Latest News From The Parish
HOT OFF THE PRESS
We will be running the study course Finding a Voice based on the film “The King’s Speech” in the autumn. This will start with a film night in each parish 4pm at St Mary’s Church on Sunday 30 October and 7.30pm at St Martin’s, Chelsfield on Thursday 27 Oct. All are welcome to either showing with no obligation to continue with the course. Watch out for further details.
Rev Susan
Messy Church Coming to the Benefice in October!
Some exciting news for our Benefice. We will be starting Messy Church in October as a major new mission initiative. We are fortunate that we have been able to engage the services of Jo Gavin, the children’s worker at Christchurch Orpington to help us get the project up and running.
Jo has great experience in this area and runs Messy Church at Christchurch. Our two PCC’s have agreed the financial commitment required for the project and now it is up to all of us to make this happen.
For the venture to work we need volunteers and that means you and me. Messy Church will be running once a month between 4pm and 6pm on a Saturday and hopefully if we get enough volunteers, helping can be on a rota basis thereby not putting too much of a burden on a small number of people. Messy Church involves Crafts, Worship and Hospitality and so there are different ways in which each of us can help. Please do pray for this project and consider volunteering. If you would like to volunteer and/or want to know more about it, then please contact me. You can find out more about messy church on their website www.messychurch.org.uk
Church Centre Halls
The Church Centre halls are now open for events once again, so if you’d
like more information or to book a venue for birthday parties, anniversary
celebrations, or any other events, please contact the new Assistant Benefice Administrator, Philippa Rooke, on hallbookings@smasch.org.uk or
01689 852905
Afghanistan
We know many within the Diocese and beyond are concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and are seeking ways they can help. The organisation Welcome Churches has set up an emergency fund to help support Afghan families who are being relocated from Afghanistan to the UK for their safety. Find out more at https://welcomechurches.org/updates/emergency-afghan-fund/
Superdrug recycles empty medicine blister packs
Superdrug are now recycling empty tablet blister packs. You can take
these to any of their branches with a Pharmacy, which Orpington has. This is in partnership with TerraCycle.
Amazon Smile - Fundraising Opportunity
If you are an Amazon Prime customer you may already know about
Amazon Smile. This is a part of the Amazon website where Amazon will
donate to a chosen charity, 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases.
St Mary’s is now registered with Amazon so if you are a Prime customer you may wish to nominate us for donations. You can find out more at: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/chpf/about
During the pandemic many of us have bought more on line than we might
otherwise have so the overall amount could be significant.
We are registered as:
The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Green Street
Green And Pratts Bottom (St. Mary's With All Souls).
Other churches have similar names so make sure you have the right one.
It might be helpful to put St Mary’s with All Souls into your search bar as
our name then comes up straight away.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Latest COVID Measures for the Parish of Green Street Green and Pratts Bottom On Tuesday 25th January we received renewed guidance from the House of Bishops COVID-19 Recovery Group. The emphasis is in line with the approach taken by the Government to remove most coronavirus legislation but to promote local guidance that emphasises the personal and corporate responsibility of individuals and organisations to protect others and themselves. “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. Therefore, taking into account the ongoing high incidence of the virus and following a conversation with the churchwardens in advance of consulting the PCC on 9 February these are our conclusions. • Our current procedures will continue regarding Holy Communion, the Peace and keeping a record of those attending services in order to aid contract tracing should the need arise. • 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 The Church of England has issued some guidance on how churches should deal with the threat of Coronavirus (Covid-19). The situation is evolving so it is worth checking frequently. Y ou can read the latest advice here: |
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Toddler Group - St Martin’s (CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS) As some of you will be aware, we sadly said farewell to our Toddler Group in July at St Mary’s. Thank you very much to Sue Bridger and Helen Spence for organising and running our Sparks Toddler Club. There is a Toddler Club at St Martin’s of Tours Church, Chelsfield. The group runs every Tuesday morning during |