News

My brothers and sisters of All Saints’ Parish, 

As I have repeatedly heard and read in the past few days, “We live in interesting times.”  Interesting and trying and worrying times.  Many of you will have heard the news that the archbishops have recommended that all public worship services be suspended in the Church of England.  So, regrettably, we have decided to suspend all our services in the Parish of All Saints.  That does not mean, however, that we have stopped serving our Lord or being the family of God in this place.  Far from it.  

As always, our church building will remain open during daylight hours.  If you are able to get out, please feel free to use it as place of prayer during this time of uncertainty.  I will be popping in to the church regularly, a few times each day, during this period.  I will ensure that the votive candle stand is well stocked.  We will also make available prayers for these worrying times.  Please remember to wash your hands before and after visiting the church.

This means, obviously, that there will be no services in church or chapel this Sunday, Mothering Sunday.  If you are able, you may wish to follow the special service the Archbishop of Canterbury will be live streaming this Sunday, on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship programme at 8:10am.  Related to this service, Archbishop Justin will be issuing “A National Call to Prayer” for our nation and the world in light of the coronavirus pandemic.  We are invited to light a candle in the windows of our homes at 7:00pm on this Sunday as part of this call to prayer.  Can I urge to participate in this?  Bishop Steven, the Bishop of Oxford, will also preside and preach this Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral.  In his sermon, he will give a reflection on what all this means for us in this diocese.  The service will be live streamed at 10:00am from the Diocesan web-site: 

https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/

For future Sundays, we will look into the possibility of live streaming something from our church for the coming weeks.  Please be patient with me regarding this—it is not my expertise!  

For your daily prayers, you might like to use the Church of England app "Time to Pray," which can be found at https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/time-to-pray

In place of our weekly Pews News, which is emailed out to many in the parish, we will be sending out a “weekly update,” with the up-dated prayers lists, the Collect and readings for the week and some news.  If you are not already on the list to receive this and would like to, please contact Julie in the parish office.  

I have been touched and encouraged by the number of emails and texts I have received from some of our “younger” and “fitter” members offering to do some shopping or run errands for parishioners who might not be able to get out or who are more at risk.  So, if you need help, either with shopping or something else, please could to contact Julie in the parish office?  We will get you in contact with one of those who have offered their help.  May I further suggest that receiving help from fellow parishioners, through the parish office, will be a safe option? 

Another ministry we can and should offer one another is that of prayer.  We should all be holding each other in our prayers.  We have in our parish many who pray regularly and a few who pray often.  In Mother Miriam Caminer and Maureen Rayner we have two who possess a special discipline and calling of prayer.  Please feel free to feed up through Julie or myself prayer requests for Maureen and Miriam, or indeed for Pam, Sheila and myself, to include in our prayers.

Finally, stay well and stay in contact, with other parishioners, with neighbours, with myself and the ministry team.  Please heed the government’s guidance and directions, especially if you are over 70 or otherwise at risk.  Don’t be afraid or too proud to ask for help.  We will not be holding public services, but we have not gone away.     

Fr Darrell (on behalf of the Ministry Team)

Prayer