Covid-19 information

Update

2022

11 January 2022 - while looking to welcome visiting ministers to lead services while we have no priest-in-charge, we plan to offer a Service of the Word every other Sunday alternating with being in church and the next via Zoom.

2021

18 December - Please Note due to the current Covid Situation Sadly the Carol Service has been cancelled.

29 August - with the conclusion of our armchair pilgrimage with Ezekiel comes the end of the podcasts that have taken place over the last 18 months.

14 August - as restrictions ease we are now able to accommodate more folk at the church services. There is no need to book but face masks must be worn and, for track and trace purposes, signing in is required on entry to the church. If you prefer to remain socially distanced please place a paper angel next to you to indicate that you wish that space to be left unoccupied.

4 July - the pattern of services for the next few weeks is as follows, with a podcast each week:

11 July No Service

19 July Church

25 July Zoom

1 August Church

8 August Zoom

15 August Church

22 August Zoom

29 August Church

5 September Zoom

12 September Church

19 September Zoom

25 September Church

28 June weather permitting we are now able to have up to 12 people meeting in the parsonage garden for coffee after services. Singing is also allowed in church provided masks are worn.

May, June & July - there will be services in church on the 1st and 3rd Sundays with a service on Zoom on the Sundays between. There will also be a podcast every week. For further details of a particular week please see the church Facebook page. For attendance at the services in church booking is essential by emailing the secretary at stpaulschurch.strathnairn@gmail.com by Friday teatime.

Easter - there will be a service in church on Easter Sunday.

10 January once again we are in lockdown and so sadly are unable to worship together in church. There continues to be a weekly service using Zoom (please contact us if you would like to join this service) and a podcast service (please find the link on the SERVICE tab).

2020

10 October In consultation with the congregation, the Vestry has reviewed our Covid risk assessment and agreed for the coming winter months, November - February, services will be divided between a monthly Eucharist in church and a Service of the Word on ZOOM for the other Sundays, whilst continuing the podcast service every week. Hopefully this will allow as many folk as possible to participate safely in worship. It should be possible to phone into the ZOOM service [landline or mobile] and how this works will be investigated in time for our first ZOOM worship. A copy of the Service of the Word will be shown on screen for you to have the responses and shared prayers to join in. For services in Church places will still need to be booked by Saturday lunchtime by email stpaulschurch.strathnairn@gmail.com. The dates of the 11am services, until Christmas, are as follows:

18 October PODCAST ONLY

25 October ZOOM

1 November ZOOM

8 November IN CHURCH

15 November ZOOM

22 November ZOOM

29 November ZOOM

6 December ZOOM

13 December IN CHURCH

20 December ZOOM

25 December CHRISTMAS DAY in CHURCH at10am

25 July our first service in the church post lockdown will be held on Sunday 2 August at 11.00am. We ask that anyone planning to attend a service from now on complies to the following:

We can only accommodate a limited number of people so, if you plan to be at a particular service (whether a member of the regular congregation or not), please email us at stpaulschurch.strathnairn@gmail.com by lunchtime on the previous Friday and the secretary will reply to confirm a space is available or, if there is no space available that week, offer you a space the following week.
Please follow the signage and any requests such as use of hand sanitiser both on entering and leaving, where to sit and so on.
Please wear a facemask at all times when inside the church buildings.
On entering the church please give your contact details to the person who greets you who will enter it on the form next to the sanitiser just inside the church door. This is for Track and Trace only.
Please bring your own cushion as we have had to remove the pew cushions.

19 July We now have permission to re-open for worship without singing and following the current requirements and restrictions for social distancing, wearing of face masks, hygiene and cleaning, so the church is currently being prepared for the first service to be held on Sunday 2 August at 11.00am. The podcast service will continue for those who prefer to remain at home or are joining us in different parts of the world. Further details will be posted as soon as possible.

20 June The Scottish Government has given permission for churches to be open for private prayer from Monday 22 June. St Paul's, Croachy has reluctantly decided that we do not yet fulfil the criteria needed to reopen. Updates will be posted as soon as possible.

23 March It is with great sadness that the church building must now be closed for the foreseeable future. We invite you, no matter whatever faith you follow or none, to continue to join with us every Sunday by lighting a candle at 7pm in the window of our homes as a visible symbol of the light of life. During this time links to Podcasts and Services can be found here

A statement from our minister

The Scottish Episcopal Church has announced that all Church Services are suspended until further notice BUT the Church building, St Paul’s, Croachy will remain OPEN between 10am - 4pm daily for private prayer and sanctuary with appropriate hand hygiene notices displayed.

Last Sunday although it was only the 3rd Sunday in Lent I told the congregation at St Paul’s that we are now in Holy Week (please click here to read the full sermon). The Covid-19 pandemic has placed us as a society in that difficult and potentially stressful period of waiting. Watching and waiting knowing that the worst may happen or the best may happen. There is nothing any of us can do now but wait here at the foot of the cross holding each other in prayer. We will need to learn some new skills to keep in touch with each other, worship and pray in different ways. We have set up a Face Book Page at St Paul’s Strathnairn (link https://www.facebook.com/groups/2680774805484682/?ref=share). Here we can share prayer and support each other until this crisis is past and we can be together again to celebrate the joy of Easter. If you need Pastoral support or simply want a chat please phone me 01808 521388.

For now I leave you with this prayer from the Corrymeela Community.

Revd Canon Kathy Collins

Resident Priest

God of the good news that spreads faster than fear,

God of the courage that comes from the heart:

Be with us as anxieties rise

and with us as uncertainty grows.

Be with us when children ask difficult questions,

And with us when parents seem farther away.

Remind us that to be a community does not always mean

to be physically present beside those we know well.

It also can mean being spiritually present

with those who feel very alone;

and that you as our God, the God made flesh,

are also the God who calls us from the tumult

and tells us to be still

and to know

that you are God with us. Amen.

Information from the Sottish Episcopal Church

22 March - National Day of Prayer and Action - an invitation is to light a candle at 7pm in the window of our homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, the source of hope in this life.

We offer a prayer to use when lighting your candle:

For all that is good in life, thank you,

For the love of family and friends, thank you,

For the kindness of good neighbour and Samaritan stranger, thank you.

May those who are vulnerable, hungry or homeless, experience support,

May those who are sick, know healing,

May those who are anxious or bereaved, sense comfort.

Bless and guide political leaders and decision-makers, with wisdom,

Bless and guide health workers and key workers, with strength and well-being, Bless and guide each one of us, as we adapt to a new way of living.

And may the light shining from our windows,

across road and wynd, glen and ben, kyle and isle,

be reflected in our hearts and hands and hopes.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

From 22 March Online Worship on Sundays - As part of the ongoing response to the Coronavirus pandemic the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) will this Sunday (22 March) begin broadcasting video coverage of Eucharistic services via its website, social media channels and YouTube channel. The web page for the broadcast is located at www.scotland.anglican.org/broadcast-sunday-worship The first service, led by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, will be broadcast at 11am on Sunday 22 March, to coincide with when many people would normally be worshipping, if church services had not been suspended earlier this week. The website will also contain a downloadable video and audio format of the service. A new service will be broadcast every Sunday on the SEC website, to allow all congregations to worship. In advance of the broadcast of each provincial service, the Liturgy will be available to download from the SEC website.