News & Features

My Dear Friends

We have now completed more than a month since we returned to holding services in church buildings. Numbers coming have been good, given that it is likely that some are still unable to feel safe about venturing out and others are not happy about the remaining restrictions; masks to be worn and no congregational singing. Last week we had hoped to hold a service outside so that we COULD exercise our voices after a long silence, but even outside the church, singing is not permitted. 

September brings for many the start of Autumn and harvest celebrations. It is a lovely time and I’m sure that many of you have memories of the very beautifully decorated churches, and of bringing gifts of fruit and flowers up to the altar.  As this season has drawn near, it is also a time to be particularly alert to issues of the natural world and to the crisis of climate change.  Last week’s Church Times reported on some of the leadership of this concern and I am quoting it in full because I believe it to be important. 

Lord Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury) joined the ------------ Christian Climate Action, in a march from Buckingham Palace to Parliament Square, while holding a banner with fellow priests which read “CREATION CRIES OUT”.

Asked why he felt that it was important for people of faith to attend the rally, he said: “People of faith should be here because they are people of faith. That is, they believe they can make a difference of some kind and that that difference is worth making. We’re at a remarkable moment of opportunity. People are talking about building back better. We have to take that opportunity. It’s not just recovering what’s been lost but building again something that is genuinely more sustainable. Because, in the last few months, we have seen the possibility of some alternatives that might work, and I think people of faith ought to be on board with making those alternatives work.”

Another was Fr Martin Newell, a Roman Catholic priest from Birmingham. He said: “The Christian faith is not an easy one — we are constantly called to step outside of our comfort zone. I believe that being faithful means taking a stand on the biggest issue of our time. When Jesus said to James and John, ‘Follow me’, they stood up, dropped their fishing nets, and did just that. As disciples of Christ, we are called to take action. Are we willing to stand up and do what we are called to or will we remain in the boat?

Perhaps during the next couple of months, we might address this question in our own hearts and minds.  I hope so.

My love to you all

Christina

Shellrock Worship

Sunday 13^th September

Readings: Genesis 50 v 15-2, Psalm 103 v 1-13, Romans 14 v 1-12, Matthew 18 v 21-35

10.30 St James, Great Ellingham - Morning service

Sunday 20^th September

Harvest Readings: Deuteronomy 8 v 7-18 or 28 v 1-14, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9 v 6-end, Luke 12 v 16-30 or 17 v 11-19

10.30 St Peter and St Paul, Shropham - Harvest Festival

Broadcasted Christian worship programs (all Sun 13th)

 8.10am - Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, the Bishop of Plymouth reflects on the story of the Mayflower

1.15pm - BBC1 - Songs of Praise, with Aled Jones in Plymouth

 3.00pm - Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, from Neresheim Abbey, Germany (from September 2019)

New COVID rule on gatherings

As you are probably aware, from Monday 14^th September a maximum of six people only are allowed to gather together inside and outside.  There are certain places and events where this new ruling will not apply and so far the indications are that worship in churches will be exempt.

However, there is still the issue of gatherings outside church after the service; a time when we take the opportunity to chat and catch up with each other.  This is likely to be more problematic so we await a ruling on this from the Diocese.  For tomorrow we are still allowed to do this.

‘Flu Vaccinations

A reminder to those eligible, this is the time to book your annual ‘flu jabs.  According to my surgery website, people aged between 50 and 64 will also be eligible for the vaccination but later and only if stocks allow.  Check with your surgery to book and for more information.

My Dear Friends

We are now entering the Autumn Season and I can hardly believe it.  Although at the beginning of lockdown we surely must have thought that it would never end, there is certainly a possibility that life is ----- well not quite returning to normal ------ at least opening up again. Those of us who are regular church attenders were distressed to miss all the special services that we’ve come to expect leading up to Easter and Pentecost because of the closure of churches. But since we’ve been able to open the buildings again, there has been the opportunity for private prayer and also a Sunday service each week in one of our five churches. Harvest is round the corner, and although as congregations we still cannot all sing our favourite hymns, small groups of singers, physically distanced from the congregation, will be able to make their important contribution to the service. All this surely is giving room for optimism after a strange and, for many, a very dark time.

This week I have sent in for circulation the last of the Sunday service sheets I’ve been preparing since the start of the church closures. In this last submission I have remarked on the continuing concern we all have and MUST have for the environment and every aspect of it. Autumn and harvest are special times when we can be thinking about the glories of the natural world and the losses that we would all suffer, in every way, if the concerns are not addressed.  Before the lockdown we had become used to having everything we needed and wanted by way of the essentials of life. Then came the shortages which reminded us not to be taking things for granted. I know that I for one was extremely appreciative, not just for the health workers, but all those who tirelessly tried to keep supplies going and to be looking after our basic everyday needs.

Harvest, a lovely time to be reminded to give thanks for our world, its beauty, its variety, its products, and for those who work so hard on behalf of all of us. 

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

30th Aug: 10.30 - Shropham - Morning service

6th Sept: 10.30 - Rockland St Peter - Morning service

Readings

30th Aug: Jeremiah 15. 15-21, Psalm 26. 1-8, Romans 12. 9-end, Matthew 16. 21-end

6th Sept: Ezekiel 33 v 7-11, Psalm 119 v 33-40, Romans 13 v 8-end, Matthew 18 v 15-20

Christian worship programmes

30th August:  8.10am    Radio 4  Sunday Worship, extracts from the Greenbelt Festival
                      *12.25pm BBC1     Songs of Praise, Aled Jones at Blenheim Palace
                      3.00pm    Radio 3  Choral Evensong, from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London which
                                                     was broadcast live last Wednesday

* change of time for sport!!

My Dear Friends

I’ve been particularly aware of two things this week. At the beginning of the week, the rain we’d longed for to clear the air arrived in torrents and there was quite a lot of concern about flooding with sand-bags at the ready. I hope you were all safe and didn’t suffer any structural damage to your homes. I know from experience the awful problems and painful losses people experience when there is flooding.

The other thing dominating the week has been the publication of assessments for young people of 16 and 18. We don’t have a great many teenagers coming to churches in the benefice but we have parents and grandparents who have been waiting and extremely worried about the outcome for young people. We all know that this issue has been the centre of much controversy, and several of our Bishops have been quite open in their criticism of the way the process of arriving at grades in the absence of exams has been handled.

We join with those who are happy with their results, but also we need to be empathic with those who have been disappointed. Some will have to postpone going to college for another year, others to think again about their choices. It’s a worrying time for all young people and also for their teachers and those involved with their education and care. One of our bishops has said “Students have shown immense resilience and character in unprecedented circumstances. The unstinting work of teachers, school leaders, and governors throughout this whole period has been absolutely inspirational.” I would certainly echo that and thank all those who have worked tirelessly on behalf of young people.

These have been matters of worry and concern this week but as a balance there also have been some occasions for rejoicing. I said last week in Ramblings that there were anniversaries to be celebrated and we did that after the service at church last Sunday. Carol and Terry for their 50th and Barbara and John for their 60th were each presented with flowers from the benefice. These were made up at short notice by Margaret Thomas who, as ever, had made the lovely displays. For the first time in a long while we had a drink outside the church after the service as John and Barbara had brought some glasses and various bottles of wine and juice. Thank you both; a lovely idea.

The other positive change has been the opening up of at least the possibility of being able to sing in church again. Provided they keep their distance from the rest of the congregation and each other, a small group can now sing during a service. My hope of course is that by Christmas the rule about congregational singing will be relaxed and we will be able to join in the carols which we so much enjoy.

