St Michael’s Church Services Restart

In view of the greatly reduced number of COVID cases in Cherwell and South Northamptonshire districts the Rector and PCC have decided that the time is right again to re-start services in St Michael’s Church on Sundays.

So, with this Sunday, 28th February,  being the second Sunday of Lent the Rector will lead a communion service at 11am – and the normal services will carry on in March in the lead up to Easter, including Mothering Sunday on 14th March and Palm Sunday on 28th March.

Services are only for Aynho so there will be no visitors travelling from within the Benefice and the general restrictions about travel will mean that others from beyond the locality will not attend. We do and will keep a record of those attending for a short time (3 weeks) to meet our  “track and trace “ requirement.

We must emphasise that however much all parishioners are welcome at the services there is no pressure on anyone to leave their homes to attend. The pandemic is still going on. Only some parishioners have had a first jab. The restrictions of lockdown still prevail and of course there is still a risk in going out. Nevertheless we are all able to make our own decisions about whether we go out in the circumstances and recognise the risks involved to us personally!

The PCC have and will put in place all the risk mitigation measures that are advised for Churches in general and which are particular to St Michael’s. Those measures are very similar to the ones we worked up last year before we closed the Church last month in view of the very high number of cases in the local area.  We would like just to emphasise some particular points:

• Hand sanitising is necessary on entry to the Church and Face coverings should be worn throughout.
• Entry will be by the Main door only.
• Exit will be by the North (side) door only (leaving space and time for the children and the parents to leave by the Main door).
• Please keep your distance as you wait to be seated – and we ask you to save the social side of your coming to church until you are outside in the fresh air afterwards.
• The luxury of space will be used in the Church to keep everyone spread out in the pews.
• Communion will be given by the Rector in place – please use the hand sanitiser in your pew before receiving communion.
• The collection plate for your offerings will be at the entrance table and there will be no collection plate circulated at the Offertory.
• Sadly there is still a rule which stops both a choir and congregational singing.

If there are any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Kathy (01869 810418) or Andrew (01869 810847)  – otherwise we very much hope to see you once again in St Michael’s. 

GO TO ‘CHURCH SERVICES/PRAYERS’ PAGE TO SEE THE DATES AND TIMES OF SERVICES