The church leaders for Chantry, Landseer Road and Museum Street Methodist churches met together on 24th February to discuss our plans for worship and when to begin in-person worship. We have been hearing different perspectives from our members. Some are saying that having come this far, they will wait until they have had their second vaccine plus three weeks before they return to church. Others, particularly those living alone, would like us to return as quickly as possible. And others wish to wait until we can more freely talk to one another after the service. With that and more in mind, we prayerfully came up with a plan. It is, however, still a plan, and could change if infection rates start to climb as lockdown eases, or other pertinent information comes to light. Our plan is summarized here and there is a chart at the bottom of this post. Please do not feel pressured to return or to attend any events that are outside of your comfort zone.
- We will have two joint in-person worship services:
* Good Friday at Landseer Road at 10 a.m.
* Easter Day at Museum Street at 10.30 a.m. with Holy Communion - We will re-open for in-person worship at all three churches on the first Sunday in May.
- We will experiment with livestreaming the Easter Day service so those unable to attend and have computers will be able to watch it live. Success not guaranteed!
- We have several people willing to offer lifts to Landseer Road on Good Friday and Museum Street on Easter Day. Please contact us if you would like a lift and we will try to arrange one.
- Our weekly Zoom Worship will cease at the end of April.
- The Circuit Video Services and Circuit Printed Services will continue.
In-person services will still be subject to the government restrictions which include no communal singing. We have risk-assessments in place. Please wear a face covering. We hope that singing might be allowed after 21st June, but this is unclear in the current government documentation. We will follow those rules plus any guidance that comes from the Methodist Church. The amount of social interaction permitted after the service depends upon the government rules for indoor and outdoor mixing that are in force on any date.
Here is a list of our planned worship services in chart form. (Correct at 24/2/2021)
Date | In-Person | Zoom | Circuit Video (Online/DVD/CD) & Printed Service |
March 7,14,21,28 | Closed | Yes | Yes |
April 1 – Maundy Thursday | Closed | No | Yes |
April 2 – Good Friday | Joint Service Landseer Road at 10 a.m. | No | Yes |
April 4 – Easter Day | Joint Service with a Livestream Museum Street at 10:30 a.m. | Maybe | Yes |
April 11,18,25 | Closed | Yes | Yes |
May 2,9,16,23,30 | Open Chantry at 9:30 a.m. MS at 10.45 a.m. LR at 11 a.m. | No | Yes |
June 6,13,20,27 | Open Chantry at 9:30 a.m. MS at 10.45 a.m. LR at 11 a.m. | No | Yes |