Covid Carols

Good King Wenceslas logged out
Feeling much dejection
All the slots had been booked out
For Tesco collection
Not deliveries there were
For his sauce and pasta
He would have to fight his way
Through the queues at ASDA
 
Angels from the realms of glory
Kindly stay right in your place
We’ve no wish to get infected
Have you heard of hands face space?
Don’t
Sing that song at us
Don’t you realise
Droplets travel further
We’ll
Have to isolate
We can’t emigrate
No way through at Dover
Wash you hands and please don’t sing
 
Now mask ye quickly gentlemen don’t mingle here today
We need your names for track and trace the church guidance doth say
Our distanced seating’s full so please book in for next Sunday
And we’re streaming on Facebook and Zoom
Meeting Room
And we’re streaming on Facebook and Zoom
 
See them dining now in Tier 4
Masks at table and an open door
All precautions so the covid spores
Don’t land on the Christmas turkey
How to eat up Brussel Sprouts for 10?
We disinvited
Aunty Gwen
At least we won’t get ugly socks again
And bits of gaudy paper chain.

While Donald watched the count at night

Saw he was losing ground

Upon his laptop did alight

And tweeted all around

"Fear not", said Pence, for mighty dread

Had seized his coiffured hair

"That Biden's old, he's got not chance

So please Boss don't despair"

All lawyers heed, clear schedules now

And double up your fee

For Trump will not admit defeat

Till 2023

The 'Wedding Industry'

 It's a horrible time to be planning a wedding. Our last one of the year is this Saturday, which thankfully just escapes the latest revision to government guidance on weddings. Still, the couple is on something like Plan Q, having started at Plan A, for how the wedding day will work. They were on tenterhooks yesterday as they tried to work out what Boris was actually saying, and whether it affected them. 

On one of the news channels earlier today, an interviewee spoke about the 'wedding industry', and how difficult lockdown is for this sector. The phrase struck me, and jarred with me too. How is there an 'industry' around a solemn and joyful public declaration of love and faithfulness? I used to do a stall at wedding fairs, fielding inquiries on behalf of the church. Whilst trying to be as polite as I could to my fellow stallholders, several of them were offering  - for several £100s - a service which could be very easily done by a guest, best man, etc. There was something parasitic about the number of ways that money could be extracted from a couple, purely on the basis that they were getting married. 

What's interesting now is that the people who wanted to get married, still want to get married. Legally, all you need is the couple, 2 witnesses and a licensed venue. And those who are getting married are finding that a simpler wedding service can still be just as joyful, special and meaningful, than an all singing all dancing £16,000 blowout (which was the average cost of a UK wedding in 2019). Shed no tears for the 'wedding industry'. If people are really providing a valuable service that's essential to wedded bliss, there'll still be a need for it during, and after covid. If not, you have to wonder if it was ever that important in the first place. 

If covid kicks off a trend towards simpler weddings, that will be a welcome counterweight to the mushrooming expectations that the more money you spend, the more 'perfect' your wedding day will be. The Big Spender route certainly doesn't appear to be a great investment in the quality of your marriage.  To be able to just focus on one another, with a small number of guests, rather than a mammoth organisational task that costs 50% of your annual income with 100 guests to stress over, might just be preferable. And it might even be a better start to the adventure of a lifetime. 

Rule of 6 Guidance no.4 - Church of England official guidance (part 1)

 Finally we have some clarification from the CofE on how the Rule of 6 affects church life. As expected, it has pretty much no impact on Sunday worship. The key area was always going to be small groups and social/outreach activities. 

Here is todays updated guidance, with selected FAQs. This important rider is also given:

The Church of England continues to engage with the Government seeking clarification on a number of areas.

We anticipate further updates in the next few days with further additions to the FAQs and we also continue to review the downloadable guidance papers which will be updated accordingly. All updates will be notified at the top of this page.

The Government has introduced new regulations making it illegal for groups of more than six people to meet, unless covered by exemptions.

The intention is to limit the spread of the virus by minimising close physical contact as much as possible. When deciding whether to proceed with an activity, depending on local circumstances, please bear this principle in mind.

Areas covered by exemptions to the ‘rule of six’ include work, children’s activities and charitable services.