That probably seems a long way ahead, but as time zips by, we have begun to think about the “special” services that usually are part of our Autumn and Christmas coming together as a community.

For those of you planning a holiday in the next week, I hope things run smoothly for you. I plan to go to see family in Wales in September but am waiting for news of a change in the Welsh rules for travel and visiting. I will let you know when or if I am away.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

23rd Aug: 10.30 - St Peter, Little Ellingham - Morning service

30th Aug: 10.30 - Shropham - Morning service

Readings

23rd Aug: Isaiah 51. 1-6, Psalm 138, Romans 12. 1-8, Matthew 16. 13-20

30th Aug: Jeremiah 15. 15-21, Psalm 26. 1-8, Romans 12. 9-end, Matthew 16. 21-end

Christian worship programmes

23rd August:  8.10am Radio 4  Sunday Worship, the inspiration of listening
                      1.15pm BBC1     Songs of Praise, Revd Kate Bottley visits the Salvation Army
                      3.00pm Radio 3  Choral Evensong, from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London which was broadcast live
                                                  last Wednesday

Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride

Yes, COVID-19 is not going to stop this annual fund raising event. The 2020 sponsored bike ride is going ahead, so this is your opportunity to dust off your trusty bike and prepare yourself for a trip round some churches. Weather permitting this is a day to enjoy and you don’t even have to ride a bike anymore; you are now allowed to walk or even drive.

Obviously there will be some restrictions with social distancing and the non-provision of refreshments; some churches may not even open their doors. But no matter, if you have been there then sign in.

There are very few social events on at the moment so make the most of this, even if it is to wander round the benefice. In these financially difficult times, every penny counts.

They even have a competition with the chance to win £1000!

My Dear Friends

Already we are half-way through yet another month, freer in some ways, but still constrained to go where we want, when we want, and with whom we want. BUT, at least we are able to meet each other now, face to face, at church services and elsewhere. For me that has been a blessing, despite the necessity to wear a face shield. Last week Colin noted that the Sunday service sheet which has been circulated since churches were closed will finish at the end of August, but if you would like them to continue, for whatever reason, do PLEASE let me know and I will certainly carry on preparing them.

There has been so much that we have missed over the last few months. We had made substantial plans for celebration of VE day, and now of course we have VJ day upon us and I hope that we can take advantage of all that we can learn anew from the TV documentaries, and be thinking of those individuals and families that were so impacted by the dreadful events of the last war, both here and elsewhere.  I have twice been to Japan to visit my daughter and her then newly born son and she was able to take me around this very beautiful, welcoming and endlessly fascinating country. That was 20 years ago and I have still asked myself, was it really necessary to drop those bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

There also have been special birthdays that were going to be celebrated in style with parties and holidays to mark the occasions. And then there have been the weddings that were to have taken place in August, now postponed until next year. My heart goes out to those young people who had spent so long in making plans which are now “on hold”.

Bringing to mind weddings, we can congratulate the several in our benefice who are celebrating special anniversaries this year. Carol and Terry Bennett are having their Golden Anniversary on Saturday 15^th August and although their original plans have had to be curtailed they will be around this weekend to give them our good wishes. A few days later on 20^th of the month we have another special --- the diamond anniversary of John and Barbara Scase. All these four people have contributed so much over the years to the individual parishes and to the benefice as a whole and it is hard to find the words to thank them enough.

There is much to mourn, but also to celebrate.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

10.30 - Rockland All Saints - Morning Service

Readings

Isaiah 56. 1, 6-8           Psalm 67          Romans 11. 1-2a, 29-32          Matthew 15. [10-20], 21-28

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship, with Revd Dr Stephen Wigley
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise, with Claire McCollum
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong, from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London which was broadcast
                                                                          live last Wednesday

Benefice Team Meeting

There will be a meeting of the Benefice Team at 1845 on Monday 17^th August at the Benefice office.

My Dear Friends

As I am writing this, I am wondering, at what stage we decide this is the “new norm” or, since things are changing almost every day, perhaps this is rather a pointless question.  The people of Leicester and Manchester having started to come out of lockdown, are suddenly plunged back into it. We have been so fortunate in Norfolk to have low numbers afflicted by the virus, and please God, may it last.

My heart goes out to all those in our country who are constantly facing the uncertainties which this pandemic has brought. And this morning I am also thinking of those in other countries, particularly this week in Lebanon where over a hundred were killed and many more injured as a result of the explosion there. This occurred just after I had submitted my service sheet to Colin for distribution so there was no mention of this disaster in my prayer list. I hope we can pray for the people of Lebanon in the days ahead.

August: the holiday month and I know that among you, there will be some disappointments that the plans for going away have had to be jettisoned. Whatever alternative arrangements have been made, I hope that you will be able to have some enjoyment as well as rest, tranquillity and the opportunity to meet with some family members or friends. Many of us are re-discovering the simple pleasures of just being together.  But I also know that there will be some in our benefice who are still not able to see their loved ones and are trying to cope with the sadness which that brings. Let us remember them.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

10:30   St James, Great Ellingham - Mornng service

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship, ‘exploring the cross through the lens of black experience'
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise, ‘the Christian reformers who founded the National Trust 125
                                                                          years ago’
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong, from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London which was broadcast
                                                                          live last Wednesday

Christina’s Sunday Service

As our churches are now open for worship, Christina’s Sunday Service is to be discontinued; the last service will be on 30^th August.  If any of you would like to continue having some form of worship at home, then please let one of the Ministry Team know.

Face coverings in church

Sorry folks/good news folks, the wearing of face coverings in church is now mandatory with a few exceptions.  If you wish to read the complete advice on face coverings from the C of E website then here is the link:

https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/COVID%2019%20advice%20on%20face%20coverings%20v3%20DRAFT.pdf

If you have any queries, you can contact any of the Ministry Team for further information.

My Dear Friends

One of the things I really enjoy each week when it’s delivered to my home is “Church Times”. I tend to read it from cover to cover because I can catch up not just on international “church” news but also see brief summaries of what is going on in the world at large, politically and economically.

In these past weeks I have been struck by several headlines.  “What will life look like after the pandemic?”  Yes indeed, and I guess almost everyone in the world is asking this very same question with an enormous variety of different opinions being expressed.  I also noticed the words of our new Archbishop Stephen of York: “God wants a Church of glorious and profligate diversity.” This highlights the rather striking absence of BAME people in ministry at all levels, a source of lament which hopefully is going to be addressed seriously in the years to come. 

Of course, the wider church is asking and must continue to ask large and fundamental theological and strategic questions against a background of all that has changed for us. We have needed to change, and not just our plans for the holiday that we now probably can’t have, but in terms of family priorities.  Relationships have changed. Some have become more relaxed as people have had the chance to be together where before they were separated by the stresses of work. But as we know, some relationships have worsened and there is a rising number of separations as well as incidents of domestic abuse. These are just a tiny fragment of things that in our world today we have had to think about and to accommodate.

How in our small benefice do we cope with all this? I would hope that we can continue to care for and about each other. We can now see each other inside church and other meeting places, of course taking all advised and necessary precautions. We can continue to give thanks for all those people who have sustained us at every level, not just our frontline health workers but all those without whom our everyday functioning would be much impaired.

Each Sunday in August there is a benefice service which will be held by rotation in one of our churches. Careful attention will be given to all requirements to maintain safety. At each short service there will be a chance to meet and greet, and to give thanks for the many gifts of personal help and indeed sacrifices which we have enjoyed in the months since March. I shall continue to visit you at home, as I have been doing but I also look forward to seeing you at one or other of our Benefice churches.

