Anyone know when proper church services will resume?

Some church services are happening at the moment.

From Ash Wednesday (17th February 2021) we will begin a gradual resumption of public worship within the current guidelines and limitations.

The above is from the website of Lincoln cathedral.

Don't know what she means by "proper" though. She will have to wear a mask, sit by herself, and won't be able to stay for a chat afterwards at the moment so maybe that isn't quite what she had in mind.

It is a great sadness to me that the restrictions have not been lifted sufficiently for us to be able to celebrate Easter "properly" this year - the second year in a row. It also looks like some restrictions will still be in place for Ascensiontide and Pentecost too.

Depends very much on the size of the buildings. But certainly it's not a social gathering at the moment.

"Individual prayer - A person, or single household, entering the venue to pray on their own."

The number of individuals or households permitted in a place of worship at any one time will be dependent on the size of the building and ability to socially distance therein.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-from-2-december

grannyrose I don’t think a global pandemic cares about religious holidays, sadly.

We haven't been able to pray in our synagogue for nearly a year now and miss it very much.
It's quite a small building and difficult to keep social distancing.
Last week was one of our minor festivals, Purim, when we need to hear the story of Esthe. Someone arranged for a reading. In a section with us spaced apart.
It was such a pleasure to be together again with friends in our place of worship. Even for a short time, and though we didn't really socialise.

ps Esther not Esth.
when can we get an edit option?

Our Cathedral has remained open for smaller services, the 8.00 am on Sundays for example, with the more popular one still on YouTube at 10.00 am. I would have thought that when shops open, there might be a possibility of attending for services again, but still with social distancing and masks. I can't wait for the day we can get back to being able to sit next to someone else, maskless, and to take the wine as well as the bread!

Fennel I took part in a wonderful Zoom celebration for Purim!

A friend, who is a bell ringer at our local church, can't wait for the day when he can ring again.
And I can't wait til I hear them again!

AmberSpyglass

grannyrose I don’t think a global pandemic cares about religious holidays, sadly.

I don't think the government of this country, or a lot of it's population care about religious festivals, sadly.

Fennel

ps Esther not Esth.
when can we get an edit option?

I'd like an edit option too Fennel

And I do understand how dreadful it has been not to be able to worship together for such a long time.

We must hope for better times to come.

Thanks all. So no firm plan then as far as I can make out? I’m not a church goer but I do feel for those who are that there’s no acknowledgement from the Gov. It doesn’t bring them enough money in to bother about I guess.

Shall have to ask my brother, a retired priest. Although retired, he has been taking services at his local parish church during lockdown, as they are 'inter-regnum'. It is just him, and someone in charge of the camera, and a musician. I know he will be pleased to get back to normal again.

Although church services are permitted (with all the precautins in place), ours decided not to hold any because many of the congregation are elderly/vulnerable. Our latest decision is to re-start at Easter, but outside where it's safer.

This lockdown, the churches are not forced to close, but most have, out of concern for people’s safety.
Most are open at limited times for private prayer, and most places do services online. If your mum can’t cope with zoom, maybe you could help her with YouTube recorded service, where she can join in with the singing, watching it at any convenient time.
Some churches are holding services with limited numbers and social distancing, no coffee afterwards, no socialising.
My church is planning to reopen for Easter Sunday morning with Holy Communion. It will be great if we can, even though under restricted conditions, but a decision will be taken locally according to conditions at the time.

We have to wear masks and sit at a distance from each other. Morning tea is outside and we are not allowed to hang around inside after the service. The communion was very strange. We had these tiny containers that were sealed and you peeled off a layer for the wafer and then the wine was under that.All disposable, not very nice and like the sort of milk containers you get on a plane.

In Scotland we have no public Church services except for weddings (5 people including priest) and funerals ( 20 family and friends by invitation only)
Churches can reopen from April 5th.
Is there any reason why they have to remain closed even on Easter Sunday 4th April,the greatest day in the Christian calendar. Churches have been exemplary in following all safety protocols. It is a huge sadness to be denied the solace of being present in our holy places especially during Holy Week.

That must have felt a bit weird nanna8.

How important is the “one cup’?

I’m saying this as a non-comformist who always took communion from a set of little individual glasses.

I don’t think I could drink from a cup that lots of other people had drunk from.

My church in Harrogate will be resuming 'normal' services in May.

I’m a Presbyterian so we usually have little individual glasses but because of Covid we had to have those funny things, presumably because we could just throw them away when empty. We are not allowed to use the kitchen to wash up. Our church has no building and we meet in a primary school hall. Only about half can attend, the rest have to Zoom.

I attend a large Anglican Church which is well set out for social distancing and is open daily for private prayer. On Sundays we have two services for Eucharist but bread only and no singing although I play suitable music on the piano at intervals. No coffee afterwards and no socialising except outside.

At Christmas we had a wonderful Community Carol Service held outside, accompanied by our local brass band. Our MP, booked to read a lesson, arrived late and, despite the use of a microphone, was difficult to hear. But the joy of singing was immeasurable!

Here’s the link to our website which isn’t up to date!

www.allsaintsbabbacombe.co.uk/home

It is a huge sadness to be denied the solace of being present in our holy places especially during Holy Week.

I agree, Jangran99.

As I've said before on here, I was brought up C of E and converted to Judaism after marrying my Jewish husband.
It's not long since I realised that Passover coincides with Holy Week. Evidently the Last Supper was on the first night of Passover - the Seder meal. Goes by the lunar calendar.
I think Muslims also have a festival on the night of 28 March. It's a special New Moon.

That's why it is so important for ALL of us to be free of these terrible restrictions before Easter. Such a pity the government decided on 12th April to lift some of them. Not that I think it was an accident - they wanted to avoid everyone deciding to take a holiday at once.

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