Following the latest government announcements of measures to limit the spread of Covid, it’s now mandatory to wear a mask in church. There are exemptions for those who are leading services, preaching or reading, and for singing. The choir will not sing in masks, but it seems sensible for others to keep them on.
This is the only change we are making to our Covid arrangements at the moment. I know that some people are very anxious about the rising numbers of cases, and that is understandable. At our normal Sunday services of Parish Communion and Evensong, people are able to spread themselves out, and we are confident that in our large, draughty building there is enough ventilation to keep people safe.
We are hoping to welcome a wide range of people to our special Christmas services, and these will still be going ahead, with the addition of an outdoor carol singing event during the week before Christmas (details in next week’s e-News). The Christingle Service (this weekend) and Crib Service (Christmas Eve) are aimed at families with children, many of whom won’t be masked (because children under 11 are not recommended to wear them), so it may be better to avoid these if you are particularly anxious, and go to the service of Nine Lessons and Carols (19th) instead. We will also be live-streaming the Nine Lessons and Carols, the Midnight Eucharist and the Eucharist on Christmas Day.
I hope we will be able both to welcome our community to celebrate Christmas and to keep people safe and enable everyone to participate without feeling worried and anxious, whether you are here with us in person or watching the livestream at home.
with my prayers and blessings, Nicola