Dear Friends
We are looking forward to welcoming you back for our first service since the lockdown. The Eucharist service this Sunday 6th December is at St Nicholas, Heythrop at 10am with Revd John Partington.
The readings are: Isaiah 40.1-11 & Mark 1.1-8
Please note the following regular safety precautions below:
– Face masks are obligatory by law at church services, except for clergy. Those taking part in the service, ie reading or leading intercessions may remove them when reading/interceding.
– hand sanitisers will be available as you enter the church, and again before you receive communion
– please collect your own blue service book; they will not be handed out.
– communion will be in one kind only; the chalice will not be offered. Please remain standing to receive the bread.
– there will be no hymns but an organist will play during the service. The service music will be from a recording.
– you’ll be invited to give your offering/donation as you leave the church after the service
– we will not shake hands at the Peace
– please observe social distancing of a least 1 metre and do not sit directly behind or in front of someone. Family members can sit together. When entering and leaving the church please try to avoid bunching up.
– no refreshments are allowed to be served after the service
– if you have downloaded the NHS test & trace app on your phone then please scan the QR code upon arrival at the service.
Our church Christmas cards are now available at St Michael & All Angels, sold in aid of the church building fund. £5 for a pack of 8 – please place your money in the donations box to the left of the front door.
Due to the current situation we are having to do things a little differently this year- but we didn’t want
the children to miss out! So… we are organising a Christingle with a difference.
We will be providing Christingles for the children and having a magical candlelit evening. This year we will
also be offering the children the opportunity to make a special Christmas wish decoration to hang on the
tree in the church.
Before the 19th of December
• At Little Tew church on the table by the font you will find a sign up sheet to reserve a time for
your Christingle visit (the slots will be in the late afternoon/early evening on Christmas Eve). You
will need to reserve 1 slot per bubble and state the number of children that are attending. This
is so we can get the correct number of Christingles ready for the children. This is to ensure that
the Christingles can be made and stored before the event in line with government guidelines.
Pre-booking is essential.
• As part of the ‘alternative’ Christingle we will also be offering the children the chance to place a
special wish decoration on our Christmas tree this year. There will be tree templates available
for you to take away when you book your time slot (1 decoration per child). However, if you are
feeling inspired you are welcome to create your own decoration with a special Christmas wish
on to hang on the tree. Please bring your wish along with you on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve
Our aim is to have the church candlelit and our beautifully decorated tree (kindly donated by the Great
Tew Estate) will light up the church. We also will have Anthony playing Christmas carols on the organ for
a full festive experience.
• Please arrive on time for the slot you have pre-booked.
• Please maintain social distancing throughout your visit.
• If you or any of your family/bubble show any coronavirus symptoms (high temperature, new
continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) please DO NOT attend.
• Please sanitise on entry and ensure you have scanned the track and trace app which is available
outside the church or alternatively leave your name in the book that is in the church.
• Please respect covid government guidelines and only socialise or mix with people who are in
your bubble.
• On arrival please collect your lit Christingle from outside the church and proceed towards to
Christmas tree inside the church. Once you reach the tree then you can hang your wish and then
pass the manger on your way out. If you would like and the weather permits, the churchyard will
be lit for you to walk around the church before heading home.
We know it is going to be different this year, but we hope the children will still find it a magical
experience that will make the start of Christmas truly memorable.
We would be grateful for any donations towards the flowers for decorating Great Tew church for the Christmas Day service which will be held there.
Sunday 13th December – we hope to include a part of the service to honour Remembrance
St Michael & All Angels, Great Tew 10am Benefice Communion with Revd Dr Elizabeth Koepping
Sunday 20th December
St John the Evangelist, Little Tew 10am Benefice Communion with Revd Christine Turner
Christmas Day
St Michael & All Angels, Great Tew 10am Benefice Communion with Revd Dr Elizabeth Koepping
Sunday 27th December
St John the Evangelist, Little Tew 10am Patronal Festival with Revd John Partington
Best wishes
Kate