There is also an exemption that covers places of worship making it possible for more than six people to gather for acts of communal worship. However, it is not a blanket exemption for any activity in a place of worship.

The advice below is provided to assist local churches in their planning and decision making.

It is everyone’s responsibility to comply with the law. This guidance is designed to help those who have responsibility for organising gatherings, to ensure they comply with the law and protect parishioners and the public, especially those most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

We acknowledge and share the sadness many are feeling at not being able to meet together as we used to do. We prayerfully and confidently look forward to the day when we can all meet together again.

 

FAQs

The rule of six

HOW DOES THE NEW 'RULE OF SIX' AFFECT CHURCH SERVICES?

Public worship can continue. There is an exemption that covers places of worship making it possible for more than six people to gather for acts of communal worship. However, it is not a blanket exemption. People must not be part of a group of more than six unless they are from the same household or support bubble.

ARE PLACES OF WORSHIP EXEMPT FROM THE 'RULE OF SIX'?

There is an exemption that covers places of worship making it possible for more than six people to gather there.  The exemption covers church services and as well as some other activities that take place in church buildings.

However, it is not a blanket exemption. People must not be part of a group of more than six unless they are from the same household or support bubble.

CAN CHURCHES OPEN FOR INDIVIDUAL PRAYER?

Since 15 June, the Government has allowed access to places of worship for individual prayer and funerals. See our guidance on individual prayer.

Individual prayer should be individual. People must not be part of a group of more than six unless they are from the same household or support bubble.

If your church is opening for Individual prayer or public worship, please complete a risk assessment.

CAN CHURCHES HOLD SERVICES OF WORSHIP?

Since the 4th of July 2020, the Government has allowed public worship to resume. New regulations came into force on 14th of September 2020 limiting gatherings to no more than six people. Places of worship, alongside other COVID-secure premises, are exempt, meaning that the number of people able to attend services depends on how many can safely be accommodated, observing appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures.

However people must not be part of a group of more than six unless they are from the same household or support bubble.

CAN BIBLE STUDY GROUPS OR HOME GROUPS NOW MEET IN PERSON?

A group can meet in someone’s home as long as there are no more than six people in the house in total, including those not taking part in the group at that time.

Groups can meet on church premises under the same conditions as apply to services of worship – for example, people attending must not be part of a group of more than six unless they are from the same household or support bubble.

However, Government guidance states:

“However, for activities and social groups where there is a significant likelihood of groups mixing and socialising ( and where it will be difficult to prevent mingling and therefore breaking the law) should not take place in a community facility.”

Please take this into consideration.

CAN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S ACTIVITIES START AGAIN?

Yes, children’s activities being organised by the place of worship alongside or within a service or at other times during the week should follow principles in the general guidance from the Department for Education on Out of School Settings.

In outline, these recommend that, to reduce the risk of transmission, children and young people who attend should be kept in small, consistent groups, and of no more than fifteen children and at least one staff member. Children should be assigned to a particular class or group and should then stay in those consistent groups for future sessions and avoid mixing with other groups in your setting.

If possible, those attending should practise physical distancing in line with the government’s current guidance. As the risk of transmission is considerably lower outdoors, providers who normally run sessions indoors should consider whether they are able to do so safely outside on their premises.

The guidance document on children and young people’sactivities has not been amended since 24^th August, and still states that no church pre-school groups can restart. But see the top of this page - I would expect an update to this document soon.  

Rule of 6 Guidance 3 - 'Support Groups'

 Some of the documents I cited last week were updated on Monday. I'm especially interested in what the new covid guidance says about 'Support Groups', as this touches on a lot of what our churches do away from Sunday worship. 

Here's what the guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do) says about them (commentary in italics):

2.10 When can I gather in groups of more than 6?

If you live in a household with more than 6 people, you can continue to gather in and attend all settings together. This same applies for your support bubbles. All venues should continue to accomodate groups larger than 6 who live together or are in the same support bubble to gather in and use their services and venues.

