WELCOME TO ST MARY'S AND ALL SOULS
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St Mary's and All Souls Services We will post any revisions to services here and on our Facebook and Twitter feeds: https://www.facebook.com/StMarysAndAllSouls |
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St Mary's and All Souls latest Newsletter |
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APCM 2022 Details and reports are available on the PCC page |
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Food Bank latest needs: sweetcorn mushrooms) Men’s Deodorant. NO Baby formula, Out of date, fresh or frozen items. We have plenty of Pasta, Cereal, Tea and Biscuits. Thank you!
Judith Simmonds will be taking the Parish contributions towards the end of the month so please drop your donations into our box in the porch before then.
Thank you. https://bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/ |
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PCC Papers You can now download minutes and other PCC documents from the PCC page |
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Latest Reflections and Live Stream services |
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Our Network Page with |
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In need of help? Call |
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Here's the link to registering for help if you are in the highly vulnerable group: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
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Princess Royal Hospital www.pruh.kch.nhs.uk | |||
| Daily Hope - a free phone line of hymns, reflections and
prayers by the Church Of England 0800 804 8044 | |||
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‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am with them’.
As I write this month, the pace of life has
slowed a little from business of the past few
weeks with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Celebrations and the Chelsfield Church Fete
held in my Garden. It did feel strange having
several hundred people gathering in my back
garden two weeks ago but strange in a good
way. This event was the first major gathering
for St Martin’s since the start of the pandemic
and it really was a positive and happy occasion.
In a similar way the Platinum Jubilee Events that I have attended have brought about a similar level of togetherness and even though they have varied immensely from more formal ones with prayers and the singing of the national anthem to less formal social gatherings, they really have demonstrated the importance of community. The St Mary’s Jubilee Celebration at the end of May is a good example; the weather was fine, and the organisation of the event went well (Even with the challenges of illness among some of the organisers!). More importantly, it was so good to see people interacting with one another – having fun, seeing people they have not seen for months if not years, having an opportunity to share problems, enjoying food together and joining in with the music groups that
played there.
Reflecting on all these recent events, the bible verse at the top of this article from Matthew’s gospel sprung into my mind. We usually associate this verse as an encouragement to meet in worship together and of course we do believe that Jesus is with us in our Worship. The opening line of the Eucharistic Prayer begins ‘The Lord is here; His Spirit is with us’.
I would suggest though that meeting in Jesus’ name is not confined to formal worship. The positiveness of the recent gatherings is a true representation of the people of God together. There were no formal prayers or worship at the Jubilee event, but Jesus was there in the encounters in the support and encouragement given and in the food
shared together.
As we come out of the pandemic, there will be more opportunities to gather together as a community and so always remember that verse:
‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am with them’.
May God bless you Rev Michael
Michael Gentry
Latest COVID Measures for the Parish of Green Street Green and Pratts Bottom
UPDATE
With the latest decision of the Government to remove all remaining coronavirus legislation but promote personal responsibility to protect others and yourself. And with the public health advice for people with Covid to still self-isolate to prevent others catching it. We will be maintaining most of our current procedures in our churches though these will be reviewed every two to three weeks. However, we will
no longer be recording details of those attending services. Please do enjoy the opportunities afforded by the removal of legal restrictions but also continue to look after yourselves and others as is our Christian calling.
“Within the Church we believe that everyone is known and loved individually by God and that as many members within one body we are called to be responsible to and for one another, respecting the more vulnerable whose suffering is our suffering (1 Cor 12:12-27).”
With this the responsibility for making decisions on how to proceed remains with the incumbent. This applies to acts of worship, to events run by the PCC or church community, and to decisions on whether to hire out spaces or allow other events to proceed.
• Our current
procedures will continue regarding Holy Communion, the Peace
• Although now not a legal requirement face coverings for all apart from the medically exempt is requested and strongly recommended in line with the Church of England’s statement about crowded/enclosed settings, particularly where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
• Singing will continue by choir and the congregation but the choir may remove their face coverings to do so.
• The serving of refreshments after services will recommence but please consider wearing your face covering if you are just talking and not eating & drinking.
We hope to be able to move forward in a considered manner as the incidence of the virus decreases. Let us pray that our position will be more like ‘normality’ by Easter.
Please also continue to pray for those working in the NHS and all suffering as a result of the virus.
Rev Susan