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eNews 18 December, 2020

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Bishop James' Christmas Message

Click on the link above to view Bishop James' Christmas message for 2020.

The Bishop of Carlisle praises NHS staff and all care workers in his annual Christmas message filmed at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.

The Rt Rev James Newcome – the Church of England’s lead bishop on health and medical ethics - talks of the care and support being offered after a year in which the global pandemic placed huge pressures on the health sector.

Bishop James also reveals that he has recently been poorly after testing positive for COVID, though he did not need any hospital treatment and has since returned to his duties after a period of rest and self-isolation. Read more here.

Big Carol Sing Countdown

The final countdown is on to Cumbria’s Big Carol Sing which takes place this weekend.

Across the county scores of people are set to take to their doorsteps to sing the carol Silent Night at 6.15pm on Sunday 20 December.

The mass rendition will form part of a special Christmas programme to be presented by Richard Corrie on BBC Radio Cumbria from 6pm and which churches across Cumbria have heavily promoted.

Richard said: “I’m really looking forward to the show and the chance to bring our wonderful county together again for some Christmas cheer after such a difficult year.

“We’ve been promoting the Big Carol Sing for a number of weeks and we’ve seen a fantastic response. We want as many people to join in as possible. Let’s look to raise the roof!”

To further promote the event, the radio station’s latest social media posts include films of a number of BBC Radio Cumbria presenters singing the carol from their doorsteps. Read more here.

Nativity Joy

Congratulations to everyone across the county who has managed to put on nativity plays despite the restrictions in place due to the pandemic.

Below are just two examples of the wonderful efforts that people have gone to to bring the Christmas story to as wide an audience as possible at this time.

If Gabriel visited Mary in February 2020... and if Mary and Joseph sought peace in Grasmere, how would the Nativity story unfold? The children of Grasmere School have written and created this modern, Lake District version of a timeless tale, for you, with Gorgeous Media.

A West Cumbrian Nativity - The story of the first Christmas beautifully retold by the children of St Bees and Crosslacon parishes (with subtitles).

Christmas at Good Shepherd MAT

A message from the team at the Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust, about how their schools have rallied for Christmas....

When our schools reopened this autumn there were many new systems and procedures in place. All the changes were made to ensure the safety of pupils, families and staff. But what to do about Christmas?

With visitors forbidden and our schools working hard to create secure ‘bubbles’, how could traditional Christmas activities take place? Would they work? Could our schools do it?
Of course they could!

Nativity drive-ins, green screen extravaganzas and across the Trust there is now an entire team of video editors (lots of new skills for the teachers as well as the children)! This term has been extraordinary, but the way our staff, pupils and families have adapted to each change, managed their new circumstances and risen to every challenge has been inspiring.

Across the Trust everyone has worked hard to provide support to ensure the smooth running of our schools. Directors have been meeting regularly to discuss all the latest changes and developments whilst our senior leaders have been meeting at least once a month to discuss best practice, queries and concerns.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year! We are looking forward to bringing you more news in 2021!

You can see a gallery of images from Christmas around the Trust on their website.

The Way Christmas 2020

A quick reminder that people are encouraged to share as widely as possible a special online edition of The Way - the newspaper for the Church in Cumbria.

The edition reflects on how church communities have faced up to the challenges of the coronavirus and includes messages from our ecumenical leaders, the latest on the Vision Refresh and reflections on how churches, schools, support groups (such as Foodbanks) and chaplaincy teams have all coped during the pandemic.

Click here to view The Way Winter 2020

Comfort and Joy

Don't forget that you can sign up for weekly advent and Christmas reflections via the Church of England's Comfort and Joy page.

Signing up adds you to theirr reflections email list, meaning you'll be sent email reflections at key moments in the Christian calendar throughout the year. This only applies for those over 16.

You can also download an associated app and look out for the weekly online services broadcast on the Church's YouTube channel and Facebook page and which are also available on the weekly online services page.

This Sunday from 9am you can worship at home for the Fourth Sunday of Advent with Marie Curie.

DailyHope Phone Line

A reminder for those people who continue to shield and so are unable to attend church that DailyHope - a free national telephone line - offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of the phone.

It is a Church of England initiative in partnership with CONNECTIONS at Holy Trinity Claygate, and Faith in Later Life

The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind; to provide comfort and spiritual nourishment to the most isolated in our society.

2021 Parochial Fees Now Available

PCC Treasurers should have received an e-mail giving details of the 2021 Church of England Parochial Fees table, and the forms for reporting these to Church House.

These are also available on the Diocesan website along with a covering letter from the Diocesan Head of Finance.

Have A Merry Christmas

And finally, after what has been an unprecedented year. may we wish all our readers and subscribers a wonderful Christmas and every blessing for 2021.

Thank you for your support in 2020, for your email contacts and for the stories you have provided.

The eNews will return in January, though be assured that if COVID guidance is updated during the Christmas break, we shallcirculate a further eNews, as necessary.

Copyright © 2020 Diocese of Carlisle, All rights reserved.

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