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David's Update 10th July 2020

Dear Friends

Many decades ago the railways in Britain ran an advertising campaign entitled we’re getting there’. 

With us now being able to offer worship in our church buildings it does feel a bit like ‘we’re getting there’.  Slowly, bit by bit we are beginning to experience the ‘new normal’ of church worship as lockdown eases. 

Please do take note of the information in this church update newsletter about how to access worship in our Church buildings; including the booking in procedure that is necessary for government track and trace requirements.

Thank you so much for your patience and endurance as we have been through the long lockdown journey together and do rejoice that step by step ‘we’re getting there’

With love and prayers

David

Church is Open for Worship - Sundays 12th & 19th July and Tuesdays 14th & 21st July

Lockdown restrictions for churches eased on 4 July and we have started to conduct worship services in our Churches, but have to operate under the relevant regulations and there are some restrictions which we need to have in place.  For the time being, we are going to be cautious in the provision we offer, but we hope to gradually expand this as time goes on.

Continued Online Sunday Worship

As many will still be unable to come and worship in our buildings, we will of course continue to offer Online Worship via YouTube (not Zoom) and this will premiere each Sunday morning at 11.00am.  Our YouTube channel is SJBBurscough.

We will also continue to follow the YouTube service with a time of ‘after Church brews and Fellowship’, via Zoom.  Contact me for more details – david.banbury@stjohns-burscough.org

The upcoming services we are able to offer in our church buildings are as follows:

Sunday 12th July

  • 9:00am Morning Prayer – at St Johns (Max 45 people)
  • 6:30pm Evening Prayer with BCP – at Crabtree (Max 20 people)

Tuesday 14th July

  • 10:30am Tuesday Service – at St Johns (Max 45 people) 

Sunday 19th July

  • 9:00am Morning Prayer – at St Johns (Max 45 people)
  • 6:30pm Evening Prayer with BCP – at Crabtree (Max 20 people)

Tuesday 21st July

  • 10:30am Tuesday Service – at St Johns (Max 45 people) 

Please sign up in advance each week, for each service you would like to attend, so that we can get an idea of expected numbers (instructions below). 

Sign Up Procedure for Attending Church Services

As attendance at St John’s is limited, we will be asking people to SIGN UP in order to attend these services and to start we would like to give priority to those who have not been able to access worship online. 

  • IF YOU CANNOT SIGN UP ONLINE - please telephone our Church Office (07395 979929) on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays between 9am and 1:30pm, and we will sign up on your behalf.
  • ONLINE SIGN UP - will then be available for all, from 7.00pm each Thursday for that coming Sunday and Tuesday services (up to the limit of 45 People).

You can sign up online for the following services from 7:00pm on Thursday 9th July, via My Church Suite or via these links: -

You can sign up online for the following services from 7:00pm on Thursday 16th July, via My Church Suite or via these links: -

Please Note:

*  When you sign up, you need to enter ticket information for each person that will be attending with you.

*  As numbers have been lower than expected, we are no longer asking you to sign up to only ONE service, so if you would like to attend more than one church service, please sign up accordingly.

FURTHER INFORMATION

  • The numbers attending all services are restricted with a maximum of 45 people at St Johns and 20 people at St Andrew’s Crabtree (the service at St Andrew’s Crabtree is also restricted to those who would normally attend worship there) and so if more people turn up than we have capacity for, additional people will not be able to enter the building.
  • Everyone must use hand sanitiser prior to entering church.
  • The service will be said and we will listen to worship music, but we are not able to sing under current regulations.
  • At the moment we are unable to offer Holy Communion.
  • There is a one-way system in place and people will need to use the relevant entrances and exits.
  • Chatting with people after the service must be socially distanced and ideally happen outside.
  • We will sanitise and clean surfaces between services.
  • We are currently considering whether we are able to open toilets, but it is best to assume that toilet facilities won’t be available.
  • We are unable to serve refreshments after our services
  • People may wish to wear a face mask/face covering in church, but this is an individual choice

We recognise that the news that we are able to worship in church will delight some people and cause anxiety to others.  We fully respect people making their own decision about how they will engage in worship and we recognise that some people will choose to attend a service in church, while others will continue to access online worship.