There are exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people, including:

• for work, or the provision of voluntary or charitable services
• registered childcare, education or training
• supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups
• providing support to a vulnerable person
• providing emergency assistance, and to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm
• for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents
• fulfilling a legal obligation such as attending court or jury service
• weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions – up to 30 people, in a public place
• funerals – up to 30 people. This does not include wakes, other than for religious ceremonial purposes.
• other religious and belief-based life cycle ceremonies – up to 30 people, in a public place. This only covers the ceremonies, and does not include celebrations of these events.
• organised sport or exercises classes or licensed outdoor physical activity. This does not include informal sport or fitness activity with family or friends – this must be limited to a group of 6.
• elite sporting competition and training
• support groups – formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. This includes support to victims of crime, recovering addicts, new parents, people with long-term illnesses, those facing issues relating to their sexuality or gender, and those who have suffered bereavement.
• protests – if organised in compliance with COVID-19 Secure guidance

Where a group includes someone covered by one of these exemptions, they are not counted as part of the gatherings limit. This means, for example, that a tradesperson can go into a household of six without breaching the limit if they are there for work.(the same wording is replicated here, in guidance on 'meeting with others safely' https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing)

2.11 Does this mean that no more than six people can be in a pub, restaurant or place of worship at once?

Venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit in a group of greater than 6 (unless you are all from the same household or support bubble). When you visit one of these places, such as a pub, shop, leisure venue, restaurant or place of worship you should:

• follow the limits on the number of other people you should meet with as a group (it will be illegal to be in group of more than six from outside of your household or support bubble)
• avoid mingling with anyone outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you know
• provide your contact details to the organiser so that you can be contacted if needed by the NHS Test and Trace programme

2.12 Can I have a celebration for significant or ceremonial life events, other than weddings?

The legal gatherings limit of six people does not apply to standalone religious and belief-based life cycle ceremonies, such as christenings and bar/batmitzvahs. You can have up to 30 people at these events, provided they take place in a public place. This includes events to mark or celebrate a significant milestone in a person’s life, according to their religion or belief, such as events to celebrate a person’s birth (other than a birthday) or coming of age; or to mark a person’s death or celebrate their life following their death.

This does not include celebrations of these events - receptions are only permitted for weddings and civil partnerships.

You should socially distance wherever possible from people you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with).

the exception here for life cycle ceremonies isn't extended to general cyclical ceremonies, such as Remembrance, Christmas, (plus all the lesser festivals)

3.10 Can I pray in a place of worship?

Yes, places of worship will stay open for services and communal prayer in line with guidance for reopening Places of Worship.

Places of worship can stay open for services for more than 6 people. However, you must not mingle in a group of more than 6 people (other than with people you live with or have formed a support bubble with).

Strict adherence to social distancing is strongly advised and a distance of 2 metres (or 1 metre with additional COVID-19 Secure measures in place) should be kept from people you do not live with wherever possible.

my reading of this is that you can have a prayer meeting in a church building, but people must be kept in groups of no more than 6 with no mingling across groups. 

3.18 Can I go to my support group?

Some types of support group are exempt from the legal gatherings limit.

Support groups can can take place in gatherings of any number in a public place, if the support group is organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support to its members or those who attend its meetings (my emphasis). This includes, but is not limited to, providing support:

• to victims of crime (including domestic abuse)
• to those with, or recovering from, addictions (including alcohol, narcotics or other substance addictions) or addictive patterns of behaviour
• to new and expectant parents
• to those with, or caring for persons with, any long-term illness, disability or terminal condition or who are vulnerable
• to those facing issues related to their sexuality or identity including those living as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
• to those who have suffered bereavement

This is an exemption to the legal gatherings limit of six people.

Support groups not covered by this exemption can still take place if they do not breach the new gatherings limit of six people. This does not mean that no more than six people can attend. There can be multiple groups of six people attending, provided that the social interaction and shared activity is limited to groups of six. Where this is unlikely to be possible, no more than six people should attend. Anybody who is attending for work purposes is excluded from the gatherings limit.

most midweek groups run by our church have both a social and a support element - the coffee morning which is the 1 piece of social contact in the week for an isolated elderly person, the cell group where people pray for each other and support each other in living out their faith, the baby and toddler group where mums can socialise and get out of the house. My reading of this is that all of this is covered by the above guidance, it can be done in groups of larger than 6, on church premises. The only question is whether they fall into groups 'covered by this exemption' (where a whole group of more than 6 can meet), or groups 'not covered by this exemption', where the whole group can meet but must be subdivided into groups of 6 or fewer, who don't interact with one another. 