Till then --- my love to you

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

St James, Great Ellingham - open 10.00 to 12.00 for private prayer

10.30   Rockland All Saints - Morning Prayer

Sunday services for August

2          10.30   Rockland All Saints                              Sunday Service

9          10.30   St James, Great Ellingham                  Sunday Service

16        10.30   Rockland All Saints                              Sunday Service

23        10.30   St Peter, Little Ellingham                      Sunday Service

30        10.30   St Peter & St Paul Shropham              Sunday Service

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship with Revd Isabelle Hamley, Chaplain to the Archbishop
                                                                          of Canterbury
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise with with Aled Jones
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from Hereford Cathedral (July 2015)

Face coverings in church

The government has announced that it will be mandatory for church congregations to wear a face covering from 8^th August.

Report on a meeting of the members of General Synod, 11 July 2020

On Saturday 11^th July, the members of General Synod took part in an informal virtual meeting.  The usual July meeting at the University of York was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and General Synod cannot currently conduct business remotely.  Therefore no votes were taken at this meeting.  However it did provide an opportunity for members to raise questions and to hear from those tasked with leading the Church of England’s response to COVID-19.  The questions covered a range of items; there was much unease around the closing of church buildings to everyone, including clergy and many questions focused on this (to the obvious frustration of the Archbishop of Canterbury).

The Bishop of London spoke about the need for the Church to note and pass on the lessons we have learned through the last few months, both nationally and locally.  She stressed the need to care for people through this time of uncertainty and vulnerability, as people are feeling weary and tired, and the need to continue moving forward safely.  The expectation is that we will continue to see local spikes of the virus in the future, so the Recovery Group’s aim is to help people to take decisions at the local level.

We also shared morning and evening worship, and the new Archbishop of York gave his first Presidential Address, in which spoke about the Vision and Strategy Group he is leading, which will be setting out the Church of England’s strategy for the next few years.  The proposals which come out of this exercise will be brought to Synod next year.

It was a very different experience to meet in this way online.  It was much harder to gauge the mood of the meeting, there were a few technical glitches, and I missed the opportunities of informal conversations with other Synod members.  By and large, the view of those I have spoken to since seems to be that it was better than not meeting at all, but no substitute for meeting together.  It would also be much harder to conduct business in this way, particularly any controversial items.

However, there are various items of business which do need to be conducted before the end of the year, including the approval of the budget.  There are plans to hold a special session of General Synod in September, with just the minimum number of people attending in person to be quorate (carefully selected to be representative).  This should mean that the session can be conducted safely, with social distancing.  The purpose of the session would be to pass legislation which (once approved by Parliament) would enable General Synod to conduct business through virtual meetings.  This in turn would allow for the possibility of the November group of sessions being held remotely (at least in part).  This could be challenging, as the Living in Love and Faith resources are due to be published in early November, and I am sure that there will be some discussion about this at Synod in one form or another.

This July should have been the end of the current Quinquennium of General Synod, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic the current term has been extended by a year, so the next elections to General Synod will now be held in the autumn of 2021.

Caroline Herbert

My Dear Friends

It’s coming up to August and at long last a return of a service each week in one of our five benefice churches. We can’t sing yet, but it’s very good to be able to meet together after such a long time. It’s important to look at all notices for the rotation of services which will be advertised as widely as possible. We will start with Rockland All Saints on August 2^nd at 10.30 for a short service of morning prayer.

I don’t know whether I’m being over-optimistic in believing that very soon we will have an effective vaccine. I read in the papers of the enormous amount of effort which is going into this and am grateful to all the scientists and clinicians who are working so hard to produce one. We all know what a relief that will be when one has been found, but in the meantime recognise that we must remain alert and look after not just ourselves, but all those around us. The church takes “keeping safe” very seriously and there is plenty of advice forthcoming which we will of course follow when we hold our services.

Take care and I hope to see some of you soon.

My love to you

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

St James, Great Ellingham - open 10.00 to 12.00 for private prayer and service 10:30 to 11.00.

The service at St James, Great Ellingham will have the same rules as for private prayer.  The order of service will be projected on to a screen; there will be no singing.   Everyone is welcome.

Rockland All Saints - open 10.00 to 11.00 for private prayer

From next Sunday a rota for acts of worship will begin.  All services will start at 10.30 and last for approximately 30 minutes.  Though music may be provided, congregational singing is still not allowed.

Sunday services for August

2          10.30   Rockland All Saints                              Sunday Service

9          10.30   St James, Great Ellingham                  Sunday Service

16        10.30   Rockland All Saints                              Sunday Service

23        10.30   St Peter, Little Ellingham                      Sunday Service

30        10.30   St Peter & St Paul Shropham              Sunday Service

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise with Revd Kate Botley 
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from St Alban’s church, Holborn (July 2018)

Face coverings in church

An extract from the Church Times............

PRIESTS, worshippers, staff, volunteers, and any other persons entering Church of England churches and cathedrals should wear a face covering from tomorrow, Church House has confirmed.

New guidance on face coverings was published on the C of E website on Thursday, and other documents, including on weddings, baptisms, and funerals, have been updated to reflect this.

It states: “We strongly advise that face coverings should be worn by all those attending a place of worship, including ministers, worshippers, staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors, where there may be other people present; remembering that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from Covid-19 and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing.”

In line with government advice, children under 11 and people with disabilities or certain health conditions are exempt. The church guidance on face coverings does not mention holy communion, but states that masks can also be removed “to eat or drink, but only if you need to”, as well as to take medication and avoid distress or injury.

In Scotland, churches reopened this week for their first public services since March, for congregations of up to 50. In England, singing and chanting, however, are restricted, and the contact details of all those present must be collected beforehand. In response to some churchgoers’ reluctance to return, the Scottish Episcopal Church’s advisory group has released a video indicating what to expect. It can be watched on Facebook and YouTube.

Churches in Wales have also been allowed to reopen since last Sunday if they can abide by safety regulations, which include two-metre distancing and cleaning protocols. A Coronavirus safety assessment must be completed beforehand.’

Using a face mask in church has also been sanctioned by our diocese.

My Dear Friends,

When I have been speaking on the phone and being out and about, one of the things that has struck me is the number of people who have described feeling exhausted.

Our diocesan Bishops recognise this and for this reason I am including part of a letter which the three jointly wrote to clergy and others working in ministry which I received today.

“We write very mindful of the huge effort that many have been putting in during these last months of lockdown. We’ve had to learn new skills and find new ways of undertaking mission and ministry, and we are extremely appreciative of the work being done across the Diocese by clergy and laity to support the sick, the bereaved, the anxious and to continue to witness to the Gospel of God’s love in many creative but often quite costly ways. There has been an abundance of encouraging stories, but we are also aware of the strain these last months have put on clergy and lay leaders alike.

At the start of the lockdown, some speculated that there would be more time freed up in our diaries, but that has not been the reality for many involved in the life of the Diocese. We have also had to cope with ever-changing guidance and, in recent weeks, the welcome but demanding opportunity to begin to open our churches for private prayer and worship. We recognise how hard it has been for many to take proper time off, whether that is a regular rest day or the times for holiday that enable us to feel refreshed and renewed.

Whilst there is huge admiration for the commitment and hard work of so many in these last months, we all need to recognise our need to find times to allow God to refresh us, to restore perspective, and to enable our strength to be renewed. Please be assured of our continuing gratitude and prayers for you: may you know God’s blessing in these coming months.

