Love your neighbour, and wear a face covering …?
Dear Friends,
I write this on ‘Freedom Day’ – the day that sees the removal of most of the legal restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19. However I wonder whether, for many of us, it might be better labelled ‘Anxiety Day’, given the fact that the virus is currently spreading like wildfire. It doesn’t feel very much like freedom, does it? Other nations are watching ours to see what happens, and the Government is now promoting guidance that emphasises the personal and corporate responsibility of invididuals and organisations to protect others and themselves.
Like every other venue open to the public, churches are having to work out how to respond to the easing of restrictions, and what local guidelines need to be in place to keep those who visit church buildings safe. In its latest guidance, the Church of England states that “Vaccination cannot be the sole means of containing the spread of the virus: hand and respiratory hygiene, social distancing, face-coverings and good ventilation are also important factors in lessening the spread of the disease. While these are not mandatory after 19th July, they are still important public health mitigations and ought to be recognised as such when planning public worship and other church activities”.
In the Ironstone Villages Family of Churches, we are continuing with those Covid-19 measures we have had in place over recent months. We are encouraging everyone to continue to use a face covering when gathering inside a church building (unless exempt on medical grounds), and also to observe social distancing – for which it would be very helpful to know in advance who plans to attend. We shall seek to ensure that our buildings are well ventilated (ie the doors are kept wide open!). Communion will continue to be in one kind (wafers), and we shall enjoy some hymn singing again - albeit from behind face coverings when we are singing indoors.
If you are anxious about what is happening at the moment, then I hope this reassures you that your local churches are not ‘throwing caution to the winds’. Instead we are trying to find practical ways of living out the Great Commandment highlighted by Jesus: “Love your neighbour as yourself”.
With all good wishes,
John Barr, Rector
Dear Friends,
I write this on ‘Freedom Day’ – the day that sees the removal of most of the legal restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19. However I wonder whether, for many of us, it might be better labelled ‘Anxiety Day’, given the fact that the virus is currently spreading like wildfire. It doesn’t feel very much like freedom, does it? Other nations are watching ours to see what happens, and the Government is now promoting guidance that emphasises the personal and corporate responsibility of invididuals and organisations to protect others and themselves.
Like every other venue open to the public, churches are having to work out how to respond to the easing of restrictions, and what local guidelines need to be in place to keep those who visit church buildings safe. In its latest guidance, the Church of England states that “Vaccination cannot be the sole means of containing the spread of the virus: hand and respiratory hygiene, social distancing, face-coverings and good ventilation are also important factors in lessening the spread of the disease. While these are not mandatory after 19th July, they are still important public health mitigations and ought to be recognised as such when planning public worship and other church activities”.
In the Ironstone Villages Family of Churches, we are continuing with those Covid-19 measures we have had in place over recent months. We are encouraging everyone to continue to use a face covering when gathering inside a church building (unless exempt on medical grounds), and also to observe social distancing – for which it would be very helpful to know in advance who plans to attend. We shall seek to ensure that our buildings are well ventilated (ie the doors are kept wide open!). Communion will continue to be in one kind (wafers), and we shall enjoy some hymn singing again - albeit from behind face coverings when we are singing indoors.
If you are anxious about what is happening at the moment, then I hope this reassures you that your local churches are not ‘throwing caution to the winds’. Instead we are trying to find practical ways of living out the Great Commandment highlighted by Jesus: “Love your neighbour as yourself”.
With all good wishes,
John Barr, Rector