Church opening for public worship—PLEASE READ
It is a real pleasure to be able to return to the church for public worship. We will be holding our first service back next week, Sunday 12th July at 10am.
This is however not a return to normal—there are measures in place to ensure safety, and these will impact what we are able to do together. As new guidance is released we will be updating and amending our arrangements accordingly.
The service will not be Holy Communion yet. There will be one service, and it will be very similar to the ones we have been doing online during the lockdown.
We are only able to have 30 people in the congregation. This is so we can space out the chairs 2 metres apart. To help plan this, and to set up for families/bubbles to sit together, we are asking that you let us know you’re coming. You can sign up on the website (or by calling the Office) from Monday at 11am. Please be patient with us; it is not an ideal situation, and as soon as we are able to welcome more people we will.
The service will be broadcast live online. For those who are not joining us, you will be able to join online, as you have been doing.
Families are welcome, but we cannot provide any special provision for children yet.
Specific measures are in place, including sanitiser stations, social distancing, and one way systems, and also changes to the way we use service leaflets and music.
Nothing should be too onerous or complicated, and Staff, Wardens and Welcomers will guide you, but you and your family should decide when you will join us, and what the risks are, dependent on your own situation.
Everything has been thought through carefully and we have put in place measures designed to ensure your safety. If you have any questions or concerns about what to expect, please contact the Office or Staff Team; whether you join us soon, or after a couple of weeks, or whether you decide to stay at home, we want you to be able to make the decision confidently.
Finally—our church is open to anyone. Whether you are a regular, or you’ve never been before, the service is available for you. Please do not think that you are less entitled to be with us in person than someone else. It will be a pleasure to see you. And for those who continue to watch online at home, we hope that the service we can broadcast is as spiritually nourishing as it can be. Thank you for joining us in whatever form.
St Mary's Staff Team
3rd July 2020
Church Open for Private Prayer: UPDATED
The church will be open on Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon, for Private Prayer, but no longer on Saturdays once we are holding public services in Church.
This has been thought about carefully and there are various protective measures in place to make the building as safe as possible. On entering church there will be notices displayed with guidance and advice. Please read and do your best to follow them. We ask that everyone observes social distancing and stays 2 metres apart. Face coverings can be worn along with anything else that makes you feel protected.
The office is not accessible during these times but Dot and Carol are still working from home and can be reached via email and phone. If you wish to leave any correspondence then please post it through the north door. Thank you for your patience during these very different times.
You can watch the video below to see what to expect when you visit for prayer
Goodbye Sue!
Sue Morgan has now stepped down as our organist. There will be a short presentation to mark this, available as a video on our website soon. Sue and Adrian’s wedding would have been this weekend and is now postponed to Friday 4th September. We wish Sue every blessing as she leaves her organist role here at St Mary’s and our love and best wishes are sent to Sue and Adrian as they approach their new wedding date.
Sharing Good News
Do let us know if you or others are celebrating any special event or anniversary or if you have any news you wish to share and we can put this news into our future email letters. You can do this by leaving a message on the church office answerphone 0191 251 4216.
6th WB Scout Group
Our scouts have been meeting online whilst the hall has been closed and will be holding their AGM, normally held in church, but now online via Zoom on Tuesday 7th July from 6.15pm.
Deanery Synod
There is a Deanery Synod meeting via Zoom at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8th July at 7.30pm.
Prayer Resources
We have a dedicated page on our website for prayer resources. Go to stmarysmonkseaton.org.uk/pray where you will find prayers for use at home or privately in church, links to other prayers, reflections and podcasts, and you can also submit prayer requests online.
100 Club
The 100 Club winners for June are: £50 Hazel McLeod, £30 Pat Redpath, £20 Hazel Howliston.
A Message from Roger about St Mary’s 100 Club 2020/21
As we now enter July, the excitement of another 100 Club year looms. It promises to be a bumper year too. We have been locked down for so long that we have hardly spent anything and may have extra funds to invest or perhaps more accurately donate to St Marys.
Last year the 100 Club raised £1295 for church funds which went mainly towards the costs of cleaning the church hall.
For £25 a year you are entered into twelve monthly draws with the chance of winning £50, £30 and £20 or in December £100, £50 or £30.
As we won’t be in church normally for a little while, Ruth Blake will be unable to use her persuasive charms to encourage membership, but St Marys will be most grateful if you will join or re join the scheme.
All you need to do is transfer £25 using online banking to St Marys 100 Club, Sort Code 20-62-09 Account No. 53160653. Alternatively, drop off a cheque made payable to St Marys 100 Club or even cash. Please post or deliver either to me at 61 Brierdene Crescent, Whitley Bay, NE26 4AD or to church. (The letter box is in the north door.)
I would appreciate if existing members could send me an email or text confirming payment. If you are a new member, I will need your name and address. A contact email address or phone number would be useful too so that I can confirm receipt and deliver your winnings to your home!
Many thanks to the 66 people who have so far signed up. We are now more than halfway there and still going strong.
Roger Windass and team,
Ruth Blake, Margaret Campbell and David Tompkins
rkpwindass@gmail.com | 0191 2528048 | 07989 973 352
Coffee Morning
Our Online Coffee Morning is a success, and we will be keeping it going. If you are able to join us online between 10:30am and 11:15am on Tuesdays we’d love to see you.
Go to ‘Events’ on our website: stmarysmonkseaton.org.uk/events to RSVP and get a link to join via Zoom. You would need to click on RSVP and enter your name and email address and click on ‘submit’. An email is then sent to you with a link to the Coffee Morning. If you haven’t already got Zoom, you can get it for free on your computer, tablet or phone. You could download it now from https://zoom.us.
Plants Sale for Church Funds-UPDATED
Last year, Dave Haddock, who was running the Tai Chi class in our hall, brought a selection of plants and shrubs to our Autumn Fayre. He is now offering to sell some of his plants which he grows in his Wallsend nursery garden, and he will deliver if local. 30% of sales will be donated to St Mary’s, so be sure to mention St Mary’s when you order!
Order from Dave Haddock: tel. 0191 2524985, mob. 07976 687973, or email: landman2000uk@yahoo.co.uk. View the Catalogue below.
There is now a new selection of plants in addition to the ones above!
This Week's Online Service
From Sunday morning, CLICK HERE to watch this week's online Church at Home service. A full text transcript 'Service leaflet' with all the readings etc. included, is available by clicking the link below.
Intercessions
Your Prayers are requested for
Martin Cooper
Catherine Connors
Gordon
Emma Campbell
Norman Searle
Kate Davson
Olya Bouchard
Jacqui Hamilton
Michael Hampson
Andrew Harrison
Rest in Peace
Shelagh Goodwin
Pat Hylton (anniversary)
Thanks
Nancy Richards is very grateful for St Mary’s prayers over the last 4 weeks. Nancy is making progress albeit slowly and sends her best wishes to us.
Don’t forget, you can add someone to the prayer list by emailing or phoning as usual, but you need to get their permission before adding them to the sick list. You can also use the form on the website here to submit a prayer request online.
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