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Church at the moment

On By Revd TeresaLeave a comment

We’re back! We have resumed our normal service times (10am on the first Sunday of the month and 9.15 on the rest). We are exempt from the ‘rule of 6’, but we are not allowed to ‘mingle’ (!) Because of social distancing, numbers are limited. Let the vicar know if you’re coming to reserve a place.

Singing is not allowed at the moment , wearing of face coverings is now mandatory in church unless you are exempt, we maintain 2m social distancing and a one way system of movement, we have hand sanitising stations throughout church and the building is sanitised after each service. We think church is a very safe place to be.

The ‘Covid Marshall’ from the Environment Agency did a spot check on church recently (yes, it’s a thing) and we passed with flying colours. Thank you to everyone who helps to keep us safe at church.

Children and church. We can’t run junior church at the moment – so we are providing personalised ‘activity bags’ for younger children to use during the service. They have pens/pencils,  colouring sheets, quizzes or wordsearches and an activity linked to the theme of the readings.

Coming up next month

  • All Souls Requiem Mass: 2nd November at 10am; let the vicar know if you would like a loved one remembered at this service, contact the Vicar (vicarccwc@gmail.com)
  • ‘Time to say Goodbye’….memorial service(s) for the recently bereaved 2pm and 4pm on 8th November. Please invite anyone who has been bereaved – it’s open to all, but we need them to book places under current restrictions. (see following post)
  • ‘Virtual’ Cream Tea 4pm on 22nd November. Buy a box of delicious cream tea (also available with a mini bottle of prosecco), come to the zoom meeting and hear Bart from Hovis talk about the mysteries of bread, while you enjoy your tea! Tickets £6 and £9 available from the vicar.

Dealing with loss

On By Revd TeresaLeave a comment

Practical things to help with processing grief.

Even as we wait impatiently for things to “return to normal”, we know there are things that will not. And we have to accept that. And grieve for them, and the people we have lost.

Although grief is painful, we must recognise the importance of honouring it, both individually and collectively, and of allowing it to unfold in its own time rather than holding it to a timetable. Seeking to avoid it only makes things worse.

These things can help:

Writing a Grief Letter or Grief List.   Making an inventory of what we are grieving for can be enormously helpful when we feel overwhelmed. A letter, a list, a journal /diary entry. ‘What I Will Miss’

Making a Memorial Corner. Creating a special place to make space for grief –  tickets unused, photos of people we loved who have died, things they loved to hold or wear – can help us to say goodbye.

A Gratitude Walk. Physical movement can unlock things in us that thinking alone cannot. Going for walks, alone or with a loved one (whether beside us or on the phone) while focusing on things we are thankful for can be a powerful practice for dealing with loss.

Listening to Music that Helps us Feel. Music can open a pathway to our emotions in a way that words sometimes cannot, and we can open ourselves up to grief through listening to a familiar piece of music either alone or with others.

Telling Stories. When someone we love has died, it helps to listen to, and tell, stories about them, just as we do at a wake – and we can find deep comfort in spaces to remember specific losses in our lives, either with one other person or with a group.

Talk to someone outside your family or circle of friends who is not part of the grieving circle.

Christ Church is here to help; if you would like to speak to someone contact the Vicar