With our best wishes, The Rt Revd Graham Usher The Rt Revd Dr Alan Winton The Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick Bishop of Norwich Bishop of Thetford Bishop of Lynn”

I have found that the Diocese has a continuing recognition of the stresses and strains of the health crisis on everyone and I am personally very appreciative of these words by our Bishops. They acknowledge the work of all parishes in supporting people during the crisis. Let us all take heart that what we are trying to do is most definitely welcomed and appreciated.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

St James, Great Ellingham - open 10.00 to 12.00 for private prayer and service 10:30 to 11.00.

The service at St James, Great Ellingham will have the same rules as for private prayer.  The order of service will be projected on to a screen; there will be no singing.   Everyone is welcome.

Rockland All Saints - open 10.00 to 11.00 for private prayer

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship, a Catholic service from the Diocese of Leeds
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise, lockdown of Eyam 1665/6
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from Chichester Cathedral (September 2010)

My Dear Friends,

This morning (Thursday) was the funeral at RAS of Norah Lincoln. This is the second funeral for that family in a short space of a month and our prayers are for all members of the family and also friends who are grieving their loss. Despite the rain the service was held out of doors and I was certainly thankful for the thoughtfulness of John S and all who helped him to put up some shelter for the family and some of the mourners. Thank you.

Loss brings change and change brings loss and we are having plenty of that aren’t we.  Some change and its accompanying losses are quite trivial and can bring rapid accommodation to new ways of being and of doing things. But others are fundamental and have far reaching consequences.  The church as an institution is right in the middle of all this, of course. I find it hard to believe that the decision to close all the church buildings was taken lightly, and even today it remains controversial. Having for the last few months become almost used to their closure,  we are faced with more change as we begin to open up the buildings, initially for prayer, and now to think about our first services since lockdown.

Yesterday morning I was taking part in another zoom meeting organised by the Diocese for people involved in ministry throughout the whole of Norfolk and tipping into Suffolk as well. I come away from these meetings always heartened because some of the anxieties I experience are being shared by many people.  Everyone is doing their best to work with congregations at a pace that is right for them, but also keen to get back into a rhythm of regular worship.

A start IS being made in different places, including in our own benefice. The first priority is to ensure safety and everything is being done according to the most reliable advice and recommendations we receive several times a week. I am delighted that St James and RAS are opening for prayer on a Sunday morning. Additionally, St James Great Ellingham will be holding  a short simple service on Sunday 12^th at 10.30.  A more regular pattern of services will begin at the start of August and there will be plenty of notification of dates and locations in the days and weeks to come.  Thank you for your patience .

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

St James, Great Ellingham - open 10.00 to 12.00 for private prayer and service 10:30 to 11.00.

The service at St James, Great Ellingham will have the same rules as for private prayer.  The order of service will be projected on to a screen; there will be no singing.   Everyone is welcome.

Rockland All Saints - open 10.00 to 11.00 for private prayer

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship from South Wales Baptist Church
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise with Aled Jones
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge (2015)

My Dear Friends,

Preparing the service sheet for this week I was wondering whether it might be the last, at least for a while. There is a lot to be considered and discussed in the days ahead. However, as you will now know, permission has been given for churches to re-open, not just for private prayer but also for services. It has been emphasised that this is a permission and NOT compulsion, and once again there has to be a great deal of careful planning to ensure the safety of people who come through the door. For example, are numbers to be restricted as they are for a wedding? Again, I think we love singing, or at least most of us do but the controversy about whether it is safe to sing has not yet been resolved. There are also major considerations about communion and the distribution of bread and wine.  But the Lord be praised! We can meet again face to face and for many of us that will be such a blessing. Dare I say it ---- ‘phones and lap-tops and Zooms and all the wonders of technology are splendid, but is there anything to match the immediacy of personal contact?

So, what is actually happening? At the time of writing there remains uncertainty. The benefice team has been meeting on Zoom and we are also individually in touch with each other. St James will be open on Sunday (see Notices) but apart from this we will publicise when and where the first service in nearly four months in our benefice churches is to be taking place. Yes, I know; it really does sound like Vera’s song “we’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when”! Thank you, everyone, for your patience.

With my love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

St James, Great Ellingham - open 11.00 to 12.00 for private prayer

As you may already know, we are allowed to hold services in our churches starting next Sunday.  Whether we shall or not is yet to be decided and is dependent on the instructions we shall receive from the diocese as to the measures we need to put in place to keep people safe.  When a decision is made, this shall be communicated immediately.

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday              8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship with John Bell of the Iona Community
                                                 BBC1               The Sunday Worship appears to have been discontinued
                           1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise
                           3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from Manchester Cathedral (March 2020)

Norah Lincoln

Sadly Norah Lincoln died earlier this week.  There will be a graveside funeral on 9th July at RAS at 11.00 am.

Benefice Team meeting

The next Benefice Team meeting will be held at 7pm Monday 29th June.

My Dear Friends,

Whoever would have thought at the beginning of March that some of us would be spending a number of hours a week on something called ZOOM ----- I hadn’t even heard if it! Each week the Diocese arranges a “virtual” meeting of clergy on Zoom and this has been useful. I have attended some helpful seminars (because they’re on line, they’re called ‘webinars’) and also “catch-up” sessions. You see I’m learning a new language as well as new skills! People have been able to share their feelings about all that has been happening and their sense of shock when we had to close churches. People have ben helpful in speaking of resources and talking of ways to support people when nothing seems to have been allowed. This morning we had a “catch up” session and were talking about the different ways parishes have chosen to open their churches for private prayer, which is now allowed, but with restrictions. It was gratifying that, without exception, all were extremely cautious, and a comfort to know that parishes like our own in rural areas are taking things VERY steadily indeed.

What is happening in Shellrock then? We are opening for private prayer in our churches as follows:

1. Two churches only will be open on a Sunday morning;
   1. St James will open on Sunday 21^st from 11.00 to 12.00
   2. RAS on 5^th July from 10.00 to 11.00
2. Both churches will open at these times until further notice. The number of participants attending will be reviewed. If there are any changes in this schedule, as many notifications as possible will be published
3. In each church, there will be clear guidelines of where to sit
4. There will be hand sanitizers
5. If reading material is needed, could you bring your own, and take it away with you

After these Sunday times, the two churches will remain closed from Monday through Saturday, and not re-opened again until Sunday. It is very important that people do not try to “pop in” to any of the churches and the bishops are very keen that we are compliant with their recommendations.   

At this time of writing we have no idea when the churches will be able to be open for services. Even when they do, it is likely that certain safeguards will need to be in place. We have received information about the conduct of funerals, but NOT about weddings in church. It is certainly sad that couples who had been planning a big wedding in church may not be able to go ahead with this. 

People have said that sometimes it feels like a dream, and any moment they will wake and it will be back to normal again. Yes it does feel like a dream and that is what we all feel when we have had such a shock and a disruption to our customary patterns of activity and doing things. Let us pray that all those who have been seriously affected by any kind of loss, trauma, or disappointment will be able to be supported by us as a loving community and be assured of God’s love.

My love to you all

Christina 

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

 Sunday               8.10am         Radio 4             Sunday Worship from Westminster Cathedral
                          11.45am         BBC1                Sunday Worship from Manchester’s Holy Trinity Platt Church
                            1.15pm         BBC1                Songs of Praise
                            3.00pm         Radio 3             Choral Evensong from Trinity Chapel, Cambridge (2010)
                          10.45am         BBC1                Sunday Morning Live. A topical debate covering religious and
                                                                          ethical issues.

Benefice Team meeting

The next Benefice Team meeting will be held at 7pm Monday 22^nd June.

A personal ‘Thank You’

My family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who sent my mother, Peggy Thomas, cards, presents and good wishes on her 99^th birthday last Friday, the 19^th June.  The occasion and the response from well-wishers gave her a tremendous boost such that she thoroughly enjoyed her special day.  A big ‘Thank You’ from us all.

Colin

My Dear Friends,

After 10 weeks when little seemed to have been happening in our life together as a church, it has suddenly become quite a lot busier.

Monday evening saw the Benefice Team meeting together again on ZOOM to start some serious discussion and planning for the time when we will be able to see each other face to face, and not on a screen. We are receiving regular bulletins from the diocese and we shall be following the guidelines very carefully. Despite the seeming improvement in the declining numbers afflicted by the virus, we cannot be complacent.  But starting next Sunday, 21^st June, we shall begin the process of opening our churches for private prayer. Be assured that these churches will have been very carefully prepared and there will be someone on hand to ensure that all the rules of hygiene are adhered to. We have no idea how many people will wish to come to pray in these two churches.  Several have expressed the longing for the churches to be open for private and quiet reflection. Please read the announcements in the Notices for further details.

Thankfully, it was a lovely warm and sunny day for Doreen’s funeral. A goodly number stood to watch her leaving her home on Rectory Road and again were at the periphery of the graveyard at RAS. Thank you for supporting her family and for honouring Doreen.  We continue to pray for all members of her family and friends.

My love to you all,

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

                           8.10am          Radio 4              Sunday Worship from Westminster Cathedral
                          11.00am          BBC1                Sunday Worship from Manchester’s Holy Trinity Platt Church
                            1.15pm          BBC1                Songs of Praise
                            3.00pm          Radio 3             Choral Evensong from York Minster (2019)

Benefice Team meeting

The next Benefice Team meeting will be held at 7pm Monday 15^th June.

Opening our Church buildings for private prayer

With the relaxation of some of the rules governing the Coronavirus epidemic in England, the Norwich Diocese has relaxed some of the rules governing the use of our church buildings; we are now allowed to open our church buildings for private prayer.  To ensure the safety of anyone who enters the building the diocese has given guidelines as to what we must do to prevent cross infection of anyone who may have COVID-19.  As we are becoming aware, not everyone who has the virus displays symptoms so we must treat everyone as being potentially infectious.

After much discussion, the Benefice Team has decided that any open church building will be for a limited period and will remain closed for at least 72 hours thereafter.  Certain rules for operating have been agreed and the church will be under the supervision of a verger at all times.  Initially there will only be one church opened, St James Great Ellingham.  Other churches will follow once we are happy that the rules put in place are sufficient and work well.

The details of our first opening are:

Church:            St James Great Ellingham

Date/Time:      Sunday 21^st June 1100 to 1200

Verger:            Charles Mason

Anyone attending is asked to abide by the following instructions:

• • entry to the church is via the porch door only
  • hand sanitizers will be available on entry
  • the wearing of masks is advisable
  • you are to sit where instructed by the verger
  • all seating will be spaced to allow two metres between groups
  • groups (or bubbles as the government calls them) can sit together
  •  seating will only be used once at each session
  • no books, bibles or orders of service will be available, please bring your own if required; Christina’s Sunday Service could be used as a basis for private prayer
  • votive candles will be available, please check with the verger
  • there will be a retiring collection for those who wish to make a contribution
  • no toilet facilities will be available
  • no refreshments will be available

Although these rules may appear draconian they do comply with the Diocesan guidelines and they are for everyone’s safety.  As imperfect as it is, we hope this is the start of our long awaited journey back to normality.  Further information on the opening of other churches will follow in due course.

If transport is a problem, please contact one of the Ministry Team or a member of your PCC who will organise you a lift.

My Dear Friends

As I am writing this I am looking out of the window and seeing some blessed rain. It’s been so beautiful for weeks and thankfully those with gardens have manged some outside space and fresh air.  But, oh dear, everything has become parched. Just as we’ve needed rain, we have also longed for some clarification on the future of churches. I’m sure some of you will have been aware of rather bold statements reported in newspapers and attributed to Bishops about the future size and structure of the Church of England. It is certainly the case that a great deal of discussion IS going on, both nationally and locally. Our own Shellrock Benefice Team has started to discuss what we do after the churches are allowed to open again. Because of the continuation of social distancing and all the other safeguards that will need to be put in place, it certainly cannot be “business as usual”. We had our first meeting, by Zoom, on Monday past, and will continue these meetings until there is clarity about the way ahead. We want to identify the needs and wishes of each village community, so I would encourage you to put forward a view, so that we can try to encompass as many perspectives as possible. 

Tuesday of this forthcoming week (June 9^th) sees the funeral of Doreen Lincoln. This will be a graveside funeral beginning at 11.30 am at Rockland All Saints Church. Doreen has been a prominent member of the community for many years and I have suggested that, apart from her small family at the graveside, anyone who wishes to honour her could be at the periphery of the churchyard. Alternatively, people might like to be present on Rectory Lane as the hearse leaves her former home to travel to All Saints Church. We are saddened at the loss of Doreen and will continue to pray for her family.

I am aware that what I have written above has a somewhat “down” tone. We are living through tough times which are affecting some people very badly. I think it is right that we acknowledge this and all the attendant losses and do our best to support and to remember through prayer and continuing to care. As a balance, I want to end with a brief report of a seminar I was present at earlier in the week. This of course was on Zoom and there were 169 people present. Bishop Graham had invited our former Archbishop Rowan Williams to speak to us. I found his words were inspirational. He reminded us that we are the body of Christ here on earth. Whether we are alone, apart from each other, in a group, at work, on the shop floor, in fact wherever we are, we are connected and remain connected, not just in our small corner of Norfolk but throughout the whole of creation.  At moments of feeling isolated, I warm to that thought.

My love to you all,

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

                           8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                          11.00am          BBC1               Sunday Worship from St David’s Cathedral
                            1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise with Aled Jones
                            3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Warwick

Benefice Team meeting

After a few hiccups all the participants to the meeting last Monday managed to link in with the last making it 30 seconds before the end!  Hopefully this time we shall all be ready to go from the start.

The next ‘Zoom’ Benefice Team meeting is scheduled for 1900 on Monday 8th June. If anyone has something they wish to bring to the attention of the Benefice Team please contact your church warden or a member of the PCC.

Bishop of Lynn

The Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick has announced that he will retire from his post as Suffragan Bishop of Lynn on 25 January 2021.  Full details of the announcement can be found on the diocesan website via this link:

https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news/bishop-of-lynn-announces-retirement/

My Dear Friends,

The weeks go by and I expect we are all looking forward to some kind of resolution to the “lockdown”, and if no resolution, then a lessening of the uncertainty which has been the case as time has gone on. I think that this week has been particularly unhelpful as a result of comings and goings and different opinions about what our political leaders are actually saying ----- or meaning.  There has been a general concern about the impact of the crisis on mental health and one thing which seriously impacts on people’s mental well-being is on-going uncertainty.   I pray that we will begin to receive a clearer picture of what can be possible in our parishes, and whether we are planning for a few weeks, or much longer.

In the meantime, I know that a lot of you are engaged in helping others in various ways. The community shop in Rocklands is just one example, and I am enormously grateful to all volunteers who are running an efficient, friendly service whether for over the counter purchasing, or the delivery of ordered boxes of food.  This and all other similar acts are inspiring examples of love in action.

We remain concerned about the vulnerability of several parishioners and I have noted some prayer requests in our weekly service sheet. We have been saddened to learn that Doreen L died on May 27^th and I will be watching out for news of her funeral. Although numbers at her funeral may be very restricted, it may be possible to arrange a “guard of honour” as we did for Elizabeth Griffiths who died a few weeks ago. This was much appreciated by her bereaved husband, Peter.

Another issue that I would like us to be thinking and praying about is the re-opening of the schools on June 1^st, at least for some children.   There is considerable worry about this, the physical safety as well as the psychological well-being of children and staff at every level. A great deal of hard work has been going on locally, and nationally, to ensure the best environment for all.  Let us remember all who are concerned about this important development.

I haven’t mentioned anything about Pentecost, and of course we can only lament in true Psalmist’s fashion that we are not able to come together, face to face, for this important festival. But there will be many opportunities on Sunday for services of different kinds, on TV, Radio, YouTube, and so on, and we may like to tune in and enjoy one or more of these. And I have included all the readings for this Sunday on the weekly service sheet together with a few words of reflection. May the Holy Spirit uplift and continue to guide us.

My love to you all, Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Please include in your prayers this week:

- Doreen Lincoln who died last week, her family and friends

- Jonathan Graham who has so far failed to recover from his illness

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 31st May:
                           8.10am          Radio 4            Sunday Worship from City Church Cardi
                          11.00am          BBC1               Sunday Worship from Hereford Cathedral
                            1.15pm          BBC1               Songs of Praise with Revd Kate Bottley
                            3.00pm          Radio 3            Choral Evensong from St David’s Cathedral

Benefice Team meeting

There will be a ‘Zoom’ Benefice Team meeting at 19:30 1^st June.

My Dear Friends,

Yet another week goes by, and we are still separated from each other, apart from telephone and e-mail. I hope that you are all still reasonably well, and are able to use the time to be involved in things that you enjoy and find creative and beneficial. Everyone recognises the frustration that is still around and the longing to see, face to face, our loved family members and friends.

Several times a week I am in touch with other clergy through this amazing resource called ZOOM. This last week there was a Zoom meeting involving clergy from this Deanery at which Bishop Alan and Archdeacon Steven Betts were present. You can imagine that there were a number of questions being asked, such as “how much longer” “what do we do when the churches are open again”, “what of the future” and so on. I will say again, the diocese has been excellent in keeping people informed and making available to us all resources which we can use if we wish.  We will be hearing quite quickly as decisions are made.

As you know I have been sending out a service sheet and I continue to hope that this has some use for individuals and families. Over the next few weeks, we are going to try and arrange for a service to be available online through Zoom.  Irrespective of this, I will continue to be in touch by phone and e-mail and my prayer is that VERY soon, even if we can’t meet as a full congregation, I can be confident that it is safe to come and visit.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 17 May            8.10am           Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                                    10.45am           BBC1               Sunday Worship from St Bangor Cathedral
                                      1.15pm           BBC1               Songs of Praise
                                      3.00pm           Radio 3            Choral Evensong from Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (2016)

My Dear Friends

This week I had hoped I would be conveying some news about the fuller opening of our churches but, as yet, no change has been indicated. I met with Sue and Colin earlier this week (on Zoom) and we had a conversation about bringing together members of the Benefice Team, again on Zoom, to share some ideas about the way ahead. This we hope will happen in the next fortnight, and we will certainly be keeping everyone in touch with changes and developments.

In the meantime, there are an increasing number of different resources that we can use. I must say I think our Diocese has done well to identify so much that can be used. Just this morning, Bishop Graham was advising of a talk by our former Archbishop Rowan Williams which will be available to tune into in June.

Now I know that not everyone has access to computers and one of the things we will be addressing when the Benefice Team meets is how to ensure that everyone DOES have access to these materials. My hope is that, as visiting is loosened over the next months, we might be able to share these resources with each other, keeping the required distance of course.

You will probably observe that the weekly service sheet I’m posting out is growing ever shorter. This week on the advice of others in the ministry team, I am just listing possible topics for prayers. This is in an effort to bring the service sheet down to a single sheet. I didn’t manage it this week, but that’s the intention! It would be very helpful if you could let us know what is, and would be most helpful for you. For example, do you enjoy the radio or TV broadcast services on a Sunday? Do you already identify web-based materials that you enjoy? Anything else? We welcome your opinions.

John Scase has given his permission for me to share with you a very nice letter we received from Bishop Alan at the beginning of this month. Here it is:

Dear John and Christina,

I write to thank you for the generosity and thoughtfulness you have shown in paying 100% of your parish share at this early point in the year.  Your appreciation of the difficult financial situation faced by the diocese at this time is much appreciated, and will go some way to easing our way through the challenges we face.

Along with this goes gratitude for all that you do in the service of God, not least in supporting those hardest hit by our current situation.   I imagine, like me, you are praying for all those most affected by this crisis, for a speedy resolution to the challenges we face and a hope that we may emerge with a changed and better sense of what is most important. With all good wishes.  
God bless you. + Alan

It is good in these troubled times that we are able to make this significant contribution from the life and witness of our community.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 17 May            8.10am           Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                                    10.45am           BBC1               Sunday Worship from St David's Cathedral
                                      1.15pm           BBC1               Songs of Praise
                                    11.15am           BBC1               Sunday Morning Stories - series with Revd Kate Bottley tells tales of faith, hope and spirituality.

Ascension Day service
A reminder that there is an Ascension Day service being broadcast from St Mary’s church, Attleborough on Thursday 21st May at 7.30pm. Details of how to connect to the broadcast can be found in the Shellrock Ramblings for 3rd May here. You can request another copy if you have lost it.

There is a service broadcasted on radio - 8.00pm Radio 4 A Celebration for Ascension Day

My Dear Friends

Today is Friday, VE Day, and it seems to me to be even more strange that we are not in the company of each other to enjoy all the many activities that had been planned. I know that the creative amongst us are putting on a special spread for their families, where this is possible. Some items on the menu include crab paste sandwiches, jam tarts, jelly and trifle; all apparently included in the street parties of 1945, of which most of us have no memories. I hope that you will get something from reading the war time stimulated thoughts and recollections of those who sent a contribution to me and which I posted out last evening. Please don’t think that this avenue of expression is now closed. If after this weekend or the weeks to come you would like to add your own or further thoughts, these can easily be incorporated into the existing document.

I’ve been speaking to a number of people by phone and have got the sense that what I have been sending out, through Colin, as a Sunday service is too lengthy. I acknowledge the cost of paper and ink, and the hassle of getting the document printed for those without a facility. This week I have shortened the service so that it can be printed on a single sheet. Rather than printing out the readings, I have just identified them so that you can look them up in any available Bible. The full service, including the readings, will still be on the website.

Our Prime Minister will be making some announcements on Sunday about how we move away from lockdown, and it’s likely that our Bishops will give their decision soon afterwards. It is obviously our hope that we soon will have a clear picture of what is going to be possible during the next phase.

There is a wealth of material on all media to choose from, and I do hope that this weekend will prove to be one of both thanksgiving and reflection on the war and its implications and aftermath. We so need justice and peace in our world, and I pray most fervently that our thoughts about the war and about where we are as a nation and a world will bring about positive change. Thy Kingdom Come, O Lord; Thy will be done.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 12 April            8.10am           Radio 4            Sunday Worship with Dr Rowan Williams
                                    10.45am           BBC1               Sunday Worship from Hereford Cathedral
                                      1.15pm           BBC1               Songs of Praise with Kathryn Jenkins
                                    11.15am           BBC1               Sunday Morning Stories - new series with Revd Kate Bottley tells tales of faith, hope and spirituality.

