COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Guidance
21 March 2020
Latest News
21 March 2020
Hello
We are continuing to do all we can to respond to this crisis as day by day the government sets out the situation.
All church meetings and services are cancelled up until June, following the PM’s statement that it will take at least that long for ‘the tide to turn’.
All Saints’, St. Edmund’s and St. Antony’s Church buildings to be closed at all times.
We must be disciplined in practising ‘social distancing’. As so many members of our congregations are over 70 or come into the ‘at risk’ category, we must prevent any risk of infection.
If you need any help at all, with anything, please contact me or Jeremy in the first instance.
How families can cope with self-isolating together
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51936286
With Christian love and prayers,
Martin Greenfield, Rector
Sanderstead Parish
Scripture for holding on to God in a tough time.
The poetry of Lamentations was written at a time of national defeat and disgrace. It doesn’t hold back on expressing pain, suffering and grief. But in the middle, the poet writes:
‘Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness’ (3:21-23).
17 March 2020
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Guidance
Following the government advice given yesterday, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have decided that public worship must stop for a season. Usual Sunday Services and other mid-week gatherings must be put on hold.
Therefore, there will be no services of worship at 8.30 or 10am this Sunday and until further notice.
In the meantime, we should all follow the advice given by the government at https://www.gov.uk/
I draw your attention particularly to the necessity of regular handwashing and of social distancing.
Please be assured that we shall be doing everything possible to keep everyone safe, and to make sure that all, particularly the most vulnerable, are cared for and feel looked after.
This is a very testing and anxious time. Let's Keep in Touch. We shall continue to follow the guidance given by the government and the church, and pass it on.
In the meantime, we can be encouraged in our faith in Almighty God by some words from Psalm 91.
With love and prayers
Martin
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Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence…
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you…
9 If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
16 March 2020
· Tuesday and Friday morning Toddler Groups have been closed until further notice. Many of our helpers are in the ‘at risk’ category which is why it is sensible to take this precaution now. Similarly, Friday’s Coffee Pot is closed.
· Keep our Halls and staff safe! Wash your hands on entering and leaving the Church Halls. If you need to enter the Parish Office, keep a distance of two metres, and where possible make contact by telephone 020 8657 0665.
· We want to support individuals who are self-isolating, and would ask you to let us know if you know of anyone, in particular single people, and the elderly who are isolated from their families. Do they have enough food, medicines such as pain-killers, fluids? Please do let me, Jeremy or Sandra know. It is really important that everyone is looked after by somebody at this difficult time.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.
From “24-7 Prayer”
Jehovah Shalom, God of Peace,
we remember those living in coronavirus hotspots and those currently in isolation.
May they know Your presence in their isolation, Your peace in their turmoil and Your patience in their waiting.
Prince of peace, You are powerful and merciful.
May El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty who loves us, protect us.
May Jesus Christ, His Son who died for us, save us.
And may the Holy Spirit, who broods over the chaos and fills us with His presence, intercede for us and in us for others at this time. Amen.
We are praying together as a community for everyone directly affected by Coronavirus, and for the Peace of God to fill all hearts at this time.
May the nation turn to God and look to Him for wisdom, strength, help and healing.
With Christian love and prayers,
Martin
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