THE LATEST
Events, Talks, News Sheets and more
Events, Talks, News Sheets and more
Light a candle of hope: A national call to prayer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic
This Mothering Sunday, 22 March, we are calling all churches to a National Day of Prayer and Action. At such a time as this, when so many are fearful and there is great uncertainty, we are reminded of our dependence on our loving heavenly Father and the future that He holds.
At 7pm this Sunday, light a candle in the windows of your homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer. Whether you are continuing to worship as congregations or not, we have the great privilege and freedom to be able to call upon God, wherever we are, individually and corporately, for healing in our country. We would pray for all in leadership at this time, making decisions about the containment of the Covid-19 virus, for those working in health and social care, and especially for the most vulnerable, whether elderly or those with underlying health conditions.
Churches Together in England: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the RC Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the Free Churches, the CTE president for the Orthodox Churches, and the CTE Pentecostal president, and is supported by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, Cytûn, the Church of Scotland, and the Evangelical Alliance.
On Tuesday our two Archbishops sent a letter to all Church of England clergy, advising them that “public worship will have to stop for a season. our usual pattern of Sunday services and other mid-week gatherings must be put on hold.”
This does not mean that the life of the church is being put on hold! We continue to pray, welcome and share like Jesus, but we need to find new ways of doing this and of being the church in these unprecedented times.
Our website will be updated on a regular basis as we discover what it means to be the family of Jesus in times of Coronavirus. If you have any thoughts or ideas, please email Christoph.
Ian Jennings writes:
In the current climate we need a balance between wisdom and trust – doing what we need to do to keep safe and to keep others safe and trusting the constant care of a loving God who does not give us a spirit of fear!
Please scroll down for an AUDIO version of this talk and the video of a song we sang during the service.
Sermon preached by Ian Jennings at our 10.30am service on Sunday 15th March 2020.
Sermon preached by Ian Jennings on Sunday 15th March 2020 at our 10.30am service.
This sermon is based on John 4.4-26.
During the service we sang this song about the living water that Jesus offers the woman at the well:
Find the latest Church of England advice here…
This post is now out of date and will not be updated anymore. For the latest update, please click here.
We Pray
Pray for those infected by the coronavirus in China and around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and authorities who are combatting the spread of infection, and of course for all who at this time are feeling anxious. If you are reducing your contacts with others or self-isolating please let us know so we can stay in contact with you (just send an email or call our church office); you can prayer morning and evening prayer with this link. Lectio365 is an app which offers a daily bible reading, reflection and prayer. Please get in touch with Christoph, Ian or Nnamdi if you would like to have a conversation over the phone. We’d love to talk and pray with you. This blog (“The Latest”) also contains recent sermons and articles, as well as our news sheet, to keep you connected.
We Welcome
All our services will continue and be open to all. Many people will be particularly anxious at this time and we want to offer them a space to meet with God and to know his peace, which passes understanding. If you’d like come to church for private prayers, please ring the vestry door bell during office hours.
It is also part of our welcome to encourage people to stay safe and healthy. Please scroll down to the heading “Coronavirus” to read what we are doing to limit exposure to COVID-19.
We Share
As the Church of Jesus Christ we are called to be a non-anxious presences that speaks of the Prince of Peace and His wonderful coming kingdom.
Here are four golden rules by Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans:
Bishop Alan says, “Let’s be sensible but let’s see it as an opportunity to serve and to care for others.”
Coronavirus
The threat posed by COVID-19 is still classed as ‘moderate’ by the UK Chief Medical Officers. This permits the Government to plan for all eventualities. On Thursday, 12th March, the UK moved from the “containment” to the “delay” phase of the outbreak. Individuals with a new persistent cough or high fever are being told to stay at home for seven days. Please do NOT attend church meetings if you have a new persistent cough or high temperature, but let us know so we can pray and stay in touch.
If you are ill then call 111. Do not soldier on. This will help prevent the spread of disease. If you are unsure whether you need to take action, the NHS is now offering an online self-assessment tool here…
Wash hands. Presiding ministers will use hand sanitisers. Please make use of the hand sanitiser available at the back of St Mary’s Church. We will make paper towels available at St Mary’s (loos and kitchen) to avoid the use of tea towels and to comply with WHO recommendations (e.g. turn off tap with a paper towel after washing hands).
Holy Communion in one kind only
As of 10 March we are offering communion in one kind only (only the presiding minister will also drink from the cup), as advised by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. We will also refrain from physical contact during the sharing of the peace or at the door.
It is Anglican teaching that to receive the sacrament in one kind only (ie. just the bread) is to receive the sacrament in its entirety.
Persons administering Holy Communion will NOT place the wafer on the tongue as it is a potential source of transmission.
If you’d like to explore the Christian faith, we’d love to be part of your journey of faith. There are also some helpful websites as a starting point:
St Mary’s Church Office
Village Road
Denham UB9 5BH
Tel: 01895 832771
Monday 10.00am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 10.00am – 12.30pm
Wednesday 10.00am – 12.30pm
Thursday 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Friday 10.00am – 12.30pm