Covid 19
Following the Government’s decision to lift coronavirus restrictions amid decreasing infection rates, we no longer require those entering the building to attend services to wear a face covering in our services.
However, we still strongly encourage our congregation to wear face coverings whilst in the building (unless exempt) to drive down transmission of coronavirus and to keep each other as safe as possible.
The following activities are taking place each week. All are welcome to join us:
Sundays
- 8am – BCM Communion Service
- 10am – Contemporary Service (Communion service on the first and third Sunday of the month, informal morning praise on the second and fourth Sunday of the month)
Mondays
- 9-9:20am Morning Prayer on Zoom with Sarah and Jane – Parish Prayer zoom link
- 10:30am-12 – Zoom Study group on Pennington Church general zoom link
Tuesdays
- 9-9:20am Morning Prayer on Zoom with Sarah and Jane – Parish Prayer zoom link
- 11am-12 – TakeTime Meditation Group on Zoom – Parish Prayer zoom link
Wednesdays
- 9-9:20am Morning Prayer on Zoom with Sarah and Jane – Parish Prayer zoom link
- 10:15-11am – Zoom Coffee on Pennington Church general zoom link
Thursdays
- 9-9:20am Morning Prayer on Zoom with Sarah and Jane – Parish Prayer zoom link
- 1-2:30pm – Fareshare Larder – St Mark’s Community Hall Car Park
Fridays
- 9-9:20am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with Sarah and Jane – Parish Prayer zoom link
Saturdays
- 9-10 Parish prayers on zoom, followed by coffee – Parish Prayer zoom link
Covid 19 update
At this week’s PCC meeting we had a detailed discussion about the wearing of facemasks for those attending our in-building services. It is clear from that discussion that many of us have anxiety, personal views and possible stress in attending a public service in our beautiful building. With this in mind, the PCC have agreed on the following statement to be issued as guidelines have relaxed:
To ensure that we all have the safest possible experience of being with each other for our worship, we need to follow the guidelines:
- Be attentive to stewards and follow their guidance
- We no longer require those entering the building to attend services to wear a face covering. This follows the Government’s decision to lift coronavirus restrictions and decreasing infection rates. However, we still strongly encourage our congregation to wear face coverings whilst in the building, unless exempt, to drive down transmission of coronavirus and to keep each other as safe as possible.
- Use hand sanitiser
This notice will now appear on all service sheets until further notice. Please be assured that we continue to hold the care of our congregation in our prayers and hearts as we navigate yet another change.
Coffee meetings
Whilst we long for the time we can meet again over coffee, it is the view of the PCC that we are not yet ready to do this in person in the St Marks room. The Zoom coffee attendance has reduced significantly since we started our in-building services and is no longer a practical solution as many of our group leaders are still in the church at the time our online coffee is due to commence on a Sunday.
However, we do have an online coffee available on Wednesday morning from 10.15am and a small group have kept this going. Whilst we appreciate this may not be a convenient time for all, it is at least an opportunity for us to be together in fellowship and conversation outside of the service times. All are welcome to join the meeting on Zoom and the link is below.
We are so aware of our need to connect with each other as the world opens up again and we would love to hear from you with your thoughts and suggestions for establishing this connection again. Please let us know if you have any thoughts to assist us in this.
Lent Course – Study
Following our recent notices regarding the availability of a Lent Course, we have decided not to run a specific course this year and have sent a letter to all regarding the resources available for Lent this year.
Our Monday study group has continued to focus on the Psalms over the last few weeks and it has been a good experience to have the opportunity to dwell in the Word and discuss what the Psalm is saying to us personally. Please do feel free to engage with these sessions throughout Lent. Our study group is very much led by the agreement of the participants so please do let us know if you would like to join.
Food Larder
As many of you will know, we have been hosting the Food Larder at the Community Hall in Pennington since January 2021.
This week we had 48 families benefit from the provision and we started with 15 in January last year.
For many of our members this has been a lifeline for provision and many of our beneficiaries have gained support, encouragement and friendships in addition to recipe tips!
Unfortunately, Fare Share have informed us that they are not able to provide this service next week as they are low on supplies and are regrouping.
We realise that this may leave many families in need of provision and ask that all of you will keep this valuable service in your prayers.
Letter from Bishop Debbie
We have received a very encouraging letter from Bishop Debbie which we are sharing with you.
It is so wonderful to see the evidence of all the support and giving you have provided over these difficult times. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to such a marvellous result.
MAF Parish Outreach
Palm Crosses
We’re in the run up to Lent and that means Easter is not far away! If you have your palm cross from Palm Sunday last year, please bring this back into church at any of our upcoming services – where it will form the ash for our Ash Wednesday service.
Churchyard Working Party
A date for your diaries – the first Churchyard Tidy for 2022 will be on 26th March 2022 between 10am and 12 noon. Do please come along with tools and enthusiasm and we will be happy to provide refreshments
Get involved; would you like to contribute with readings or intercessions?
Key parts of a church services are in sharing the wisdom within our Bibles and through prayer, giving thanks and sharing our fears and concerns with our loving God.
If you would like to contribute to the work we do in the form of the readings or leading in prayer, do please get in touch – we’d love to include you in our services. You don’t have to be able to be in the building for reading either; we can include you pre-recorded too!
Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.
Daily Prayer
With St Thomas in Lymington, we continue to ‘pray for our nation, for its leaders, its health and essential services and all those who suffer’ this week at 9am on Zoom. Led by Jane Nicholson from St Mark’s and Sarah Salisbury from St Thomas, this now runs Monday through Friday. Please do join them either by computer or phone:
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
- Meeting ID: 895 2990 2640 Passcode: 2020
- Dial in from a landline phone: 0131 460 1196
Rachel’s art for sale!
If you’d like to purchase art that our priest Rachel has created and showed in our our worship recently, please check out our new Red Bubble shop. Profits from sales of these items all go to support the ministry of Pennington Church.
YouTube and Facebook
All our services can be found on our YouTube channel here. We also stream our services on our Facebook page too, here.
Online Connection Information
Zoom Details
- Pennington Church General Zoom link:
- From a landline phone: 0203 481 5240 Meeting ID: 971 631 0618 Passcode: 1839
- Parish Prayer Zoom Link:
- From a landline phone: 0203 481 5240 Meeting ID: 895 2990 2640 Passcode: 2020
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PenningtonChurch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMarksChurchPennington