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Important COVID Guidance
New national church guidance for places of worship has been issued following the easing of restrictions from 2 December.
The C of E's national website page includes the following:
New/updated Q&A
- Can carol singing or carol services take place this Christmas?
- What is permitted in my tier?
- Who can attend church as part of a Christmas Bubble?
- Can churches hold services of worship?
- What guidance is available for Holy Communion?
- Can weddings and funerals go ahead?
New Documents:
Updated Documents:
There have been a number of inquiries about the resumption of PCC meetings. Under the Permitted Activities document this is permitted in all tiers, subject to specific guidelines. However, the Diocese recommends that such meetings continue to be held virtually wherever possible.
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Outdoor Carol Singing Tips
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The Government has announced that choirs may sing indoors and congregations may sing outdoors at Christmas.
The Church of England has put together 12 tips to help you to make outdoor services safe, special and memorable. These include:
- choose your space well
- complete a risk assessment
- ensure the area is well lit and there's an outdoor sound system and welcome team
- use phones wherever possible to access carol sheets
To read all 12 tips, please click here.
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Online Faculty System Launched
A reminder that this week, the Diocese has started to use the Online Faculty System. The system handles List A, List B, Temporary Minor Re-ordering and full Faculty applications. It brings all aspects of the application process into one place and allows multiple users to work on an application, which hopefully spreads the load!
For more information on the new system, please click here.
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Click above to view a training film provided by Anna Newlove, DAC Project Assistant, and Rosaleen Lane, DAC and Pastoral Secretary, for the Online Faculty System. The online training includes:
• The background to the Online Faculty System
• How to register
• The different application processes
• Where to find help and guidance
• The Church Heritage Record
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The Church of England has launched its annual Christmas film, with a message of Comfort and Joy after a year like no other.
The three-minute animated video can be adapted and personalised by parish churches and cathedrals for use ahead of Advent and Christmas.
Featuring various families preparing for and celebrating Christmas, the film is the centrepiece of the Church of England’s Comfort and Joy campaign. A programme of online services and reflections with content will be shared through December and up and until Epiphany. Read more here.
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Big Carol Sing Virtual Choir
More than 30 people have joined a virtual choir to record a special version of Silent Night for Cumbria's Big Carol Sing.
The idea came from the Rev Alison Riley, Network Youth Church Leader in Calder Deanery, who put out an invite on Facebook and was amazed to get so many responses.
In total 34 people recorded themselves remotely in their homes after Alison provided a backing track. She also provided all the four-part harmonies for the carol.
Alison explained: "It's wonderful how people responded to this and that they were connected in this way. God is a singing God; his songs of love wash over us. And so it's particularly wonderful to think that all these people were singing his praises in their homes. I can't wait to hear it on the radio and to know that others are tuning in for further connection."
The specially-arranged carol will get its first airing when BBC Radio Cumbria broadcasts a Christmas programme on Sunday 20 December from 6pm, during which people across the county will be invited to take to their door steps at 6.15pm to sing along to the recording of Silent Night.
Click here to access all the downloadable resources for Cumbria's Big Carol Sing, including words for the carol and special invites which people are encouraged to share with family, friends and neighbours.
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The Way - A Special Edition
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A special edition of The Way - the newspaper for the church in Cumbria - will be published online, next week.
Due to the pandemic the newspaper will not be printed or distributed to churches during 2020. The Easter edition (pictured) was an online edition.
People are encouraged to click here for the latest edition which shall be online from Friday 11 December and to share it with as many people as possible.
The newspaper is a shorter edition than normal but includes COVID reflections from our ecumenical leaders, the latest on the vision refresh and a focus on how our churches, schools, front line workers and support networks (such as Foodbanks) have all risen to the challenges presented by the coronavirus.
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Pioneering Epiphany Party
Click on the picture above to link through to book for this event for pioneers.
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Pioneer Ministry Taster Events
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A reminder that special 'taster events' are set to take place in 2021 for those people interested in working towards a certificate in Pioneer Mission course at the Northern Mission Centre.
If you're interested in finding out more about the course you can do so by clicking here.
To book onto the various taster events click on the links below:
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God for All Vision Refresh Prayer
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Please do continue to share this God for All Vision Refresh prayer as widely as possible. Thanks go to the Cumbria Ecumenical Spirituality Group for writing the prayer.
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