3.19 Can I go to my hobby club / amateur musical group / other leisure activity?

It is against the law to gather in groups of more than six, where people are from different households or support bubbles. The rule above does not mean that there cannot be more than six people in any one place. All activities for under 18s are exempt. There can be multiple groups of six people in a place, provided that those groups do not mingle.

In practice, however, this will make it difficult for some activities to take place without breaking the law. Activities where there is a significant likelihood of groups of more than six mingling – and therefore breaking the law – should not take place until further COVID-19 Secure guidance has been developed and approved to enable the activity to happen safely. This may include extended tour groups, large banquet dinners, society or club meetings, or amateur music or drama rehearsals.

The grey area is what counts as a support group. Does it have to be primarily for support (e.g. AA), or with support as one of the collateral benefits? I guess if there's doubt, the group should be organised in clusters of up to 6, which is fairly easy to do with placing of chairs and tables. Not so easy to do with toddlers....

And what's the 'spiriit' of all this? Is it o try to find ways to facilitate groups meeting by interpreting the guidelines generously, or to be consservative and, where there is any doubt, keep the doors shut?

'Rule of 6' Guidance for Churches and Community Centres, part 2

 A follow on to last weeks post on how the new guidance affects places of worship. These are all direct extracts from government guidance published or updated yesterday, my commentary is in italics. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july updated 14^th September

Gatherings of more than 30 people will be permitted but only in certain public places as set out in law. This will include places of worship and their surrounding premises. There are however activities where it is advisable to restrict numbers to 30 within a place of worship for public health reasons. This guidance sets out those activities as well as how to ensure your place of worship is COVID-19 secure.

Whilst engaging in an activity in the place of worship or surrounding grounds, all parties should adhere to social distancing guidelines. 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households are acceptable. For example, use of face coverings.

Communal worship, including prayers, devotions or meditations led by a Minister of Religion or lay person.

Limits for communal worship should be decided on the basis of the capacity of the place of worship following an assessment of risk (see Section 5 ‘Restrictions on Capacity’). Social distancing should be strictly adhered to (see Section 5 ‘Social distancing’).

(No more than 30 in attendance at marriages, funerals and other life cycle events)

Where a place of worship’s premises is used by other user groups, only those activities permitted by law should take place. (refers to multi purpose community centre guidance

Outdoor worship

In the grounds of a place of worship

·         More than 30 people can pray in a place of worship or its grounds, but a risk assessment should be conducted and COVID-19 Secure measures implemented. The number of people who are able to gather will be dependent on the size of the space available.

 Not really any significant changes from the previous version

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/special-religious-services-and-gatherings-covid-19-checklist

Communal worship or prayer can be attended by more than 30 people but only if the venues used can safely accommodate larger numbers in a way which complies with COVID-19 secure guidance. It is important that risks are managed sensibly. In line with wider Places of worship guidance

(so covid secure prayer meetings are ok)

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/high-holy-day-services-and-gatherings-covid-19-checklist

4. Gathering outside

We know that prayers in the park and other outdoor spaces are an important feature of some festivals.

It is against the law in England to gather with more than 5 other people in private gardens. Gatherings in a public outdoor space are also against the law unless the gathering is exempt/ has been organised by a business, charity, a benevolent or philanthropic organisation or a public or political body applying COVID secure risk controls.

The organiser must have carried out a full risk assessment (there is advice on doing this in government’s Places of worship guidance) and taken all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of coronavirus, including taking into account any relevant government guidance on gatherings.

Government guidance on Closing certain businesses and venues sets out how gatherings can be made COVID-19 Secure.

Local authorities will make decisions on applications for prayers in public places, including those on private land which is not attached to your place of worship. Councils will be putting the public health and safety needs of communities first when making these decisions.

This year to make sure that people are not putting themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19, where possible you should avoid attending large gatherings.

