Thursday 18 June 2020

Dear Friends,

You will have heard the government announcement that churches may reopen for private prayer as well as for funerals from 15 June onwards. We are working through all the guidance that is being published about how to open churches safely and how to keep members of our congregations safe. This is important and can’t be rushed. This week St Mary Magdalene will reopen for the first time on Saturday, 20 June, between 10.00am and 12.00noon. After this week, St John the Divine and St Matthias will also start opening their doors. We will publish more details in next week’s newsletter.

In the meantime, do continue with prayers for our church communities and join in worship via Zoom or Facebook! St Matthias are holding their Sunday worship via zoom every Sunday at 10.00am – please contact Anne for access codes. St John the Divine and St Mary Magdalene post recorded services on the churches’ Facebook pages and then also on the Richmond Team Ministry website. Details about Morning Prayer are further down in this newsletter.

The annual St Alban’s Pilgrimage is a wonderful celebration of the life of England’s first martyr Alban and a fantastic day for pilgrims from all over the country, including Richmond. Sadly the day had to be cancelled this year, but there will be an online version called The Alban Pilgrimage Reimagined on 21 June 10.00am via YouTube, with Revd Richard Coles, parish priest, broadcaster and former Communard, and other special guests.

Our prayers at St John the Divine this week are particularly for the repose of the soul of Kay Stangroom. Kay died on Tuesday afternoon at Atfield House Care Home in Isleworth, just a short time after her 89th birthday. Although she lived in Hounslow, she attended St John’s regularly for many years until the journey became too much. As a wheelchair user for most of her life, she had a specially adapted car, and could drive herself to church services. When that was no longer possible, she got herself onto the H37 bus and still attended regularly, no matter what the weather. We will celebrate a Requiem Mass for Kay when circumstances allow. In the meantime, we give thanks for her life, and all she contributed to St John’s and the wider parish, and commend her to God’s mercy and love.

A Returning to Church Prayer

O God from whom all blessings flow, I turn to you in gratitude for this place; for every faithful footstep taken within its walls, and every petition prayed, for every story shared, the ordinary and the extraordinary from generation to generation. Thank you that in the silence of our absence You were still here, as well as with your people. As we begin to return, grant to us all the wisdom to stay safe, the comfort of your peace and joy in coming home. Now these doors are opened once again let your Spirit flow out of me and all who come here, bringing life, hope and healing to our community. Amen.

With every blessing for this coming week from your parish clergy,

Anne, Neil and Wilma Here is some news from Helen, our Children and Youth Ministry Leader:

Zoom Meetings: Do join us with your babies, toddlers, children or young people. Download 'Zoom' and email Helen for joining details (NB – we will have new passwords for July): Mini Junior Church Sundays 9.30am. 20 minutes, aimed at those 3-11yrs. SevenUp Catch up, 'Big Questions', games and prayer for 7 year olds upwards. Future dates: 27.06.2020 – 10.30am, 11.07.2020 – 4.00pm Eaglets Tuesdays at 3.30pm. (Next week our toddler group will be sharing the story of Jesus stopping a storm. Plus singing & rhymes) Last Session 14th July Mary's Little Lambs Thursdays at 2.30pm. (Next week the story is 'Moses setting God's people free', using Diddy Disciples material for this Toddler Church service) Last Session 16th July Cuppa & Catch up Wednesday at 8.30pm. All welcome for this informal time of conversation! (for parents and carers). Last Session 8th July

YouTube: Weekly Junior Church video sessions are on our 'Children & Youth YouTube Channel', available from 9am on Saturday (Links can be found on the website as well) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAx9IJEyEAnl1tITcZ8SehA

Ideas and support for Faith at Home: 'Messy Church' ideas are available on this website: https://www.messychurch.org.uk/resources/messy-church-home-ideas It is full of creative ways to explore faith and worship using household items, available for you to do independently. Well worth a look!

Diddy Disciples have a new extra page on their website, to support church / faith at home: https://www.diddydisciples.org/thechurchathome

'Together at Home - Church Resources' has lots of ideas - you can find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613930636117980/

You'll find some more suggestions and links to living out your faith at home, particularly if you have young people with you: http://www.going4growth.com/growth_in_faith_and_worship/faith-in-the-home

Staying in contact for children and families: Facebook group 'Children & Youth, Richmond Team Ministry' at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/770911086650680/. This provides a space to stay in touch and support 'faith at home'.

Please continue to join us in praying for our schools, nurseries, all who care for children and for the children and young people themselves.

Email / phone Helen: [email protected] / phone 07732 901669.

