Good Evening,
Following on from some of the changes announced by government and the local authority in the past few days, I thought it might be helpful to send out another update, so here goes…
Tier 3 – Very High Risk Restrictions
Tonight we join with the rest of Greater Manchester in going in the tier 3 restrictions. Whilst it impacts all our lives in different ways, St Michaels will remain open. Thankfully the government have realised the importance of places of worship and the necessity for them to stay open. I and the wardens will continue to ensure the church site is as safe as possible for everyone and if things change we will communicate that as quickly as possible. I’m aware there are a few church members who don’t live in Stockport, and so will not be heading into Tier 3 restrictions. The advice recommends people don’t travel into or out of a tier 3 locations – however I believe the activity of worship is essential and a priority for all people. Therefore, even though I am just a humble parson, I want to suggest to those of you living outside of Stockport Borough, that it is still ok for you to attend St Michaels to worship. If you have any concerns about this, please do get in touch!
Annual Act of Commemoration
On Sunday 1st November we are due to hold our annual service of light and commemoration. Due to the number of people who normally attend this service, the wardens and I have taken the difficult decision to not hold this service in person this year. I’m sorry that this service wont be possible, but all the practicalities relating to it, with expected numbers, makes it very difficult. We will stream a service online on Sunday 1st November at 6.30pm. The church will also be open from 2pm to 4pm for anyone wishing to come into church to pray, light a candle or add a name of a loved one to a tree of remembrance. When social distancing measures are relaxed we will look to hold an additional service of commemoration.
Remembrance Sunday
A few people have been asking me about plans for Remembrance Sunday. National government and Church of England guidance make clear that it is possible for people to gather at war memorials to observe remembrance Sunday and armistice day. However, on Monday, Stockport Borough Council cancelled all civic services at war memorials throughout the borough with the words ‘given that the council must put the safety of its residents first, there will be no public events taking place at outdoor War Memorials on Remembrance Sunday nor Armistice Day’. I find this position difficult to accept and I’m sorry this decision has been made, the local councillors and I were working hard together to make a public act of remembrance safe and possible. I have spoken with Woodford and Bramhall Royal British Legion today, we will film an act of remembrance at the war memorial in advance of Remembrance Sunday and will stream this live at 11am on our website and social media.
As usual we will have an act of remembrance in each of our services, and we will also display the recorded service on our screens in church at the appropriate times for those that wish to watch it there.
Sunday Worship
One of the positives of the booking system is it is making it easier to keep a record of the numbers attending our services. Following the news conference on Tuesday evening, I needed to do something to cheer myself up, so I updated my excel spreadsheet with our church attendance figures in it. (Yes, I am that sad, no, I haven’t run out of rows or columns yet). This week, our attendance figure across all services was 110. This is the highest its been since we reopened and reflects a gradual upwards curve over the last couple of months. I’ve found this really encouraging and I hope you do to.
With numbers increasing a little each week, it has meant we have been able to review how we do things slightly, and you may or may not notice some small changes in the coming weeks. A couple of people have spoken to me about the difficulties they have had being able to book on to the 10am Sunday service, as whenever they go to do it, it is fully booked. I appreciate a large number of people are keen to attend at 10am, we have looked at whether we can increase capacity and its just not possible. There are 3 other services each week, all of which have space – so if you can’t book into the 10am service, I would encourage you to try one of the other services.
One of the things currently sat on my desk is the service of commemoration I am planning. One of the readings is Romans 8 which says:
35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus Christ is same today, as he will be tomorrow, as he was yesterday. However you feel – you can trust in him. Jess and I shared how we are feeling at the moment in our latest ‘In Conversation’ episode today – we are finding it helpful to look for the small bits of joy in each day – and take each day as it comes. Nothing will separate us from Gods love, and the joy of heaven – whatever the days and weeks ahead hold – trust in Jesus – he holds you in the palm of his hand.
With thankfulness for all you give, and prayers for God’s blessing upon you!
Calum