(would apply to remembrance, Christmas, and may enable larger gatherings than are possible inside church buildings, though there's a balancing act, as large gatherings are discouraged)

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities

updated 14^th September

Managers of community facilities will have discretion over when they consider it safe to open for any activity permitted by legislation and may decide to remain closed if they are not able to safely follow the advice in the relevant guidance, to make the space COVID-19 secure.

Many community facilities are also workplaces and those responsible for the premises should therefore be aware of their responsibilities as employers. The government is clear that no one is obliged to work in an unsafe workplace.

Organisations also have a duty of care to volunteers to ensure as far as reasonably practicable they are not exposed to risks to their health and safety and are afforded the same level of protection as employees and the self-employed. See government information on coronavirus volunteering and how to help safely. Volunteers and other individuals who are shielding should continue to follow the government’s advice on shielding.

Anyone with control of non-domestic premises (such as a community centre, village or community hall) has legal responsibilities under health and safety law, and must take reasonable measures to ensure the premises, access to it, and any equipment or substances provided are safe for people using it, so far as is reasonably practicable.

To help decide which actions to take prior to re-opening the building for permitted activity, a COVID-19 risk assessment should be completed, taking account of the core guidance on social distancing and the points set out below. This will be in addition to any risk assessment which is already in place for the community facility.

 

2a: Social distancing and capacity

Measures should be in place to ensure all users of community facilities follow the guidelines on social distancing, including strict adherence to social distancing of 2 metres or 1 metre with risk mitigation (where 2 metres is not viable) are acceptable. You should consider and set out the mitigations you will introduce in your risk assessment.

The size and circumstance of the premises will determine the maximum number of people that can be accommodated while also facilitating social distancing. In defining the number of people that can reasonably follow 2 metres distancing (or 1 metre with risk mitigation), the total floorspace as well as likely pinch points and busy areas should be taken into account (e.g. entrances, exits) and where possible alternative or one-way routes introduced.

It is against the law for people to gather in a group of more than six, whether indoors or outdoors, unless covered by an exemption. This limit does not apply to meetings of a single household group or support bubble which is more than 6 people.

Community facilities following COVID-19 Secure guidance can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. Further information on social contact rules, social distancing and the exemptions that exist can be found on the guidance on meeting with others safely. These rules does not apply to workplaces or education settings, alongside other exemptions. See more details on what has changed.

Informal or formal adult social groups, clubs and activities can gather in groups no greater than 6 in adherence to social distancing rules. However, for activities where there is a significant likelihood of groups of six interacting, and therefore breaking the law, should not  take place in a community facility. Further details is set out in section 3c: Recreation, leisure and social gatherings

Support groups ( such as victim support and mental health groups) can take place in gatherings of any number (subject to capacity) in a COVID-19 secure community facility if organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support to its members or those who attend its meetings.

this may cover church small groups, who are a support group for church members. Does the baby and toddler group count as a support group for parents/carers, or a 'club' (see below)?

If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit.

3c: Recreation, leisure and social gatherings

Managers and providers in community facilities are not permitted to organise or hold informal or formal social groups, clubs and activities unless limited to groups of six people following social distancing rules.

However, for activities and social groups where there is a significant likelihood of groups mixing and socialising ( and where it will be difficult to prevent mingling and therefore breaking the law) should not take place in a community facility. These may include but are not limited to:

·         formal or informal clubs and hobby clubs (e.g. women’s institute, veteran’s associations, freemasons, sewing clubs, book clubs, crafts clubs, reading groups)

·         amateur choirs and orchestras

·         informally organised sport activities on facilities grounds (professionally organised sport activities are exempt)

Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can run children groups and other youth activities, subject to their own capacity limits. See section 3a: Early years and youth provision for links to relevant guidance. It is, however, important for people to maintain social distancing and good hand hygiene when visiting these spaces.

People meeting in a club or group context at a community centre should be encouraged to socially distance from anyone they do not live with or who is not in their support bubble.

It's still not clear whether you can have an activity in a community centre where more than 6 people attend, but people are put in groups of up to 6 and not permitted to interact with other groups - e.g. you could do this for a coffee morning, knitting group etc. just by setting out tables and chairs in a safe layout and asking people to stay put during the session. 

