Pews News
Click here to see the 19th September's weekly online Pews News.
Click here to see the 12th September's weekly online Pews News.
If you would like to receive Pews News by email attachment then please request it by emailing office@girton.church
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Bible Readings for the Week
See Pews News via the link above.
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Ride and Stride for churches.
Ride & Stride is a sponsored event on Saturday 11th September where participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can by their chosen mode of transport and at the same time raise money to support the work of the Trust.
Money raised will help Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust to continue supporting buildings across the county with essential repairs and improvements. Participants can nominate their local church to receive 50% of the money they raise.
Sponsor forms are available at the back of the church.
General Plug: - this is an excellent way of nosily inspecting what other churches have done in respect of reordering, heating, children’s corner, visitor contact etc. So simply visiting other churches and enjoying them may help us to refine our vision for St Andrew’s.
If you have any questions then please email alice.few@ntlworld.com
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Church Services Update
As you know, most legal restrictions around Covid-19 have now been lifted. Decisions about how to ease restrictions in churches have largely been left to PCCs and our response was discussed at a meeting last night.
There is, of course, a strong desire to be able to gather as freely as we used to, but there is also a clear recognition that the pandemic is not over, case numbers continue to rise, and there are still many vulnerable people out there. We have therefore sought to move forward with watchful caution.
As of Sunday 25th July masked congregational singing will return to services. We may not sing every verse of every hymn, and mask-wearing will still be needed, but a joyful sound will be made once again. We will still need to keep as much space between one another as possible and Holy Communion will be distributed in the same way as at present.
We appreciate that some in the congregation would like to ease restrictions more quickly. At the same time we are aware that for others in the congregation any easing of restrictions is a cause for concern. The PCC hopes you will agree that this development is positive and proportionate. Of course, all 10am services will continue to be streamed live on YouTube for people to participate from home.
The PCC will be reviewing this matter every 2-4 weeks over the coming months. We hope that a reduction in case numbers and continued uptake of the vaccination programme will enable us to ease restrictions further in due course. For now we are grateful that we can join in songs of praise once again. (On that note, we are planning a "Songs of Celebration event on Sunday 22nd August for those really keen to sing again - watch this space!)
While I am on holiday please do contact the Church Wardens (wardens@girton.church) or Lay Ministers (llm@girton.church) if you need anything.
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The "Helping Girton" Group of Volunteers
The "Helping Girton" group of volunteers is well established to meet the challenges of COVID-19. If you feel you need help from, or would like to join the Helping Girton volunteers, please contact the Parish Clerk at clerk@girton-cambs.org.uk. or 01223 526013.
On the last Saturday of each month (except December) at 10:00am, Wendy Hunter leads a socially distanced monthly churchyard work party to keep everything looking good. Please just turn up if you would like to help.
Very many thanks to all who support FoodBank. The analysis of 2020 for Cambridge FoodBank notes that 9.7% more food was distributed than in the previous year, which itself was a record. 144 tonnes of food were distributed through Cambridge FoodBank/FairBite, up 44% on the previous year. Supported by donations from Rotary and our local school and Co-Op, our church delivers to the depot about 3.1 tonnes per year.
As usual, tinned meat, fruit and veggies are especially welcome; oh, and custard powder! Please leave your generous donations at Church or near the front door of Glebe School.
Thank you.
Click here to see the FoodBank's "Current Most Needed List".
During these exceptional times Kay is holding an online Taizé service on the first Sunday of each month using the Zoom conferencing program. You won't need any specialist computer skills because she will send out easy-to-follow joining instructions nearer the time.
The service will have to be a slightly simplified version but still have all of the usual elements of prayer, silence, readings and singing. Kay will lead the singing but the rest of us will have to mute our microphones to avoid latency issues. So we won’t be singing in full harmony, but each of us will be singing alone with Kay, we will hear her but she will not be able to hear us.
Please be ready online at 7.30pm on the first Sunday of each month (having read Kay's joining email) to allow time for everyone to greet each other and also familiarize themselves with the Zoom platform and its controls. The service will end at approximately 8:45pm.
If you would like to take part in this lovely service please email Kay at singing.kay@gmail.com for the Zoom link and instructions on how to take part.
- Parish Office and Rectory
- 42 Church Lane
- Girton
- Cambridgeshire
- CB3 0JP
01223 202145
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