Message from Reverend Andrew to St Stephen's congregation 8th September 2020

Dear Parishioners,
 As previously mentioned to the St Stephen’s congregation, consideration has been given, over the last ten days, to providing an additional Sunday morning service to allow more people from the St Stephen’s congregation to attend and to provide more choice about your attendance. Thank you to those from the St Stephen’s congregation who responded to my earlier email asking for opinions and views on this matter.
 Taking into account your response, and the thoughts of Reverend Ken and myself, we have made the decision that there will be an additional Sunday service provided at St Stephen’s from this coming Sunday onwards – 13th September. The arrangements will be as follows:

• The first service will start at 10.15am and finish promptly at 11.15am. Please enter by the front door and exit by the side door.
• The second service will commence at 11.45am and finish promptly at 12.45pm. Please enter by the front door and exit by the side door.
• In the short-term we will not be changing the seating around by 90 degrees – the church will remain in the same configuration until we see what numbers we are catering for.

 

1. REGISTRATION: we will have to maintain the registration process and Pat Burrow has kindly agreed to maintain the registration process.
2. Some of you will have already registered for this Sunday’s 10.30am service. We will assume that you will maintain this booking, but the start time will be 10.15am.
3. If you wish to change this existing booking, please would you notify Pat telling her that you either wish to cancel or change to the later service of 11.45am. Please do this as soon as possible but no later than midday - Thursday.

 

• Registration for the second service (11.45am) will open on receipt of this email.

 

• Pat will publish by the end of the week a list, for each of the services, of those who are attending. This will act as your confirmation that your request has been successful. Pat’s email address is: ststephsec@gmail.com

 

• Registration for both services will close each week by midday Thursday.

 

1. ASSISTANCE: If you feel that you could offer yourself, as a reader, a counter of the collection, or a greeter/sidesperson, or a leader of the intercessions, on a regular basis at one of the services – please let one of our wardens know. We will need some extra help.

 
CONSIDERATIONS
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1. We understand that car parking may be a little more congested but would ask for your patience with this matter.
2. There will be two separate sets of hymnbooks and service books and they will be stored separately over the course of the week.
3. Paul will be available to play at both services.
4. As you leave the service, we would ask that as you leave you do not congregate in groups but disperse in the usual way.

 
FINALLY:
I am hopeful that this provision will encourage more of the St Stephen’s congregation to attend as there will no longer be the overriding thought that by coming each week, you may be denying someone else a place. Please remember that we continue to wear masks in church and that you will need to sanitise your hands on entry.
I would really ask that you give this change a good trial. I know that it will be different, and probably have some teething problems, as well, and if after some while, there needs to be a change, then we will pause and consider what else we can do.
 
Thank you for your help and consideration.
 
Andrew