Update: Saturday 19 February 2022
The Government has
announced that, from Monday 21 February, there is no longer a legal requirement
to self-isolate following a positive test for Covid. Other restrictions are also
being relaxed or removed.
Scientific evidence
suggests that Covid has not gone away. Infection rates and death rates remain
very high, and medical professions are asking the Government not to make these
changes.
In response, our
Churches will operate as follows:
1. We
strongly recommend that everyone attending Church continues to wear a face
covering. We believe that wearing a suitable face covering saves lives. Please
bring your own.
2. We
continue to request that everyone entering our buildings practises socially
distancing.
3. Hand
gel will be offered when you enter the building.
4. We will
continue to operate a system of trace and trace and will ask for valid contact
details. These data will not be used for school-attendance purposes.
5. We
strongly advise that the following do not attend our services at present:
Anyone
with an underlying health condition.
Anyone
who should be isolating.
Anyone
who lives in a ‘bubble’ with someone who should be isolating.
Covid infections are
rising fast: see the statistics here.
Services of divine
worship
Holy Communion is offered in one kind only,
so only bread wafers.
Services will not involve singing or sharing
the peace.
Baptism Services can be
attended by the number that complies with our risk assessment.
Wedding Services can be
attended by the number that complies with our risk assessment.
Funeral Services can be
attended by the number that complies with our risk assessment.
Activities and group Both Church Halls
are opened for activities. Those activities must comply with the Government
‘roadmap’.
Food co-operative The Hall at St
Barnabas’ Church is open for pre-arranged visits to the Food
co-operative.
Advice
Message from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Latest advice from NHS England
Latest advice from Church of England (includes
advice, resources, and FAQs)
Latest advice from Diocese of Manchester
Latest advice from Oldham
Council
Latest advice from HM Government
Spiritual resources
Online resources
For pdf transcripts of services and YouTube
videos in our two Churches, please click here.
For copies of the Churches’ magazine, please
click here.
The Church of England have produced some Prayers at home
(pdf) Some of the prayers will be useful when praying with children.
This site Prayers at home gives sample liturgies, prayers, patterns of
prayer, recommended Bible verses.
Prayer for today (from the Church of
England website) includes links to services of Morning Prayer and Evening
Prayer (both Common Worship)
Church
of England app with prayers and liturgy (Common Worship)
Downloadable resources
Guide to outdoor guided meditation (pdf with thanks to
Oakwood Forest Church)
Prayers for children and families (MS-Word)
Resources
for worship at home (MS-Word)
When you feel anxious (pdf file)
Church services
The BBC is planning
to broadcast one live service each Sunday. Please look at your TV listings for
more details.
Details of some Churches that plan to stream services
(BBC website)
Helping our children
Child-friendly explanation of Coronavirus (pdf)
Help with tech (Government resources
and advice)
Talking to children about Coronavirus (pdf, produced by the
British Psychological society)
Guidance from educational psychology for parents
supporting their children during COVID-19 (pdf, produced by Oldham
Council’s Educational and Child Psychology Service)