St John’s Newsome

St Paul’s Armitage Bridge

Holy Trinity South Crosland

This website is being updated regularly; new items for services, links to videos and notices are under the Worship and Notices Tab.

Thought for the Day

I was sent this fine poem prayer by Archbishop Oscar Romero earlier this week. I share it with you. He was martyred for standing up for human rights. 

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. 

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete,
which is another way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us. 

No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No programme accomplishes the church's mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. 

This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities. 

We cannot do everything
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for God's grace to enter and do the rest. 

We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. 

We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own. 

Debby Plummer

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Our churches are re-opening

After 4 long months with the church doors locked, we are returning to our buildings to worship God and meet with our friends and family on Sunday 9^th August!  It has been a difficult time for us all coping with lockdown and the Coronavirus but we hope you have still felt connected to our church family through the online services or the resources that have been available on our website!  For those without internet we have been delivering the service sheets each week so that they too could keep in touch with us all.  

Over the next few weeks we will be having short services of Holy communion on a Sunday and Morning Worship or Holy Communion on a Wednesday and we will rotate around the churches.  All the services will be at 10am – just like our team services so that it enables as many as want to come to be able to!  Please see the rota which tells you which church on which day!  Numbers will be limited for a while as we still need to follow the social distancing rules of 2metres and  you will need to wear a mask, to ensure your safety so please choose either a Sunday or a Wednesday to give everyone an opportunity to attend a service each week!  Some of you may not feel it is safe yet to come to church and that is fine because there is no rush – God is wherever you are and you can pray and worship at home, as you have been doing, because we will continue to record the service each week until Christmas and maybe even beyond then!

We have to remember that your safety must come first and so we will need to follow all the government and Church of England guidelines to ensure you are not put in any danger!

Here are a few of the rules which might help you to stay safe!

• Sanitize your hands before entering the building at the sanitizing stations at the door.
• Please wear a face mask if you are able (this is advised by government and the CofE)

• Follow the one way system to avoid clashing with others.  This will be clearly marked and the sidespeople will help if you are unsure!
• Only sit on seats with service sheets on them – we’ve measured out the distance between them!  The service sheets have been laminated so that we can use them again so please leave them on your seat as you leave!
• Stay 2metres away from others – unless they are in your household or bubble!
• No singing – out loud but you can sing and dance in your head and heart!
• No tea and coffee will be available
• No handshaking or sharing the peace
• No hugging or kissing
• Please don’t stand in the aisle or doorways to chat; as others may need to pass!
• Please fill in the test and trace sheet so we can help keep track of any cases of Covid19 and put it in the box provided on your way out!

I realise that all this may seem daunting but it will be become part of life very quickly and it will ensure we are doing the best for you and all those you meet in church!

It will be good to get back into our buildings to worship God but please only come when you are ready, there is no obligation to come just because the doors are open.  As Bishop Nick keeps on telling us “just because we can; doesn’t mean we must!”

Any questions please just ask!!

Stay safe!

Julie

All services will be at 10am and last no longer than 45minutes