WELCOME BACK TO WORSHIP AT LIDGETT PARK METHODIST CHURCH

We will re-open for worship on Sunday 6^th September at our new time of 11am. It will be good to gather in our church building again for worship – but our building and how we do things will be different as we follow government and connexional guidelines.

If you are in a vulnerable or at-risk category stated by the government, please think extremely carefully before coming to worship. We acknowledge that we all have self-responsibility, but we all have a responsibility to each other. Every life is precious. You are precious.

If you feel at all unwell in any shape or form, please stay at home and keep yourself and others safe. It is the decision of each person, having considered the risks, whether you come to church BUT if you decide to come you must follow the guidelines laid down in keeping everyone safe – that is not negotiable.

Before attending...

If possible, take your temperature at home – if it is raised – stay at home. Bring as little with you. Bring your mask.

On arriving…

         

Following government guidelines, unless you are exempt, you need to wear a face covering during the time you are in the church building. Please wear your mask on reaching the marked path, and keep it on until you reach the car park at the end of the morning. On entering the building, we will be spaced out at a 2-metre distance, this will involve queuing on the path – we will do this as quickly as possible – a brolly might be a good idea! As you come to the door a steward wearing a visor will greet you and take your name – this is for the Covid 19 guidelines for Track & Trace. You will then be asked to sanitise your hands.  The list of attendees will be kept securely for 14 days then destroyed.

In Church…

You will be directed to a pew that has been marked out by a flower on the back of the chair / pew at a 2-meter distance. We will fill from the back to lessen the need for you to walk past people. An offertory box will be placed near the entrance, and during the service will be blessed from a distance.

 

 

During worship…

Following guidelines, worship should last no longer than 45 minutes. Sadly, we are not allowed to sing as a congregation. However, we will be able to play the piano or organ and sing in our heads and hearts! We can also listen to a soloist or pre-recorded music. Words to hymns and prayers will be on the screen.

On leaving…

Sadly, no refreshments are allowed, and there is no safe space in the church building for social gathering, therefore you will be directed by a steward to leave, pew by pew, again at a 2-meter distance via the foyer exit. It you wish to chatter outside at a safe social distance, please keep the paths clear, so as it does not cause a problem or a danger to others, but use the garden or car park in a responsibly socially distanced way.

Borrowing a hymn book.

Although the words will be on the screen if you feel more comfortable reading a hymn book, please see a steward who will ‘lend’ you a church copy for the duration, bringing it each week and then taking it home.

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We are looking forward to welcoming people, but realise for some it is still not safe and so during this time of restricted worship, worship will still be available by Zoom, You Tube and by the Worship at Home sheets, trusting that God is wherever we worship, trusting in his presence and trusting that we are all held in his enveloping arms.

Rev Tanya Short 20.8.20