Dear Friends* One of the Things We Have Been Hearing from Many

Dear friends* One of the things we have been hearing from many people recently is how grateful they are to be in contact with others. We hope that, through new and different means, you are also feeling connected, both practically and in the unity of the Spirit. We recognise that yesterday’s announcement about the closure of churches came as a shock to many. The buildings in which we worship are icons of God’s faithfulness to our communities throughout centuries, and a focus of our communal life, so it is painful to think of them empty, especially at this time of year. There has been some confusion about this decision, in part because some government advice (now being corrected) indicated that churches could remain open for private prayer, or for the recording or streaming of services. Both national and diocesan FAQs have been updated to make it clear that our church buildings should remain closed. The government has requested that we all stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave for certain limited purposes. Our responsibility as churches, leaders and as Christians, is to model that for our friends and neighbours, expressing our solidarity with the vulnerable and those who are working to care for them by taking these extra precautions. Obviously, this is also a disappointment to those who had made plans and preparations for recording from the church buildings in which their communities are accustomed to worshipping. Ministers are being asked to record and live-stream prayer and worship from their homes where they are able to do so. The Bishop has given permission to priests to celebrate Holy Communion from their homes, with details in the diocesan FAQs. Many churches have been enquiring about volunteering. As a national programme of volunteer help for those in need begins to take shape, we encourage you again to support foodbanks, and invite willing volunteers to check this link for opportunities . We continue to pray for you in yet another new phase of adjustments. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Bishop Tim, Bishop David and Bishop Debbie And the Bishop’s Staff Team: Andrew Robinson, Diocesan Chief Executive Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester Peter Rouch, Archdeacon of Bournemouth Richard Brand, Archdeacon of Winchester Mat Phipps, Bishop’s Chaplain *This communication is being distributed to the full diocesan mailing list (all recipients of eNews), which includes by default all clergy, lay ministers, churchwardens, parish administrators, PCC secretaries and treasurers. You may freely distribute this communication to PCC members and other members of your church communities. .

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Dear Friends, for Today's Update, Richard Brand, Archdeacon Of
Dear Friends, For today’s update, Richard Brand, Archdeacon of Winchester, has shared a reflection about the importance of self care as we approach Holy Week: One recent request I received was to fill in a questionnaire about clergy morale in the current crisis. Having spoken and listened to far more clergy than usual over the past few weeks I felt in a reasonable position to respond, and my basic response was that clergy morale was high, in fact, really very high. It has been immensely encouraging and often inspiring to hear of the creativity, ingenuity and sheer dedication with which clergy have adapted to a rapidly changing situation and adopted often unfamiliar ways and means of continuing their ministry. However, I wonder what the real effect of this adaption and adoption is? One person I spoke to said how ‘energised’ they felt by the new skills they were learning and by the community networks they were establishing; in the next phone call the person had been doing similar things but this time I heard a confession of exhaustion. Clearly different personalities are responding in different ways; another person in one breath said how as an introvert they certainly weren’t missing the tyranny of meetings but in the next added that they were finding the constant phone calls draining. Talking with colleagues we are finding that as clergy step up and respond with great faithfulness to our calling in these days, the suspension of so many of the familiar patterns is leading for some to suspending some of the usual time off and down time we all need.
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Diocese of Winchester’S Companion Links, As Is Customary at Confirmation Services
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Dear Friends, As We Approach the Coming Weekend, We Are Once
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Guidelines on Working with Retired Clergy
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Diocese of Newcastle Prayer Diary August 2020
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Winchester Cathedral Annual Report and Accounts 2020
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Winchester Cathedral Annual Report and Accounts 2019
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Diocese of Newcastle Prayer Diary June 2020
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Please Find Our Schedule for Holy Week Below. You Will Be Able to Find Each Day’S Services and Reflections on the Diocesan Website
Please find our schedule for Holy Week below. You will be able to find each day’s services and reflections on the Diocesan website . Throughout the week: Winchester Cathedral will provide Common Worship Morning and Evening Prayer each day, at 8.30am and 5.30pm respectively, via Zoom. Every day there will be a reflection from one of our Bishops, Dean Catherine or members of the Cathedral Chapter which will follow the Holy Week story, using John’s Gospel as a basis. Palm Sunday: Bishop Tim will preside at a pre-recorded Sunday Eucharist from Wolvesey, with Sally Dakin preaching. This will be available on the Diocesan YouTube channel . Winchester Cathedral will provide a reading of the Passion, featuring multiple voices from English cathedrals organised by the Precentors. Maundy Thursday: Bishop Tim will provide a video message about renewing our vocational commitment as disciples, BCMers, lay ministers and ordained ministers. This will be available on the Diocesan YouTube channel . A full Chrism and recommitment service will take place in the autumn. Dean Catherine will preside at a pre-recorded Eucharist from the Deanery, including a sequence of foot washing, Cathedral choral music and a Vigil sequence. Good Friday: The Cathedral Chapter will provide a pre-recorded service, lasting one hour, comprised of reflection, poetry and reading. This will again feature Cathedral choral music. The theme will be ‘My Song is Love Unknown; Reflections on The Cross’ and will include veneration of the cross and prayer. Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil: English Cathedrals will provide a vigil comprised of readings and reflections on the theme of ‘Rumours of Hope: a vigil for our times’ with Paula Gooder and others, including poets.
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DIOCESE of WINCHESTER Caring for God's Creation
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St Barnabas Southampton: Report of the Independent Reviewer
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Diocese of Newcastle Prayer Diary November 2020
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