31st July 2020 Update

Hello all Barlaston Family & Friends,

This week the Worship Leadership Group of the Church met together (Vicar, Churchwardens, PCC Treasurer, PCC Secretary and Readers). We had a very good meeting in the current circumstances and met in church with social distancing.

We reviewed the current 1030 Sunday services and thought that they were going well. We propose to carry on with these services for the time being. Please note that the Government issued new guidelines for churches today. As from 8th August face masks are to be worn in church. I know some are concerned about this from both sides of the argument, but we’ve seen locally what happened in Stone last weekend and we do not wish that on Barlaston. We are getting used to wearing masks out and about and in many ways gathering at church is no different. We hope those leading, preaching, saying prayers and reading will not have to wear a mask.

We are planning on having a meeting of the PCC on Tuesday 8th September at 7.00pm in church, to approve the accounts and deal with any other matters of business. We are planning to have our APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) on Sunday 11th October 2020 as part of the 1030 service. We are hoping to celebrate Harvest on Sunday 27th September at 10.30am. Further details on these events will follow in due course.

It is unlikely that Tots Church (Tuesday mornings) will start before 2021.

There are clearly going to be changes at church, some of these are out of our control. Stewart said at our meeting this week, “we have a creative opportunity for something different.” This is exciting and challenging, please continue to pray for the church leadership as they seek God’s plan for the future of His Church here in Barlaston.

You will be sorry to read that Niki Hampson who has been our Administrator for many years, working with four different clergy, has decided to make a move to a venture in gardening. There will be an opportunity to thank Niki at some point in the future for all that she has done for us. We’ll miss her!

Stewart & Julie will be taking a well deserved break over the coming weeks, and we are grateful to Eddie Haycock who is able help us out with services, together with our Readers.

Congratulations to Churchwarden Gill Brealey whose team have made over 600 masks for Kibera!

Please continue to take care, hope to see some of you on Sunday.

Blessings
Dennis Croome
Churchwarden.