Diary

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Re-starting services in Church alternate weeks from 4th April

Just to confirm we will be holding our first service in church since lockdown tomorrow, Sunday 4th April starting at 10.45am. This service will be led by Rev Peter Rayson.

Services in Trinity after this will then be every other week. Those weeks when we are not in church we will continue to hold Zoom services at 10.00am for those that can access them. Obviously, everyone is welcome in church but first and foremost we have to consider safety. Therefore, here there are some rules we must follow.

  1. Entry and exit (other than for fire and emergency) is by the main entrance at the front of the church.
  2. We will monitor capacity (we think we can get in around 50 people with social distancing). We hope not to have to turn anyone away.
  3. Temperature using a thermal thermometer and contact details will be taken at the entrance (this is just an extra precaution we are taking at Trinity and is not something that is necessarily done elsewhere).
  4. People should follow the guidance of sanitising using the gels etc available at the entrance and wear face masks whilst in church (the exception being under 11’s and those with medical conditions such as ashma etc). People leading the service and readers do not need to wear a mask when at the lectern but can wear a visor if they wish (bring their own)
  5. People will be guided to and from their seats by stewards to ensure safe distancing (and this will probably be different to where you may normally sit). We will fill from the front.
  6. There will be no use of service or hymn books – anything relevant will be on screen. Sadly, we cannot sing at this time but solo performances are allowed from the lectern area
  7. There will be a collection basket by the entrance to the worship space and people are requested to place their offering in there as they come in or as they leave – there will be no bag collection during the service
  8. The only toilet available will be the disabled one – people are asked to clean down all touch points after use using the materials provided (in any event a steward will clean down between use)
  9. Sadly also there will be no refreshments – and people should bring their own water if they feel they might need drink.
  10. Sadly, too there is to be no congregating in or close to the building
  11. However, feel free to smile, nod, wave, talk through your mask, encourage and support! These are strange times for us all.

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Update on COVID 19 Regulations (from the Methodist Church):

The key points are:

  1. Education establishments to remain open at present (this is assumed to include pre-schools subject to details);
  2. Community & church cafés should only operate a table service and close by 10pm;
  3. All staff and customers in community and church cafes, charity shops, etc will now have to wear a face covering (unless seated for eating/drinking where relevant);
  4. In many sectors, which might include projects run through churches, working to Covid-secure guidelines will now be a legal obligation;
  5. Weddings will only be able to have a maximum of 15 people (down from 30) attending the service and reception afterwards;
  6. Funeral numbers allowed to attend remain unchanged at 30 people;
  7. Currently new shielding measures for those who are more vulnerable remain unchanged at present;
  8. Places of Worship are allowed to remain open We have received several queries about the new rule of 6 and how it impacts churches. The government has yet to publish more specific guidelines but based on the brief information received, it is our understanding that the number relates to the maximum group size before they come into church and therefore can sit together in church. It is not a directive to sit people together in groups of 6 as part of worship. You can continue to space chairs and people as before with 2m distancing between household groups, which could be individuals, couples, larger families, etc.
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