Please be aware that plans to have church open for private prayer and worship may change if government regulations change.

Church is also now available for funerals services.

“CALLING ALL KIDS!” - Online Family Pyjama Praise Party

Due to a great response from the first one, we will be running another Online Family Praise Party via YouTube live, on Friday 24th July at 6:00pm!

Join us from the comfort of your own home for a fun time of praise and worship.  All content will be aimed at primary aged children and their families, but all ‘big kids’ are welcome too!

More details will follow in next week’s update, but it’s NOT TO BE MISSED, so put the date in your diary!

Church Calling Plan:

In August we will be suspending the plan for the Staff Team to call every member of our church community every three weeks.  This is to accommodate staff holidays and also to give us the opportunity to consider the best plan for offering pastoral care to the congregation as lockdown eases.  However, we are happy to continue to offer this to people who particularly value this contact, so if you would appreciate ongoing telephone calls, please let either Mel Critchley (07395 979929) or Jen Short (jennie.short@stjohns-burscough.org) know .

Text Messages:  Intelligently Praying for One Another

The Book of James (James 5:16) tells us that our prayers have great power.  The sentence just before that he encourages us to pray for one another.  St John’s Church has for some time now been sending out text messages or emails for urgent prayer requests for our members.  Those who are signed up for them receive texts or emails from time to time, with a few details of some fellow church member(s) in need of prayer.  Praying like this is a wonderful way of bearing one another’s burdens.

If you would like to be a part of this and receive such texts or emails, please text me and include your email address.  I will then add you to the list of those receiving requests for prayer via text or email.

Many thanks.

Dave Emmett

07931 576 546

dave.emmett@stjohns-burscough.org

Previously Circulated Information:

Hello from Chris Neilson

It’s great to finally start my curacy with you at St Johns. Thank you so much for the many messages and cards that people have sent.  Your warm welcome and prayers have been a great encouragement to me and my family.  Some of you will have seen a little video I did to introduce myself, which is on St John’s YouTube channel youtube.com/SJBBurscough.  It was also great to speak with people at the Zoom welcome party last Sunday.  

I’ve come to ministry in the Church of England after working with a number of community projects and church plants in Manchester and Oldham. I also worked for the diocese of St Albans supporting community engagement. Presently I live in Formby with my wife (Laura) and three sons Barny (15) Caleb (13) and Ben (10), but we will be moving to join you in Burscough when we can.

I love Jesus, because he is faithful to us, whatever we do, he sticks with us and carries us through. I love to see when people grow in faith and step out to be and do what the Holy Spirit is guiding them to do.  My favourite biblical character is Barnabas; he’s a quiet encourager who is a huge strength behind the growth of the gospel and an important figure in helping Paul step out in ministry.

Over the next few months and years I hope to know you better, as we journey together with God. You’ll find out my passion for football, Star Wars, cheesy music and silly films, but I pray we become friends and family as we worship, pray and proclaim Jesus together.  

Chris

Live Stream Midweek Worship:

Jen and Pete Short are also continuing to offer live midweek sung worship on a Tuesday evening at 8pm, The video will remain on the YouTube channel, so if 8pm doesn't work for you, you can watch it at your convenience.

The livestream can be accessed from 7.50pm each Tuesday, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG_h0eWr_oUB5GtQLDHsDbQ

Subscribe to this YouTube channel to receive alerts as new videos are posted.

Online Bible Study via Zoom

Don’t forget we continue to offer an online Bible Study every Wednesday night at 7.30pm.  Login details can be found via the events pages on Church Suite or contact any of the staff team. 

Recent Funerals

Please pray for the family and friends of the following people who have recently passed away.

Leonard Caunce

Walter Steen

Joan Spencer

Vivienne Thompson

Richard Gardner

Joy Rainford

Alice Suffell

Annie Houghton

John Stringman

Ronald Cheetham

Nora Davies

Trevor Bridge

Vera Evans

Margaret Forshaw

Margaret Jackson

George Finch

Alma Hope

Molly Houghton

Bryan Perret

Cicily Caunce

 

 

Our verse for 2020: Love one another as I have loved you - John 13:34