Saint Paul's Church, Landkey

Doing church differently - but a slow return to normal may now be in prospect as we open for private prayer (see below).

Please note that news items updated recently are highlighted in yellow.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak we, like other churches, have had to suspend the holding of services and events. We have even had to suspend, since 23rd March 2020, the opening of the church to visitors.

However, we have not gone away! The clergy, church leaders and members of the congregation are all, like everyone else, following the government's advice to reduce the risk of spreading this disease but looking forward to the day when normal services will resume.

Whilst we await that day, we will be "doing church differently". Among the things that we will be doing to keep in touch with church members will be:

• The church is now (since 17th June) open for private prayer twice per week between 2pm and 4pm on Wednesdays and from 10am until noon on Sundays. All are welcome, but visitors should be aware that social distancing and hygiene rules will apply.
  
  
• A weekly letter from Revd Shaun. The text of his latest letter, dated 5th July, is reproduced below under "News" with a printable copy available via the link provided lower in this section.
  
  
• Revd Shaun's Mission Prayer Programme on Facebook. Shaun live streams a service of Morning Prayer each day at 10am with a Eucharist service at the same time on Sundays. This can now be accessed through YouTube by searching for "Mission Prayer Programme".
  
  
• Anyone in the parish (or beyond) may feel free to contact us about matters to do with the church, by using the Contact Us page on this website.
  
  
• Visitors might like to visit the Church of England website where recorded services may be viewed. A link to their site is available below.
  
  
• Online services are also available on the Diocese of Exeter's website. A link to this is also given below.
  
  
• Financial matters. During this period while the church building is closed, congregation members will be unable to give to the church via the collection plate. However, the church continues to have bills to pay and we are grateful to anyone who is able to maintain their contributions by other means. We are happy to receive payment by any method but, in order to reduce the need to bank cash and cheques, St Paul's encourages giving by bank transfer or Standing Order. Please feel free to contact us for bank details. Again, many thanks for payments which either have been made or are intended to be made.
  
  
• This website will be updated as regularly as possible with information on church matters including readings from the Bible and brief explanatory text on the current period in which we find ourselves in the church calendar.

Updated 5th July 2020

• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 5th July 2020
Previous letters:   
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 20th June 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 12th June 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 5th June 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 29th May 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 23rd May 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 15th May 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 8th May 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 30th April 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 24th April 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 17th April 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 9th April 2020
• Revd Shaun's Letter to Parishioners, 2nd April 2020
• Revd Shaun's Mission Prayer Programme
• Church of England online services
• Diocese of Exeter online services

Letter from Revd Shaun - 5th July

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Welcome to our weekly letter to the churches in our mission community. We have been on quite a journey together over the last few months and it has challenged us in many ways. I hope that, as restrictions are further relaxed, you are finding a new renewed freedom to do a little extra, whether that be meeting some family or friends or simply just getting out into the outside world for a walk.

As you may have heard, churches are now (since 4th July) being given the green light to restart services as long as they are Covid safe and that congregation members are happy to return. Over the next week I am hoping to hold meetings with PCCs to discuss how we can achieve this. The virus has not gone away and, I think you would agree with me, that we must still be cautious. Our proposal is to look at all our churches individually, and as a group, and see which is the best option for us to take. We will discuss at our meetings how best to do this and will present it to you all. Your views on this are important as it will be helpful to know how many of you will feel confident in returning to services in the near future.

I hope you are all well and please do not forget that, should you know of anyone who needs a phone visit for a chat, or if unwell please let me know. I am continuing with our daily broadcasts of Celtic Morning prayer and our regular Sunday service at 10am every morning and thank you for joining us. Some of our services are now attracting 200 people a day and as, I said last week, I intend to keep that going daily and broadcast our Sunday service from one of the churches each week. We are building up others in the Christian faith, which is our primary responsibility to God, our father. Please continue to join us and share with this wide variety of new people seeking a relationship with God.

The link to Mission Prayer is https://www.facebook.com/mission.prayerprogramme

Also, remember we are not on a time clock to open and we will take our time and fully open when it is acceptably safe, and all guidelines are in place. If you have any worries or would like to know more, please email or phone me or the wardens and have a chat. You are the most important consideration as we prepare to open the doors.

Until next week, may God keep you all in the palm of his hand and bless and keep you in his peace.

Best wishes

Fr Shaun