We Can't Carry On Meeting Like This

At time of writing, there is still no guidance for public worship, which is supposed to be permissible from next Sunday. That disconcerting noise you hear is that of a vicar flying blind.

Boris Johnsons comments about weddings suggest, that maximum service size is 30. In practice much less in small buildings like ours, where we are looking at 10-15). Maximum meeting size in a house is 1 other family, or 6 people outdoors.

This all means that churches are going to have to completely rethink their basic building blocks. Neither the gathered congregation (our two churches number 90 and 40) nor the midweek homegroup (8-12 people) are going to be possible, perhaps for up to a year.

What will this mean? 'In person' worship becoming a scheduled but sporadic experience - we'll probably need a 2-monthly cycle for people attending in turn, unless we start running multiple services. And the 'small group' unit becoming 3 or 4, which presents a very different dynamic for bible study, pastoral support, prayer etc.

And if that all lasts a year, what will happen to the sense of identity of any 'congregational' (25+) or 'home group' (7+) sized structure that tries to ride it out? Do churches need to explore other structures for a shared common identity and mission, rhythm of prayer? Like this, for example....



 We are going to have to stop meeting like this.

Churches: the 'New Normal'

The United Reformed Church has produced a discussion paper for local church leadership on 'The New Normal'. It covers a variety of practical and strategic questions for use of church buildings post-lockdown, and is a helpful read whatever church tradition you're from. With the news that Hillsong may not meet as before until 2021, there is a lot of thinking going on about what a post-covid church looks like.

I read this in an excellent collection of short pieces about lockdown/digital church. Seems spot on:

Companies have discovered that their employees really can and will work from home, so expensive office space gradually will be eliminated as will the lunch time crowds of many eateries. Although there will be a rebound as we try to “return to normal,” soon enough, every industry will recognize that this change is more enduring than the virus....

...Unfortunately, when things “return to normal” churches and restaurants likely will breathe a sigh of relief and go right back to business as usual. They won’t even notice that something inexplicable has changed forever, and by the time these new habits and trends become obvious to moribund institutions, it will be too late.

Mainline churches have been merging or closing for several decades. In the wake of this pandemic, that will greatly accelerate because the “return to normal” will be short-lived, and our churches are biding their time, waiting to get back to the way things were. It isn’t happening. 

Many congregations have seen the future and are retooling for it. They are paying attention to the implications of what will be the “new normal” for society. Churches that thrive will adapt to, and even exploit, new cultural realities. Those faith communities are rare, though, because the church and its leadership are among the most change-resistant creatures God ever made. In this case, however, that resistance may prove fatal.

Fundraiser

On Friday our family are doing a 100km sponsored exercise bike ride in support of TEAR Fund, in reponse to the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the developing world. If you'd like to support that, please go here, or you can donate direct via the TEAR Fund website.

Most countries have a much sketchier welfare state than ours - in many places, lockdown means no work, no work means no food or money. It is a choice between infection or starvation. Or it means confinement in a refugee camp or slum where social distancing is all but impossible, and there isn't access to clean water or soap for the basic act of washing hands.

To get some idea of the challenge, have a look at this article:

South Africa, which has one of Africa’s best public health systems, has fewer than 1,000 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, of which 160 are in the private sector, for a population of 56m. In Malawi, there are about 25 ICU beds in public hospitals, serving 17 million people. The main infectious diseases hospital in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, has none.

Webcasts: 'Solitude' and 'Touch'

Like everyone else we've ventured into the wonders of modern technology, here's a couple of recent reflections posted on our Youtube channel, on Touch and Solitude. Sorry about the scary pictures. And yes I am going to tidy my study. Maybe.

Coronavirus - A vicars diary 2

It's all incredibly quiet. Like someone has pressed 'hibernate' on the world. Out at 5pm yesterday cycling around Yeovil, there were more bikes than cars on the roads.

