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Latest updates
CHANGES TO SERVICES
From Sunday 14th March, all services will be held in church once again.
We thank you for your patience in these difficult times and ask that you work with us to follow the necessary and robust health and safety measures each Sunday to do our best to counter any spread of virus and encourage everyone who wishes to come to feel as comfortable and secure as they can.
We have introduced further steps to guide everyone to observe a safe required distance by configuring pews and chairs so that there is an automatic safe distance between those seated.
Churchwardens or those in attendance will help ensure that this is strictly observed. We will ask you to sit promptly on entering and wait to be invited to leave your seat at the end of the service to ensure a smooth socially distanced exit from church.
We also ask you to make sure that you arrive and leave the building promptly and do not congregate or linger outside, however tempting. Further, familiar guidelines will be back in place.
Rev’d Phil recently commented that a decision about what date to host services back in the church building is a question of whether or not is more or less wise and not of right or wrong. Churches have been legally permitted to hold services in church buildings all the way through this last period of lockdown but, as you know, we, at St Laurence, decided in January that the risks outweighed the benefits then, and for those who could join us via Zoom, we have continued to hold 10am services; the bi-weekly prayer meeting and ‘The Bible Talks’ half hours. Others have been delivered a copy of the sermon each week.
In reaching our decision to return to church, we considered a range of elements. The heartening scientific information of vaccine roll out and the receding spread of the virus were amongst them, but the overriding factor in coming to our to resume services in church now has been the number of calls and requests from within the church family and wider community eager to return to church for all the benefits this brings to them. These last few months have been an especially isolating and confronting time for many, with or without access to Zoom, and we recognise this.
So, to summarise:
1 Please use the Service booking form to help us understand numbers and family groups.
2 Bring and wear a mask
3 Sanitize on the way in and on the way out using the separate entrance and exit.
4 Immediately sit individually, or within permitted family groups, observing the required social distance.
5 Children must sit next to their parents or guardians.
6 Remain seated until guided to exit.
7 Leave the building and the vicinity promptly.
However, we also appreciate that some may not wish to venture out just yet and we will happily deliver a copy of the sermon to you each week if you would like one. Do contact us at [email protected]
A WEEKEND OF COMMUNITY
CELEBRATION
SATURDAY 26TH
SUNDAY 27TH JUNE
An exciting weekend of activities for everyone in Appleton, Eaton and Besselsleigh.
Saturday 26th June 10.30am in the Village Hall
Green Appleton. An instructive and uplifting morning of information, activities and feedback about how we can all team up to bring more ‘green Appleton’ into our lives.
Sunday 27th June
From 1pm at the Sports field.
Home cricket match Appleton against Stanton Harcourt. Cheer our team on before joining the Community Tea.
3pm in the Barn at ‘South Lawn’ Netherton Rd.
If you are between 5 and 11 years old and have your free ticket available from Monday June 15th from the village shop, join Oxford Playhouse Plays out Tent for an interactive performance of ‘Me and My Bee’. Strictly ticketed. No admittance at the door.
From 3pm around the village be busy on the bee trail on your way to tea.
4pm – 5pm Community Tea in the Barn at ‘South Lawn’ Netherton Rd organised by St Laurence Events.
Tea, cake and a chance to meet new and familiar faces with Green Appleton activities for children and a colouring competition. Miniature Gardens will br on show and a raffle.
Free tickets available from Monday June 15th. from the village shop. Please ensure you have a ticket to help us plan. We don’t want to run out of cake.
We are looking for Miniature garden designers, cake bakers and volunteers on the day. Please email [email protected] or telephone Alison on 861591
More information in 'What's On'.
5.30pm-6pm’ Songs of Praise’ in the Barn at ‘South Lawn’ Netherton Rd.
Round off the afternoon with a well-loved and established parish tradition of summertime ‘Songs of Praise’.
All subject to Covid guidelines at the time.
A.P.C.M. Sunday 16th May
Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) 2021 took place on Sunday 16th May.
Read all the information contained in our Annual Report and Accounts and easy to access pie chart graphics for receipts and payments. For a paper copy, please email the PCC Secretary, Carol Dodimead [email protected].