My Dear Friends,

Yesterday, the Prime Minister and his partner were rejoicing with lots of champagne at the safe arrival of a baby boy. This morning I joined a guard of honour as the funeral hearse of Liz Griffiths passed from Little Ellingham on its way to the Scoulton crematorium. And there are several of our families who are bitterly disappointed that their planned wedding cannot happen as arranged. Births, marriages, deaths; life events which are such an important part of the life of any parish, reaching out to families and individuals. And there are other important transitions which also are being affected. Our young people are facing a deal of uncertainty about the new system of assessment grades, and are wondering whether they will make it to their chosen college or work place.   We can do little except to keep thinking and praying for people known to us who in so many different ways are being impacted by this viral disease.

Resources continue to be developed to help us. A new one appeared this last week. It was launched By Archbishop Justin Welby and it’s called “Daily Hope”. This is a free phone line service offering hymns, reflections and prayers and it has been especially designed for people who don’t have access to on-line materials. For those who do have access, there is an enormous amount now available, and some of it is excellent.

I continually wonder about what you are all doing ------ a lot in the garden and baking I know. I thought I’d send you this lovely cartoon from last week’s Church Times suggesting some of the things clergy might be getting up to during this lock-down.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 12 April            8.10am           Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                                    10.45am           BBC1               Sunday Worship
                                      1.15pm           BBC1               Songs of Praise

Sue Strutt has provided us with a prayer written by her Father which she believes is rather appropriate for today’s circumstances and which you may wish to use:

Dad’s Prayer (Sydney Baines)

We thank you, O Lord our God, that you are in every place,
and that no space or distance can ever separate us from you;
that those who are absent from each other are still present with you.

Have in your holy keeping those from whom we are now separated,
And grant that both they and we, by drawing nearer to you,
may be drawn nearer to one another in this fellowship,
In Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Ascension Day Service

Although this is a few weeks away, it may be that some of you are interested in joining in with this service.  Each year an invite goes out to the Deanery to get together at St Mary’s church Attleborough, and, although the following letter is addressed to members of the Deanery Synod, the service is open to all.......

Dear Deanery Synod member,

In the past couple of years it has been a pleasure to welcome congregations from across the Deanery to a Service on Ascension Day. Sadly we can’t meet in person this year but we can still worship together via ‘Zoom’. The Service will also be live streamed on YouTube.

Please do join in the Service on Thursday 21st May at 7.30pm and encourage others to be part of the celebration too. Canon Steve Wright will be our preacher during the service which will last roughly half an hour.

You will need this link to access St Mary’s via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9507543972

If you have not already done so, you will be invited to install a small program called, "Zoom" onto your device (PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone) and then you will get access. You might like to try the link in advance to check that you know what to do.

The Service can also be viewed on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9-hfpluCuxwW5haAixYzQ

You can also access the services by phone:
Use this number (charged at standard geographical rate) to join us: 0131 460 1196
Meeting ID: 950 754 3972
If you have friends who do not have internet access and would like to join by phone please pass on the numbers.

You will also need sight of a Service Sheet which will be available from Monday 18th May from www.attleboroughchurch.org.uk

Hope to see some of you then.

With best wishes,

Matthew.

My Dear Friends

Yet another week of lock-down, but also, the continuation of beautiful weather, perfect for gardening and the delight of pollution free air. I think that so far, as a group of parishes, we have remained free of the virus, but I hope that I haven’t missed hearing about anyone who has fallen ill with it. My understanding, from what I’ve read and heard on TV, is that there is tremendous variability in the impact of this particular virus on physical health. It seems that there is similar variability in our reactions to “lock-down”. I try to contact at least three people each day, either by phone or e-mail. In doing so, sometimes I’m aware of a continuation of considerable anxiety, but for others, it seems to be a blessed relief to be working at a slower pace. There is no right or wrong way of coping. We are all unique and respond accordingly.

As you know, I am producing a short service sheet for any who would like to keep to the routine of 10.30am on a Sunday, and this is now going to be included on our Shellrock website. I have had just a little feedback on this service sheet, and it would be good to hear your views. I have been toying with the idea of doing something on “Zoom” but will only purse this if it is going to be welcomed. I have discovered that this interactive visual and auditory system is much easier to navigate than I had thought, although it still requires some degree of IT literacy. I’ve also been listening to different versions of hymns on U tube and some of them are suitable for singing along with. One of the hymns listed for this week, Easter 3, is appropriately “Bind us together Lord”. Shall we try it? Certainly, there has been creativity throughout the diocese on how to keep up the momentum of worship and prayer, and I am impressed with the ideas that have been forthcoming and put into practice. If you have any thoughts about what you think might be helpful, do please let me know.

In the meantime, you are in my thoughts and prayers each day. I miss seeing people terribly and long for us to be able to be together, or to be able to visit each other freely. However, all the indications are that the safeguards currently in place will take a long time to be lifted and the next challenge will be, for all of us, how to move into the future as a Christian community.

My love to you all

Christina

Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service is here

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 12 April            8.10am           Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                                    10.45am           BBC1               Sunday Worship
                                      1.15pm           BBC1               Songs of Praise

My Dear Friends

I don’t know if it’s been your experience, but contrary to what I had anticipated when we went into shut down, time seems to be whizzing by. And I certainly have managed to keep active, but in a different way from usual. There‘s a lot of discarded “stuff” to be taken to the charity shops when they open again, and that has meant thinking about priorities. What is important; do I really want to keep that birthday card or letter from 40 odd years ago; what happened to Billy in this photograph I wonder; why did I do that?  Done slowly and methodically it has been, and indeed can be, an important opportunity for reflection.  In this process I have remembered people who have been important on the journey, people who have been influential in different ways. I have remembered some of the tricky decisions where a change of direction meant opening up to a different set of options and a contrasting world view.  It’s been a challenging, but spiritually useful opportunity; going backwards as a preparation for moving forward, I suppose.

I do hope that each one of you has found some unexpected opportunity that has arisen as a result of an imposed change in the normal pace of living. I know that a lot of gardening has been going on, and all of us have appreciated the lovely warm sun and longer days.

But I also know that there has been a lot of sadness and anxiety about family members who are ill, vulnerable and extremely lonely.  I have in mind the worry that some have, knowing that someone close is working at the sharp end, in hospital or community, and is at risk of becoming ill with the virus. There is so much to be thinking and praying about in the days and probably weeks ahead.

Whatever your position, please be aware of my thoughts and prayers. As for previous Sundays, I have designed a brief service sheet which you may find useful.

My love to you all

Christina

Elizabeth Griffiths

Sadly we have been informed of the death last week-end of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Griffiths of Little Ellingham.  Lizzie was a key and founding member of the Friends of St Peter, Little Ellingham and we owe her a huge debt of thanks for all the hard work she did on behalf of St Peter's church.  In this restrictive time we can only offer our heartfelt condolences to her husband Peter and include Lizzie and Peter in our prayers.  The funeral will be held on 30^th April with only close family attending.

Sunday Services

The Shellrock Sunday Service provided by Christina is here

Christian worship programmes

Sunday, 19 April            8.10am           Radio 4            Sunday Worship
                                    10.00am           BBC1               Sunday Worship
                                      1.15pm           BBC1               Songs of Praise

My Dear Friends

Palm Sunday when Jesus enters Jerusalem is the start of Holy Week, a time when we would have been gathering together throughout the week and following His journey to the cross and to the triumph of Easter. It has been all the more poignant that we cannot physically be together at such an important time. Bearing this in mind we have prepared a brief service which we can use together at the usual time of our Sunday services. What we are suggesting is that as many as wish to do so, follow this service at 10.30 on Sunday morning. I shall continue to prepare an appropriate brief service for each Sunday that follows. It’s not satisfactory I know, but it gives a sense that, yes, we are a worshipping and caring community and that even though we can’t meet face to face, we can together take time to remember and to pray for each other.

