Opening for Worship Review
In July our Stewards considered the possibility of opening our church for Sunday Worship.
At that time, it was not considered a safe thing to do, and would be reviewed in the autumn.
We are now having that review.
A letter or email has been sent to all who would usually worship at Castle where we have means of communication. If we do not have your address or email address it is possible you may not have been contacted.
In essence we are asking everyone to consider their own situation and give a response for THEMSELVES. While many people are (quite rightly) very much concerned about other people and whether they would be able to meet together safely right now we want to know YOUR own views.
There was a Church Council Meeting held by Zoom recently at which the question of reopening was discussed. It was considered wrong to make a decision without consulting as many people from Castle as possible, so the decision will be made at a Zoom meeting on 28th October 2020.
Please make sure your views are known.
IF we open for worship in the church building, the following restrictions would apply:
- Numbers attending will be limited by virtue of Government social distancing requirements (although we believe we can accommodate the whole of our typical congregation, we would have to turn away anyone who arrives after we have reached maximum capacity).
- All attendees will be required to use hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the building (the Church has purchased dispensers for congregational use).
- A track and trace register of all attendees must be kept, by law, for three weeks after any service, after which the details will be destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations.
- Windows and doors must remain open during the service, including interior doors, and doors to the exterior (compatible with site security).
- All attendees must wear face-coverings at all times, covering mouth and nose.
- The service must last no more than 45 minutes, and may not include ANY congregational singing.
- Church bibles will not be available for general use.
- No socialising will be possible, so attendees will be required to leave immediately after the service. It might be necessary to ask people to leave one row at a time, in order to relieve pinch points of entry and exit.
- If attendees need to use the toilets whilst on the premises it will have to be done on a “one in, one out” basis (unless the attendee needs to have assistance from an accompanying carer).
The questions being asked of everyone are:-
1) Under the circumstances outlined above, how do YOU feel about returning to the building for Sunday morning worship?
We are not asking what you think other people should do, or to worry about what other people might think, or what you perceive to be other people’s needs, or to comment upon what other churches may or may not have done! Please tell us what YOU would choose to do, for yourself, and your family.
2) Are you currently taking advantage of what our ministry teams are offering online?
Are you using YouTube recorded services, Zoom services, online reflections like “Taking Stock”, and Facebook Livestream services? If you do, how do you feel about them?
3) Are you receiving CD and DVD recordings of the online content?
Are you finding them helpful? If you are not receiving them, would you like to go on our list of recipients and have them delivered to you?
4) What do you feel about face to face worship at Castle?
Is it essential to the church family at Castle or are you content with the current offering on-line and by CD/DVDs?
If you have received a letter or email please make sure you reply as soon as possible, and before Monday 26th October 2020.