would there be a group who would commit to joining in with a YouTube service at 6pm each Sunday evening, for example?)

These proposals will be discussed on Wednesday evening (21st) by the PCC. If you have a view, a suggestion or a thought about this, why not let me know, or speak to one of our wardens or PCC members?

Thanks for all your patience with all the changes! God Bless, Mark.