Everything else is making it up as we go along. Last weeks big challenge was pulling together a contacts list at both churches. This weeks is reacting to the almost daily changes in guidance. First we could do weddings with 5 people max as well as funerals and baptisms. Then the weddings and baptisms went but funerals were still ok, now there's a complete shutdown. I'm not even supposed to go into my own churches to pray, let alone to stream live worship. However the government guidance is more relaxed than that issued by the Archbishops. But since the government website was updated only today - and it doesn't tell you what was updated - I don't know if the relaxation is a new thing since we were instructed to lock the doors.

So from looking at how to deliver live streamed worship, with music, from our church building, it will probably be yours truly at home, with a nice picture covering the normal chaos of my study and doubling as a passable background. We're probably going to save Communion for Easter Day, and prime people over the next 2 weeks to get supplies in. In the meantime we're working on a 'worship at home' pack which can be emailed out, and posted to those without email, with all the Sunday liturgies, resources for daily prayer, contact details, and palm crosses for those who are getting the deliveries.

The volunteer response picture is changing by the day. All sorts of groups have sprung up around Yeovil, so the NHS initiative is encouraging, it's important to have a co-ordinated effort rather than a patchwork of groups which will never reach every corner of society, and may end up duplicating. Having said that, we're assembling a list of offers of help, and have had 4 households in touch so far, including a 99 year old. A member of our church with a health condition was told today she'd next be allowed out on 25th June, so she's been stockpiling wool in order to knit her way through the next quarter.

We've managed to produce a daily diet of podcasts, thoughts for the day, a couple of 'virtual assemblies' and a very moving and peaceful Compline service put together by our associate Vicar. This Sunday will be live streamed from here, but we've scheduled the sermon (pre-recorded by one of our trainee preachers and incorporated into a video) to pop up on the Youtube channel during the service, so people can pause the livestream and switch to the sermon if they want to.

Speaking to a couple tomorrow who are due to get married in July. I have no idea what to say, no idea how to plan for it. It's hard to have to postpone a wedding, but it's even harder if people die, I think we're suddenly finding lots of things that we can do without if we suddenly put our minds to it.

The word floating round my head at the moment is 'Sabbath'. The account of the exile of God's people in 2 Chronicles speaks of the land 'enjoying a sabbath rest' for all the years it had hosted the Israelites without them faithfully worshipping God. It ended up lying fallow for decades. There's something about this moment that feels like the planet is breathing a deep, silent sigh of relief. The planes are on the ground, the cars and cruise liners are parked, the ferocious consumerism (food aside) has suddenly stopped, we are back to basics: food, home, health, communication. I have often wondered if God builds 'failsafe' mechanisms into the world, so that if we over-reach ourselves they kick in to stop things getting too far out of balance.

Prior to the modern age, the question was never 'how can God allow this suffering' it was 'how can we ever deserve God's mercy'. Rather than assuming we were in the right and God was in the wrong, it was the other way round. The response to tragedy was to question ourselves first, rather than outsource blame to God. The unreflected life is not worth living, is this enough of a wake up call to get us asking the right questions? Coronavirus is not the end of the world, but if it's the end of a way of life that would have led to the end of the world, then we might look back on 2020 as a turning point.

Coronavirus - A vicars diary 1

This evening should have been the PCC - Parochial Church Council - but that became one of several cancelled meetings this week. It goes in the shredder along with the Lent course, pastoral visits to the elderly, school parents evening, a Spring Fair, and sadly a wedding on Saturday which was brought forward to escape the shutdown, but still has too many key people for the Church of England restrictions, and so has been postponed.

Last night I had a call from a funeral director, who, thinking we were closed for everything, wanted to borrow some chairs for doing funerals on his premises. The funeral protocols are a bit vaguer than those for weddings, we can still do them, but with a minimal number of mourners, and discouraging the over-70s and those with underlying health conditions from attending. With the closure of Yeovil Crematorium from next week, I've also been peppering my Diocese with emails asking for permission to act as a substitute venue, not just for church funerals but for others too. We'll see...

The last 2 days have been manic. On the one hand, setting up the scaffolding for church life without the two things which often define us the most - the building, and the Sunday morning meeting. We have 2 churches, so we've been creating a contacts list for both, and a strategy for keeping in touch with everyone, whether they are part of a small group, on email, on Facebook, on a smartphone (and thus able to join a Whatsapp group), or just have a landline. There's a slightly different way of getting in touch with each 'layer' of the congregation. We already have a few people signed up who weren't members of the church, but want to keep in touch with what we're doing.

