Opening up again …
Dear Friends,
It is lovely to see how things are beginning to open up again. If you look at local publications like Village News and the various village Facebook pages, you’ll see how many different community groups and organisations are now starting to meet again, after what seems like a long ‘hibernation’. In fact, with all the new signs of life and activity, it does feel a bit more like spring than autumn! A few days ago, it was a real joy to share in the Scalford School harvest service in St Egelwin’s Church – the first time that we have gathered together ‘in person’ for nearly two years. Looking at the sea of faces - those who I saw regularly before the pandemic, as well as those who have started the school during the pandemic –reminded me of just how much change we have all experienced over the past eighteen months. As we thanked God for the fruits of the earth, and for those who work hard to bring in the harvest of land and sea, we were also especially thankful to be able to meet together again.
Before the pandemic began, all the Ironstone Churches were open every day. Sadly we had to close them at the start of the first lockdown, and it has taken time and care to reopen on a limited basis, and in a way that complies with the evolving Covid safety guidelines. Thankfully, we now have several churches open every day - at Eastwell, Goadby Marwood, and Waltham - and we’re keeping the situation under review at the others. In Scalford the presence of the Framland Deanery Multi-Parish Administrator Marie Hough in the newly created shared office means that St Egelwin’s is now open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, as well as on Sundays.
As well as hosting various community events, our local churches are now seeking to re-establish a regular pattern of worship, and details of services for each month are posted on the yellow pages, the Ironstone Churches own website (www.ironstonechurches.org) and we’re also looking to develop other ways of keeping in touch with the villages that we seek to serve. If you have any thoughts about how we might do this more helpfully, please do let Marie Hough (sae.churches@gmail.com 01664494424) or me (johnbarr2817@gmail.com 01664 464265) know. As we continue to open up, we are open to new ideas!
With all good wishes,
John Barr, Rector
Dear Friends,
It is lovely to see how things are beginning to open up again. If you look at local publications like Village News and the various village Facebook pages, you’ll see how many different community groups and organisations are now starting to meet again, after what seems like a long ‘hibernation’. In fact, with all the new signs of life and activity, it does feel a bit more like spring than autumn! A few days ago, it was a real joy to share in the Scalford School harvest service in St Egelwin’s Church – the first time that we have gathered together ‘in person’ for nearly two years. Looking at the sea of faces - those who I saw regularly before the pandemic, as well as those who have started the school during the pandemic –reminded me of just how much change we have all experienced over the past eighteen months. As we thanked God for the fruits of the earth, and for those who work hard to bring in the harvest of land and sea, we were also especially thankful to be able to meet together again.
Before the pandemic began, all the Ironstone Churches were open every day. Sadly we had to close them at the start of the first lockdown, and it has taken time and care to reopen on a limited basis, and in a way that complies with the evolving Covid safety guidelines. Thankfully, we now have several churches open every day - at Eastwell, Goadby Marwood, and Waltham - and we’re keeping the situation under review at the others. In Scalford the presence of the Framland Deanery Multi-Parish Administrator Marie Hough in the newly created shared office means that St Egelwin’s is now open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, as well as on Sundays.
As well as hosting various community events, our local churches are now seeking to re-establish a regular pattern of worship, and details of services for each month are posted on the yellow pages, the Ironstone Churches own website (www.ironstonechurches.org) and we’re also looking to develop other ways of keeping in touch with the villages that we seek to serve. If you have any thoughts about how we might do this more helpfully, please do let Marie Hough (sae.churches@gmail.com 01664494424) or me (johnbarr2817@gmail.com 01664 464265) know. As we continue to open up, we are open to new ideas!
With all good wishes,
John Barr, Rector