Dear Church Family,
Another week of ‘ups and downs’ has passed, and I find myself somewhat confused and concerned about what the best course of action is for the Christmas period. The question of whether we should hold our extra seasonal services and events in light of the national situation around Covid-19 has been with me most of the week. It is with a heavy heart that, after lots of discussion with Church Wardens and the Ministry Team we must cancel the Café based services and do our best to ensure the remaining services are as safe as possible.
Therefore, I can say that both churches will remain open for regular planned worship. This means that the following services are unaffected by any of the new restrictions:
· Sunday 20th December - 9.30 am Holy Communion at St Peter’s and
11.15 am Holy Communion at All Saints.
· Wednesday 23rd December - 9.30 am Holy Communion at All Saints.
· Christmas Eve - 11.30 pm Midnight Mass at All Saints
and 11.30 pm Midnight Mass at St Peter’s.
If you are coming to these services, you will need to wear a face-covering and will only be able to sit with members of your immediate household or bubble. We will also ask you to sign in as you arrive. Please note that both Midnight Mass services are ticketed events, and you won’t be able to attend without a prior booking. There are still some spaces remaining at the midnight service at St Peter’s. You can reserve your seat at www.huttonparish.com/book-online
This week's service sheet can be downloaded here:
If you have a booked for either of the Midnight Mass services and no longer want to attend, please call the office on 01277 262864 and let us know. We understand why some of you may not want to come along but we would like to be able to offer others the opportunity to attend if space becomes available.
The services on Christmas Day and Sunday 27th December will be streamed on our Facebook page only as previously planned.
Unfortunately, we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel both of the "Carols in the Cafe" events as well as the four planned "Christingles in the Cafe” sessions.
As alternatives to these events, we will be producing a recorded Carol Service which will be streamed at 7pm on Sunday 20th December on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/huttonparish
We will also be offering all those who booked to come to the Christingle events a “Make Your Own Christingle Kit”. This can be collected from St Peter’s Church on Monday 21st December from 10 am. This will give families and households time together making Christingles at home with the option of joining me and the rest of the Smiths at 3pm on Christmas Eve for a live-streamed Family Service where we can all make our Christingles together!
This will be my final letter of 2020, as I am looking forward to a good rest with my family in the hope that 2021 may offer us all something brighter and better! Unless the government change the restrictions again, we hope to be back in the church buildings on Sunday 3rd January for the usual morning services at 9.30am and 11.15am.
Finally, my thanks to all of you who have contributed to the ongoing mission and ministry of the parish in 2020. It has been a difficult year, but I am, once again, bowled over by the generosity, commitment and faithful witness that I have seen from so many of you. So, if you have served in the café, donated food to the Food Hub, cleaned, preached, led worship, Zoomed, made refreshments, sung, decorated your front window, delivered letters, delivered food parcels, made phone calls, played music, prayed, joined us on Facebook, come to the Sunday services, given money, gardened, loved your neighbours – OR ANYTHING ELSE – then I would like to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude! This parish only works as it does because so many of you have found your place to serve and do so with such enthusiasm.
I hope and pray you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, whatever it is you decide to do.
With every blessing,
