The church will be open for public worship on Sundays at 10.15am, please click here for more information on the opening of St. Paul's for public services during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Fifth Sunday after Trinity - 12th July 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

What an emotional Sunday we had last week. For the 48 who attended, for those who needed to stay in isolation, for those who joined us on the live stream. We have all missed being together as a family. We have missed worshipping together, laughing, chatting, eating and drinking. Of course we couldn’t all receive communion on Sunday and it will be the same this Sunday, but next Sunday, 19 July, I hope to be able to distribute communion in one kind to all who feel they can partake. This will again be emotional, and may not be right for everyone. If you are unwell you should stay away from church for as long as it takes. If receiving makes you scared, then there is no compulsion to have communion at the moment. I am giving you time to think and plan. 

Planning is what I also must do. I will cut the readings down to two, because the communion distribution will take a little longer due to keeping a safe distance from each other. We will continue to make a single queue down the central aisle, but the social distancing will require care and management. You must return to your seats via the outside aisles, keeping 2 metres apart. There will be a line on the floor at the front which you stand behind to receive. No words will be said while receiving, from me or you. I will say the words, “The Body of Christ,” to everyone before you come forward. You should NOT say Amen. The distance will have to reduce to 1 metre to receive, this is why no words should be said, to protect me and you. Hold out your arms towards me, with one hand on top of the other, or one arm only extended, and I will drop a wafer into your palm. You should eat it straight away and then turn to right or left to travel via the outside aisles. My hands will have been sanitised before I consecrate, and again before I distribute the host. It will be done in silence, so that we can concentrate. 

I will not have spoken over the elements and they will remain covered. The Holy Spirit can travel where it wants and can get through lids or cloths! All who touch the vessels before the service will have used hand sanitiser and everything will be scrupulously clean. 

I hope that this is sufficient information for now. We all know that everything could change at a moments notice and that by the 19th we may have been restricted again. I pray that it will not be so and that no spike in the virus happens so that we all stay safe and well. To use the words of Isaiah from the pew sheet this week, “For you shall go out with joy, and be led back in peace.” Amen

“Individual prayer within a place of worship is defined as a person or household entering the venue to pray on their own and not as part of a group, led prayer or communal act. They should be socially distanced from other individuals or households.” GOV.UK 

This week opening times for Private Prayer will be as follows:
Wednesday 15th - 2.00pm - 4.00pm 
(This allows for at least 72 hours between openings so that the virus cannot live.)

If you wish someone to be prayed for then please write a note at home and leave it beneath the crucifix on the radiator ledge, or post through the Parish Office door, to the left of the main doors.  Fr Michael will collect these at the end of each day and add to his prayer list. 

Please continue using the ‘Act of Spiritual Communion’ (Click here to download a copy) along with the relevant readings which can be found on the Services page under Sunday Readings.

The Weekly Pew Sheet can be found under the News and Events page.

In emergencies please phone the Vicarage 01895 633499 

Reflections by Fr Nick, Rev (Wg Cdr) N.L. Cook.  Padre at RAF Northolt
Click on the following links to download Fr Nick's reflections:

12th May 2020   - Who knows if we will be able to sing Christmas carols when the time comes....
20th May 2020  -  Many years ago I was a Chaplain in psychiatry....
29th May 2020 -  Winston Church described the Evacuation of Dunkirk as a ' miracle of deliverance'....
10th June 2020 -The British response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has been notable...
17th June 2020 - It's too soon to tell what effect 'social distancing' and isolation will have......
24th June 2020 - Monday was the anniversary of the landing of His Majesty's Troopship Empire Windrush....
1st July 2020      - I was once told by a serviceman who had previously spent a lot of time away from home ....
8th July 2020     - Did you exploit some of the new opportunities at the weekend?.....

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