Saint Paul's Church, Landkey

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Back in church!

Our Easter Sunday service on 4th April was held in the church, the first to take place this way since early January.

Significant planning had been carried out in advance to ensure that it would be a Covid-safe occasion. These measures included the use of a booking system to facilitate social distancing as well as making attendees aware of the need for the wearing of face masks and that singing inside the church was not permitted.

It was, though, a joyful service, with a full Easter Holy Communion liturgy being presided over by Revd Shaun. Shaun offered Communion "as one kind" (i.e. as bread only) which was allowed within the rules, an offer which most congregation members took advantage of.

The final hymn was "Thine be the Glory" and Hazel invited anyone who so wished to go outside into the glorious sunshine where singing was permitted and sing along as Bob Loveridge played on the organ.

Sermons We See

Josie Foster has been running Lent courses in recent weeks and the one on 18th March included this poem, "Sermons We See", by Edgar Guest. Its message is that people follow our actions more readily than our words and that we should strive to be "authentic Christians".

"I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advise you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travellers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honour learns to hold his honour dear,
For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day."

Mothering Sunday service

We took a break from our Lent services on 14th March to celebrate Mothering Sunday, and it proved to be a wonderful occasion! Even though our churches are not fully open for worship yet, Shaun was able to be assisted by a few in St Paul’s to deliver a service via Zoom which could be appreciated by other congregation members.

Josie Foster led the service and gave a sermon in which she focused on the role of women as described in the Bible. She drew on Matthew 23:36-38, “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing”, to illustrate how God can be seen to have maternal characteristics, as well as being known as Our Father.

In advance of the service, Josie had invited Mission Community members to make suggestions for hymns which they might associate with their mothers. She received several responses and among those that she chose were: “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”, “Make me a Channel of your Peace” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. Mike Foster obtained the words and shared them on his screen enabling us to sing along at home. It was uplifting to be able to share this moving service with others even if we were not actually in the church together.

After the service, bunches of daffodils were distributed to the ladies present as well as in the village.

Online services becoming more like the real thing!

Nothing will replace the experience of actually being in church and sharing the service with other congregation members. However, we have become more practised at holding online services via Zoom since they began on 10th January 2021, with the result that the feeling of taking part in real communal worship has grown.

Our service on 7th February 2021 was led by Revd David Chance, with Revd Shaun managing the technical aspects of the live stream to the participants joining in by Zoom. From within the church, Josie Foster assisted with some elements of the liturgy, while Mike Foster and Hazel Price gave two of the readings. Hymns were played using Shaun's music player, while those of us who were "Zooming" were able to follow the liturgy from a file which had been sent out with the meeting link.

All in all, it felt almost like a real service. Soon, perhaps it will be!

Online services via Zoom have begun!

We held our first online service via Zoom on Sunday 17th January and it proved to be a success. Despite initial technological "teething" issues, it was joined by 11 households who were able to follow the Communion service led by Revd David Chance. It was surprising how noticeable the sense of communal worship was by comparison with simply watching online. We intend to offer Zoom servcies for the foreseeable future.

Services by Zoom continue

We held our second online service via Zoom on Sunday 24th January and it proved to be successful. Revd Shaun had managed to iron out some technical "teething" issues which manifested themselves during the first service on 17th January. It was joined by 6 households who were able to follow the Communion service led by Shaun. We intend to offer Zoom services for the foreseeable future.