Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the church building is closed for services, but church goes on!
We recognise that some of you have questions about why we aren’t going back into the church for services yet. Please read this letter from Rev Sarah which will hopefully address your questions.
Services
Our Sunday services are now online!
We start our Sunday mornings at 11.00am, in our virtual community, the SPC Community Facebook Group. We meet here for a time of worship together, in the form of a watch party.
Our services then ‘go live’ at 11.30am on our YouTube Channel and are available for you to watch at any time.
Additional services are also posted to our YouTube Channel and on occasion we ‘Go Live’ on Facebook for times of prayer and just to say ‘hello’.
Children
Junior Church has moved online to our YouTube Channel
Each weekend, when there isn’t an All Age Service, Splash & Bubbles videos are posted with an accompanying activity sheet. We hope these help in keeping the children engaged and connected.
Our Bubbles videos are aimed at preschool to Year 2 and Splash videos are aimed at Year 3 to Year 6. Click Here to view the videos and activity sheets.
During school holidays, we aim to bring families new videos and activities. May Half Term has seen our first Messy Church at Home!
We also have a Facebook Group for our Junior Church families. It is intended to be a place of support and to offer resources for families during this time.
Sparks
Sparks isn’t currently running. We hope the Sparks children will enjoy the Bubbles videos and Messy Church.
Holiday Club
Holiday Club isn’t able to run in it’s usual format this year; instead we are launching a new Summer Programme called, Explorers!
The theme for the summer will be Creation, with different weekly activities to do at home or around the village. Explorers can collect keyrings at the end of Summer and tokens for the activities they have taken part in.
For more information click here.
Young People
Our Young People are meeting via Zoom
We meet fortnightly, on Tuesday evenings, 7pm-8pm. They enjoy some games, a catch up and a discussion. If you have a young person who would like to get involved, please contact us for a Zoom Invitation.
Prayer
We are praying for you
The church building is now open on Thursday evenings between 7pm and 9pm for private prayer. Please ensure to follow social distancing and the guidelines set out by the hosts, when attending. If you would like to be a host, and are up to date with the CofE Safeguarding Training and hold an SPC DBS, please get in touch with us.
Although we cannot meet in person, our Prayer Ministry Team, Revival Prayer Group and Home Groups are still praying. If you have any prayer requests, please send them to Rev Sarah.
We are holding a monthly Call to Prayer and have an Online Prayer Room for anyone to use. There is access to different resources and a space to add reflections.
Those not online
We still want to connect with those online
If you are aware of someone who doesn’t have internet access and they would like to connect with us, please ask them to get in touch with us, or ask them if they are happy for you to give us their details.
Our Church Office is contactable on 07939 449255.
We are connecting with people through weekly mailings and telephone calls.
Daily Hope
Daily Hope has been set up by the Church of England in conjunction with CONNECTIONS at Holy Trinity Claygate, and Faith in Later Life.
It is a 24 hour, free phone line which offers prayer, hymns and reflections. It is available on 0800 804 8044.
Those in Need
Foodbank
Foodbank remains open on Mondays and Thursdays, 3.00pm – 5.00pm, at the church. Foodbank can be contacted on 07579 825798
We are aware that there is difficulty in getting vouchers during this time, therefore those in genuine need are able to attend foodbank and we will provide an in-house voucher.
We are working on a minimum volunteer basis to ensure social distancing and hygiene safety for our staff and clients, so please be prepared to wait a few minutes at busy times.
Donations are still being accepted. It is through everyone’s generosity that we are able to keep providing. Donations can be left either in the basket at the Co-Op, or dropped off in the porch of the Vicarage.
Supporting the Vulnerable
We are currently supporting those members of our church family who are vulnerable, where we are aware. If you are vulnerable and in need of support, please do contact us.
Pastoral Care
If we can offer you any support in coping with life in our present time, then please do get in touch with Rev Sarah, either via email or on 01733 248690 or 07498 230858
Home Groups
Our Home Groups are supporting their members in the best way possible for the group.
Some have moved their meetings online, via Zoom, others are connecting through telephone calls.
If you are thinking about joining a Home Group, please get in touch with us.
Events & Groups
We are holding some events virtually, such as afternoon tea, the men’s breakfast and Call to Prayer.
As we review our online provisions, events may get added and we will notify everyone of new events and add them to our What’s On page.
Be sure to sign up to our newsletter and ‘Like’ our Facebook Page to get all the latest news.
Encounter
Encounter are sharing reflections in their Facebook Group on days when the group would have met. Join the group here.
Weddings, Baptisms & Funerals
Please get in touch with us if you have an enquiry around an upcoming occasion.
Online Church Review
We are currently asking everyone accessing any part of our online provisions to provide us with feedback. Please spare 5 minutes to complete our online survey.
This survey is now closed. Click Here for the feedback.
Helpful Resources
We have a ‘Helpful Resources’ page, with various links to resources which may help you during this time. This page continues to grow, so be sure to check back from time to time. If you have come across something you’ve found particularly helpful, it’s likely it will help someone else, so if possible please send it our way so we can add it to the page.
Giving
For details on how to give financially during this time, please read this letter from Rev Sarah.