Author Archives: Church Office

Weekly Notices

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 We are open for worship this Sunday!

IN CHURCH:

SUNDAY 16 May 2021
9.30 a.m.   All Age Service
11.15 a.m.  Holy Communion with organ music

Please wear face coverings, maintain social distancing and use the hand sanitizers as you enter.  Please follow the signs advising you of the one-way system and where to sit 

SERVICE ONLINE: our Sunday service will also go out at 10.00 a.m.

Our Midweek service of Holy Communion will be in church on Thursday at 10.30 a.m. and “Thought for Thursday” will continue ONLINE at 10.30 a.m.  each Thursday on the church Facebook site  https://www.facebook.com/stmaryschurchrushden/

If you want to know more about the Christian faith and the hope we have in Jesus, please ring Steve (01933 312554) or Phil (01933 356906) who would be happy to talk with you.

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RESPONSE FORMS:   Please remember to bring your response forms to church over the next week or two (a box in which you may put your forms is available on the left as you enter church).  There are spare forms available; please ask at the back of church.
GIFTS AND OFFERINGS:  If you have any questions about your giving, please contact our Treasurer, Robert Bates (telephone: 01933 358005 or email: robertbates1947@btinternet.com).   He would love to talk with you and answer any questions you may have.  There are options for paying remotely (by direct debit, standing order, through the Parish Giving Scheme) as well as envelopes for weekly giving and gift-aid.

APCM TUESDAY 18 MAY at 7.30pm in CHURCH: Due to lockdown, our annual meetings have not been held for over two years!   Please check the Electoral Roll on the board at the back of church to ensure your name is there;  if not, simply complete an application form- which is also on the board.  There are also forms there for nominations to the Parochial Church Council, Deanery Synod, and Church Wardens.  Please make use of these for nominating people for these roles (always ask the individual’s permission before putting their name forward). 

ASCENSION DAY SERVICE: 13 May 7.30pm at Rushden St Peter’s (Midland Road).   We are again joining with St Peter’s and Whitefriars parishes for our annual Ascension Day Service.  This service is by booked seat, so please call Margaret or Steve on 01933 314251.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 10-16 MAY:  There will be a box at church next week for donations to Christian Aid.  If you have any questions, please speak with Edna.   

The Church Office is open this week Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 10-12 noon.  We ask you to please wear a mask and avoid gathering inside the office.

Bumps & Babes Outdoors:   Please pray for good weather as Helen continues Bumps & Babes Outdoors on Monday mornings. We pray that this initiative will begin to meet some of the needs of parents and toddlers during this isolating time and bear witness to the love of God in Jesus.

FOODBANK:  the Foodbank are grateful for everyone’s support!  At the moment, they are asking for items such as tinned potatoes, peas, sweet corn and carrots as well as cleaning products. They have sufficient pasta and baked beans!  Many thanks! 

Children’s Society Quiz:  a new quiz “OH” (answers ending with ‘O’) is now available from Joy Holloway (01933 318415) or Pam Bailey (01933 313195)  Price £1.  There will be three prizes of £10 each. Proceeds to the Children’s Society.

IDEAS FOR MY FUNERAL SERVICE:  Linnet Smith has made a booklet available for recording ideas for family members to know your wishes regarding funeral arrangements (songs, etc).  These will be available on Thursday 29 October or can be downloaded here: Ideas for my funeral service or sent to you by post if you contact Sue Prior 01933 312554 or email susaneprior@hotmail.co.uk

PLEASE PRAY:

For the recently bereaved family and friends of Diana Smith.
The funeral of Diana Smith will take place in St Mary’s at 3.00 pm on Monday 17th May. The family suggest that floral tributes be limited to those of the family. If anyone wishes to make a donation in memory of Diana it can be sent to A.Abbott and Son or made on line
to “c-r-y.org.uk / miriam-lee”

For those who are Ill:  Wendy Muncey, Natalie Prior, Alma Walters, Ann Beal, Viv Striblehill, Michelle Smith, James Guildford, Jennie Bone, Glenis Burton, Iris Gilbert,  Alan Palmer, Mark Butcher, Mel Britchford, John Tye, the Whiteman Family and Ruby Willmer.

For our congregations, our communities, the local mission of ENCS (The Food Bank and Recovery House) 

Pray for our mission partners – James Hawksworth (Church Army); Tearfund; CMS, The Church Pastoral Aid Society; and Langham Partnership UK & Ireland.

CLICK BELOW FOR OUR CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Safeguarding_Policy_2020Download

Covid Restrictions

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as per Rushden St Mary’s Risk Assessment March 2021

Preparation of the Church Building

  • All soft furnishings have been removed from the pews.
  • All pew bibles have been removed.
  • No books are distributed at the back of church.
  • No papers are to be distributed.

Entering and Exiting Church Building

  • The North Door is open as the entrance to the church building.
  • Tapes mark 2 metre intervals on the floor of the porch and the path outside to enable social distancing. 
  • Signs asking everyone to wear face masks are visible.
  • Signs asking everyone to sanitize their hands upon entrance are visible.
  • Signs asking everyone to maintain social distancing are visible.
  • Bottles of sanitizing gel are available at tables just inside the door.
  • Masks are available if needed. 
  • Lists of those attending each service are made by a Church Warden or another appointed person.
  • Church Wardens and Sides People point out the requirements. 
  • No books are distributed.
  • Every other pew is taped off to provide 2 metre space between rows.
  • Pews are marked with signs where individuals/family groups are to be seated.
  • Signs are ‘green’ when a space is available.  Once people have sat in that seat, they are requested to turn the sign over to ‘red’ for that space to be cleaned before being used again.
  • The back of the church is blocked off by a bench.
  • Any offerings are placed in an offering plate at the back of their church, available either upon entrance or exit of the building.
  • Church Wardens and Sides People point out how the congregation are to go to their seats. 
  • The congregation is encouraged to make their way to their seats by going towards the front of the church down the north aisle, across the front and towards the back by either the central or south aisle.
  • The West Door is opened as the exit to the church building.
  • Church Wardens and Sides People point out the flow of people after the service to the West Door.
  • Doors are kept ajar as much as possible to ensure ventilation in the building.

During the Church Service

  • Clergy and those reading stand behind a Plexiglas guard
  • Those speaking or reading may remove their masks for the time that they are speaking.
  • There is no singing during the service
  • There are no greetings by touching or shaking hands
  • Words of liturgy, etc. are projected on the large overhead screen
  • When prayer books are used, they are placed out before the service by sanitized hands and then left in the pews for collection afterwards. 
  • During communion services, the celebrant will sanitize his hands before distribution; wafers alone will be used, the celebrant placing the wafer into the communicant’s hand.

In between church services

  • If the church is closed 72 hours between services, no cleaning is necessary.
  • In between services where there is not a 72 hour window, all surfaces are sanitized, following the cards which have been turned over to ‘red’ for the purpose of showing where seats have been used.