Dates for your diary

Sunday 30th May – KCB Morning Praise Service 11 am

A reminder that next Sunday (Trinity Sunday) we are holding a joint KCB Morning Praise service – an opportunity for a really good sing! You’re invited to bring a chair (and if necessary umbrellas and warm layers!) to the green space at the front of St Andrew’s Kildwick. We will be led by a brass sextet (thank you, Mary Peet). I know that many of us have missed the opportunity to sing in church over the last 14 months, so please get in practice during the week, and then come along.

Julie’s last Sunday 20th June

Just a reminder for your diaries that on my last Sunday in the parish there will be a single joint service at 11am at Kildwick (which should be big enough to accommodate us allowing for physical distancing).

 

Julie

PCC Matters (and the future)

The PCC will next meet by Zoom on Tuesday 23rd February at 7.30pm – please pray for us as we continue to do our best to steer the parish as best we can in the current circumstances. At that meeting, we will review the situation in the light of government advice and data on infection rates etc to see if we can come up with a timetable for returning to worship in our buildings.

The PCC and I have been doing our best to maintain work on progressing the interim ministry objectives, some of which has inevitably been hampered by the pandemic. There are two main outstanding matters. The first is progressing a plan for the future of St Andrew’s church building; PCC members from Kildwick recently agreed to form a group to do this. The second is helping the new parish to articulate its identity and its mission priorities, to aid the PCC in drawing up a specification for the kind of person needed to serve as the next Vicar. I will be inviting congregation members to share their views via a questionnaire. If we are able to return to worshipping in our buildings before long, I will say more about this exercise then (if that’s not possible, I’ll progress the work through this newsletter, by e-mail and letters).

 

Julie

Sunday Services in February 2021

When the Government announced Lockdown 3, following the arrival of first one then a second virulent strain of the virus, the PCC considered deeply what we should do. The regulations, while emphasising how essential it is to remain at home whenever possible, rather bizarrely allowed gatherings for church services.

There were fairly clear hints from the House of Bishops and we followed the example of many churches and cathedrals. With heavy hearts, we decided that the doors should remain closed in order to minimise the spread of this disease. As the programme of vaccinations rolls out, let’s hope that we can soon re-assess this sad situation.

Services during National Lockdown 3

During this time, there will be Sunday services available via Zoom at 10am (with an opportunity for a chat afterwards), and Evening Prayer will be live-streamed via the KCB Parish Facebook page at 4pm.

Please request more details if required …

 

St Andrew’s Kildwick opening update

For more information see Julie’s newsletter

Update on re-opening church buildings

Last Sunday 12th July, both St Mary’s and St Andrew’s opened for periods of private prayer (9.30am to 10.30am at St Mary’s, and 2pm to 4pm at St Andrew’s). There were 3 visitors to St Mary’s, and at least 23 to St Andrew’s. The format for visiting each place worked well, and seemed to be appreciated by those who came. They will be open at the same time this coming Sunday, 19th July. From Sunday 26th July, St John’s will also be open between 11am and 12 noon for private prayer. This is an important step in communicating to our communities that the Church is still alive and there for all. In Kildwick, the restarting of the church clock has been another audible sign that church buildings are gradually starting to be used again!

Re-opening church buildings for Sunday worship

At its meeting this week the PCC discussed the next stage of reopening for worship. We agreed that we want to hold worship services as soon as possible, commensurate with a proper assessment of the risks involved (which the buildings reopening working will consider at their meeting next week). At the same time, we’re aware that the situation remains fluid, and could change again. As we move towards the autumn and winter, it is possible (even likely) that there will be a resurgence of coronavirus. We may see a reimposition of some restrictions – or people may just feel less able or ready to come to church. So the PCC would like us to develop other ways of worshipping alongside working towards reopening buildings.

 

Reopening St Andrew’s Kildwick

For more information see Julie’s newsletter

Re‐opening church buildings

The government has given permission for church buildings to be open for private prayer, and now also from 4th July for regular worship – although we still await guidance on practicalities. This is permission, not compulsion! A PCC working group has been formed to think through all the issues involved in reopening our buildings. We are carrying out the required COVID‐19 risk assessments, which will inform our planning.

At present we are hoping on Sunday 12th July to open St Mary’s 9.30am to 10.30am, and to open St Andrew’s for a period in the afternoon. The plans for St John’s remain to be confirmed. This will be for the purpose of private prayer. Once the plans are in place, we will publicise them via this newsletter, the Craven Herald, the website and social media. Watch this space for more information!

 

CANCELLED – Flower Festival – 10th-11th & 12th July, 2020

Flower Festival – Planned 10th-11th & 12th July.

THIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

 

Christmas Services at St Andrew’s 2019

Sunday 8th December 4pm – Christmas in the Park – a CDFC event in which members from St Andrew’s will be taking part. Come and take part in a walking nativity, starting outside Stoney Royd on North Road, Sutton. Sunday 15th December 2.30pm – Messy Christmas – come along to Kildwick Parish Rooms for crafts, […]