Church, Community and other news:

Morning Prayer from Monday to Thursday at 8.30am via Zoom is now well established with daily attendance of between 6 – 9 people. If you have access to the app ‘Daily Prayer’, the Church of England website or use a Daily Prayer Common Worship book you will be able to follow the service. If you haven’t got access to either, you are still very welcome to listen and pray along! Meeting ID: 226 953 1591 Password: RTMJune (please note the password will change regularly) Do make sure you are signed in just before 8.30am as we start on time. Morning Prayer is now also being said on Friday at 8.30am, but has a different log-in. Zoom Meeting Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78537568231?pwd=Ung1aXFTdmd1UEpRZHNhSWFmSWJLdz09 Meeting ID: 785 3756 8231 Password: RTMJune

Give A Little Unfortunately, with our churches closed, and therefore no cash collections at services, and with all groups who would normally use our church buildings also on lockdown, we are experiencing a significant drop in income. We have taken steps to reduce the Team expenditure by placing a number of staff on furlough and will continue to look at other ways of cost saving. We are hugely grateful to so many who continue to make their weekly or monthly contribution to the finances of the Team, by standing order or direct debit. However if anyone would like to make a donation to the work of our churches this can be done at https://givealittle.co/campaigns/5260a080-4ee0-49b6-a1c3-d552ef9a0700 Whilst this is a challenging time for many, financially as well as emotionally, I hope we can continue to count on your support for the work of our 3 churches.

New Almshouses Are you in need of housing? Are you over 65? Living on limited income and savings? Currently living within the Richmond Borough and have been so for at least 5 years? Able to live independently? If so, why don’t you consider Almshouse Community Living? This summer The Richmond Charities will open a brand new development – Wright’s Almshouses on Heath Road, Twickenham. Comprising 9 high-quality, level access 1 bed almshouses to add to the charity’s existing 130 almshouses. If you meet the eligibility criteria and would like to live within our thriving community, please call 020 8948 4188 for an initial conversation, or email: [email protected] The Richmond Charities provides a vibrant, friendly and caring community where older people are encouraged to live full and active lives within the setting of high quality housing, support, comfort and security.

From the Richmond Foodbank (based at The Vineyard Community Centre): To limit potential spread of Covid-19 we’ve shut our morning drop-in service, the café and the shop. But we are still providing individual support and running foodbank delivery services. This is the perfect storm of people being in greater need, a massive drop in food donations both from suppliers and individuals, and the complete loss of income from the shop and café. We need you now more than ever. How you can help: 1. We are now accepting food donations on Monday and Thursday afternoons 12.30 to 4.30pm at the Vineyard, Richmond TW10 6AQ - See our list of what is needed 2. Donate what you can to the Covid-19 appeal Thank you.

Where to watch church services or access resources while church buildings remain closed:

The Church of England have a special page for you to light a virtual candle and make time to pray which you can view here: https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/light-candle

Diddy Disciples are streaming Compline bedtime prayers for over 8’s and adults on their Facebook page every night at https://www.facebook.com/diddydisciples/

You can also access more online services produced by the Church of England here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online

The Council’s Community Hub helpline launched at the very start of the crisis is a first response for the needs of our residents, particularly the elderly, the medically vulnerable and those who may lack support networks. It can assist with access to medical/care services and food supplies to help those most in need to stay safe and well while they self-isolate at home. The Community Hub can be contacted via: • Telephone: 020 8871 6555 • Email: [email protected] • Website: https://www.richmond.gov.uk/community_hub

A note about fraud from our local police: Criminals are currently targeting Snapchat users in an extortion scam by getting them to reveal their login details and/or two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and then threatening to publish all their photographs online. Please don’t respond to messages asking for your login details or 2FA codes. These can be used to compromise your account. Do report any extortion or attempted extortion to your local police. Also: Unfortunately, criminals will exploit every opportunity they can to defraud innocent people of their money, or steal their personal details. It is therefore expected that scammers will try and exploit the new NHS Test and Trace system to do just that. So, to make sure you can spot a genuine contact from the NHS, read the guidance below and remember that the NHS Test and Trace service will never: • Ask you for financial details, PINs or passwords. • Visit your home. • Ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087). • Ask you to make any form of payment. • Ask for any details about your bank account. • Ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts. • Ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone. • Ask you to purchase a product. • Ask you to download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet. • Ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS. Whilst it is possible for criminals to fake official phone numbers, they cannot fake official website addresses. We would therefore encourage anyone with concerns about a phone call, text message or email they have received, in relation to Test and Trace, to check the website address being provided to you carefully. It will be https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk followed by any unique characters given to you.

______Please pray for: …Fr. Jamil Khadir and the Anglican congregations in Nablus in the West Bank …Christ’s School, and for the five primary schools in our parish …Glass Door guests who are anxious about the coming months …all those who work for the NHS and in local care homes …the sick and those in need - Hermione Lockyer, Ron Bond, Madge Thorns, Molly Lambert, John Roberts, Sarah Swanson, Phil Rushby …the departed, may they rest in peace - Ann Mayer, Kay Stangroom ______

With best wishes, Tina

Tina Roberts Parish Administrator (Mon – Thurs, 9.00am – 5.00pm) Richmond Team Ministry The Vicarage Ormond Road Richmond Surrey TW10 6TH 020 8940 0362 [email protected] www.richmondteamministry.org Charity Number: 1130018

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