It would be helpful if you could let us know what you think of this idea. We also would like to know of requests for prayer and anything that you would wish to be communicated throughout the benefice. I shall continue to be in touch by telephone and e-mail and to remember each one of you in my daily prayers.

My love to you all

Christina

Further notices.........

Shellrock Sunday Service

The Shellrock Sunday Service will be published each week with the Ramblings as a separate attachment. As usual, please print off a copy for anyone who does not receive the Ramblings and wishes to join in the worship. If you have any prayer requests, can you please email them to me with the subject title of ‘Prayer Request’. It would be helpful if you could send the requests for each Sunday by the preceding Friday to my personal email address colin.thomas196@btinternet.com

Further worship resources

The ‘Sunday Hope’ podcast for Palm Sunday is now available There are several churches in our diocese live streaming services. A list can be found on the diocesan website using the following link https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news/live-streams/?utm_source=eNews&utm_campaign=2d81fb2f90-eNews-03-
04-2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd70a841d3-2d81fb2f90-
301766261&mc_cid=2d81fb2f90&mc_eid=ed3520c52e

Daily Reflections during Holy Week

The Revd Canon Keith James, CMD officer for the Norwich Diocese, has compiled some Daily reflections from Holy Monday through to Good Friday.

By Susanna Gunner:
A painting, a short reflection and a prayer are offered to make connections between aspects of our Holy Week journey and the global pandemic which, this year, is inescapably our context for that journey https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/resource/holy-week-reflections/

So much of our work and other contacts is now via screens and phones. Brian Draper's Midday Moment is a helpful oasis in the day. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF9Ig6JeFQKBTiLatNNH66Q

He has been producing emails during Lent with short reflections, prayers and practical actions – he is continuing to do this after Easter http://briandraper.org/lent-2020-wilder-ness

How to stay in virtual touch with older friends and family https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51933618

Many useful resources around church and covid-19 on the Heartedge website – from St. Martin’s in the Fields https://www.heartedge.org/

A comment piece from Pete Phillips (Durham University) - some reflections on what we already know about the church in the online world
https://mcusercontent.com/d12dcf1ac0951a3d0a9c1829f/files/4de62329-3548-48d6-b456-
d09fd5f04ae2/The_Church_Online.pdf

The pattern and shape of my days has been disrupted and shaken and still doesn’t feel settled in any way yet – here is a prayer that draws us to seek God’s gift of this day and the days ahead.

No one knew the name of this day;
Born quietly from deepest night,
It hid its face in light,
Demanded nothing for itself,
Opened out to offer each of us
A field of brightness that travelled ahead,
Providing in time, ground to hold our footsteps
And the light of thought to show the way.
The mind of the day draws no attention;
It dwells within the silence with elegance
To create a space for all our words,
Drawing us to listen inward and outward.
We seldom notice how each day is a holy place
Where the eucharist of the ordinary happens,
Transforming our broken fragments
Into an eternal continuity that keeps us.
Somewhere in us a dignity presides
That is more gracious than the smallness
That fuels us with fear and force,
A dignity that trusts the form a day takes.
So at the end of this day, we give thanks
For being betrothed to the unknown
And for the secret work
Through which the mind of the day
And wisdom of the soul become one. -John O'Donohue

My Dear Friends

The situation we find ourselves in as a world, a nation, a community and a church has certainly highlighted some key aspects of human beings and human behaviour. We are seeing the very best and the very worst of what we appear to be capable of, and of course each one of us has the capacity to move in either direction. A fundamental aspect of humanity is that we are social, and I suspect that many of us feel deeply frustrated at the restrictions on meeting. I certainly long to pop in to see people, have a coffee and a chat and share news. But if we are all of us obedient to the best advice coming from government and reinforced by our church leaders, we will surmount this major crisis.

There is so much to be praying for. Outside our own country, the situation of people in refugee camps is quite dreadful. Within our shores, the plight of the homeless presents a major challenge. Many of us are privileged to have a good amount of space around us and a garden in which to take a breath of air but what about those who are confined to a high rise flat with no outer space to call their own. And I am aware of the psychological impact on those who are naturally of an anxious disposition. So much to think about and so many people to hold in our prayers.

I am trying to keep in touch with different people every day, by phone and by e-mail and I know that in each of our parishes, people are reaching out and are providing practical help and psychological support for each other. The diocese is producing a lot of information and guidance and the Diocesan website is a helpful resource for all of us.

Let us pray for patience to recognise what we need to do for ourselves and for each other at this quite extraordinary time in all our lives.

With love to you all

Christina

Church closures

By now you should know that all churches in the Church of England have been instructed to close. This means that no forms of worship will now take place within the building, nor is anyone allowed to enter. The only service being conducted will be a funeral at the graveside and that will be short and restricted to immediate family to minimise the possibility of transmitting/catching COVID-19. Crematoriums will have their own rules but are likely to be similar.

British Summer Time

A reminder that the clocks go forward 1 hour on Sunday at 1am. Not that we are going to be late for anything as we are not allowed anywhere.

Lent

Although all church activities have ceased, it is still Lent and well done to all of you who are keeping to their Lenten promise. Not long to go now. We have a box of Cadbury’s Eggs bought to distribute on Easter Day. What am I going to do with them all!?

Regular Sunday Worship

Last Sunday Norwich Diocese broadcast the first of a weekly audio podcast service of worship called ‘Sunday Hope’. This first service celebrating Mothering Sunday was led by Bishop Graham, the Bishop of Norwich. A transcript of each service is also available. For further details, including how to access the podcast and the transcript of the service, follow the link below:

https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news/podcast-sunday-hope/

The service for this coming Sunday, Passiontide Sunday, is now available led by Bishop Alan, Bishop of Thetford.

The readings for this Sunday are:
Ezekiel 37. 1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8. 6-11
John 11. 1-45

For those who wish to catch up on the Mothering Sunday ‘Sunday Hope’ podcast and transcript they are still available. If you can’t for any reason access the podcast then just use the transcript.

I personally enjoyed this relatively short service (yes even I, the IT dinosaur, managed to access it following the instructions given). Maybe it was the fact that relying on sound only with no visual distractions allowed me to focus solely on what was being said. I am looking forward to this Sunday and hearing Bishop Alan when I sit down in the peace and quiet of my own home.

There are many other podcasts around which may appeal to you more. You can look for services on Youtube and several churches in Norfolk have been streaming their services. You can go to the Church of England website and it gives a list of all churches streaming a service, though not sure whether these will happen with the new rules on church closures.

Other broadcasts this Sunday are:
08.10 Radio 4 Sunday Worship
13.15 BBC1 Songs of Praise
15.00 Radio 3 Choral Evensong

Lift up your Hearts

Starting this week, the newspaper Church Times is producing an A4 leaflet entitled ‘Lift up your hearts’. They plan to produce each week a ‘collection of prayers and reflections which, we hope, will help to support the people who are deprived from the gifts that come from churchgoing’. I have copied this first edition in the next two pages. If you wish to continue to read this leaflet in the weeks to come, you can access it via their website:

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk

The leaflet can be found under the ‘Resources for churches’ on the right side of the home page. If you know of someone who would like to read this leaflet but does not have access to the internet, you have their permission to print it for them. If you have any difficulty, please let me know. I particularly liked the item entitled ‘Not huddled like frightened sheep’. Like so many of you, I remember it well.

There is also much more information on this website you may wish to explore.

I think that is all for now.

God Bless and keep safe.

Colin