What are we doing? Daily prayer podcasts and video messages, trying to nail the tech for live streaming a Sunday service from Youtube, with liturgy posted on the church website for people to follow at home. An email/Whatsapp/Facebook communication template which gets key information out to about 90% of both congregations. Ringing round everyone who's not on email to make sure they know that Sundays (and everything else) are cancelled, but that they can join in online or at home. Next weeks job is creating a prayer resource for people to use at home - daily prayers, a Sunday liturgy we'll use each week, key contacts and websites, and a few other bits and bobs.

Our main parish church will be staying open, St James Yeovil, for personal prayer, and for donations to the local food bank, which is going to need every tin of beans they can lay their hands on. We're putting out some creative prayer stations, so that the church becomes more of a prayer space than a corporate worship space. Someone is down there every day saying morning prayer, the rest of us join in at 9am via the CofE Daily Prayer app.

The Community Centre at our other church, St. Peters, has become a vital community hub. Most of the groups have closed down, but we're trying to work out if there is a way of keeping it open as a community resource - it hosts a small library, and can be a collection point for various things (the latest is a large batch of wool from a house clearance, which our army of local knitters will be raiding on Monday morning). With all the free time that people are going to have, it may be viable to set up a fresh food bank, with unsold produce from the local Co-op, which we've been offered but never had the team of volunteers able to make it happen.

Meanwhile in the community, we've managed to cover nearly half the streets in a 2000 home neighbourhood with these things

Having a strong community Facebook group has been a massive help, through one post on that, we've been able to circulate a list of streets and co-ordinate deliveries. We've left a pile in the church, and in the local co-op, for people to help themselves. I'm hoping we run out and need to reprint for both.

I have my ups and downs with social media - I quit Twitter about this time last year because it just seemed to be full of angry people being angry with each other, and I always came off more agitated than before I logged on. But it has been such an asset this week, being able to use email, Facebook, youtube, Zoom (video conferencing - going to try Morning Prayer with a group of 10 people on Monday, if that works we might roll it out to the whole congregation), Whatsapp, Anchor podcasts, they've all been excellent for getting the tools and the infrastructure for keeping in touch with most of the congregation. For those not on social media, we're setting up 'phone pastors' who will have 6 people they ring every week, to keep them in touch. 

I normally get 30-40 emails a day, today it was 100, and Facebook in Yeovil has been white hot with groups, initiatives, offers of help, key communications, plus the odd idiot who's required me to put my group moderator hat on. 

I work from home normally, I'm fairly happy with my own company, I regularly do quiet days and occasionally do retreats -the best was 8 days in silence. So I'm ok with social distancing, and once I've got used to having hardly any face to face meetings, it probably won't be too much of a trial. But for those who are reliant on being/getting out and about, who have to home school their children for 3+ months, who rely on the visitors they get, etc. etc. this is going to be very hard. 

At the same time, this could be an incredibly fruitful time. I know someone who has borrowed a cello so they can self-teach during what would have been the summer term. Already lots of creative ideas are appearing on social media. Without all the time and energy which goes into Sunday church, we're going to discover a new, less busy, and maybe more authentic way of being the church. We're going to find out what shape we become without a building and a Sunday meeting to shape and define us. We're going to have chances to bless and love other people that don't present themselves in normal times. I'm praying we rise to the challenge, that we grow, that it's the acts of kindness and not the selfish and life-threatening stockpiling that define us. 

And finally... it's going to be a long tunnel. If the restrictions are too effective, we'll come out of them in June/July with only a fraction of the population having been infected, leaving everyone else vulnerable of a second flare up. So how long do the restrictions stay in place? As long as Covid-19 is out of control somewhere in the world, there's a chance of it getting everywhere again. If we do flatten the curve, the only safe time to go back to normal is when we have a vaccine, which is by all accounts 12+ months away. If the efforts are not a success, the restrictions may lift sooner due to the 'herd immunity', but at a catstrophic cost in the meantime. Where, and how, will it end? The main factor is our behaviour. It's up to us.

New Outreach Strategy