The Church of England in North Wakefield

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Christmas across the Benefice

To help you plan your own festive Christmas this year here is a list of the Christmas Services and Events that are planned across the benefice, please join us at this special time of the year!!

St Peter’s Panto:

Watch the panto here

Five Days of Christmas, daily till Christmas Eve:

Watch here:

Christmas Eve:

Virtual Christingle Service (Wrenthorpe & Outwood) 2.00 pm online service

Christingle Service (Alverthorpe) This online only service will be broadcast from St Paul’s at 5.00 pm.
Please come along to the Church beforehand (on Tue 22nd between 2.00 & 4.00 pm or Wed 23rd between 5.00 & 7.00 pm) to collect free Christingle materials.

MORE DETAILS

Crib Service (Wrenthorpe) 3.30 pm in person at St Anne’s Church.
Because of COVID restrictions this service is by free ticket only. Contact us for a ticket

Christingle Service (Outwood) 4.00 pm in person at St Mary Magdalene
Join us for carol singing at 4pm outside church before the services start! Booking is required.

Christingle Service – Online (Wrenthorpe) Broadcast from St Anne’s at 5.00 pm .
Watch this space for an announcement about when and where to pick up Christingle kits.

Christmas Eve Mass (Wrenthorpe) 8.30 pm in person at St Anne’s (booking required )

Christmas Eve Mass (Outwood) Carols outside at 8.00 pm followed by service inside at 8.30 (booking required for the inside service)

Midnight communion service (Stanley) 11.00 pm in person at St Peter’s
A traditional service with readings and carols to welcome Christmas Day. Sadly we will only be able to have 30 people attending this service. Please note this service will not be available online.

Christmas Day

Family service. (Stanley) 10.00 am in person at St Peter’s. A festive and fun service to celebrate Christmas Day! Sadly we will only be able to have 30 people attending this service. This service will not be available online.

Family Service. (Alverthorpe) 10.00 am in person at St Paul’s. – Also on Facebook

Christmas Morning Mass (Outwood) 10.00am in person at St Mary Magdalene . (booking required)

Christmas Morning Mass (Wrenthorpe). 10.00 am in person at St Anne’s (booking required)

Christmas Day to 2nd Jan

Comfort and Joy: Nine Lessons and Carols from the Church of England

The reflections for each day from Christmas Day to 2 January feature contributions from Kate Bottley, Jonathan Bryan, Bob Chilcott, Martha Collison, Stephen Cottrell, Guli Francis-Dehqani, Chine McDonald, Sally Phillips and Justin Welby.
More details here

Sunday 27th December:

Morning service from St Pauls in person and online

Freedom is coming

We are using Bishop Nick’s book on Advent, Freedom is Coming, as a way of reflecting on Advent and what it means.

Advent-Course-Week-1Download
Advent-Course-Week-2Download
Advent-Course-Week-3Download
Advent-Course-Week-4Download

The Monday evening Home Group in St Peter’s Stanley will be using it on Monday evenings, 7.30 on Zoom.

Join the Monday evening group here

Fr Jonathan and Mthr Jo will also be running a session on Wednesday afternoons on Zoom at 4.00 pm.

Join the wednesday Afternoon group here

The Diocese is also running the course, which is available on Wednesday evenings at 7pm between 25th November and 16th December. You can find out more information about the book and register a place for free on the Diocese’s Digital Learning Platform here.

The Link Newsletter

Read the latest news and information from the 4 Churches in the benefice here.

25th April- 1st MayDownload
29 March – 10 AprilDownload
21 – 28 MarchDownload
14 – 21 MarchDownload
28 Feb – 7 MarchDownload
21 Feb – 28 FebDownload
14 Feb – 21st FebDownload
7th Feb – 14th FebDownload
31 Jan – 7th FebDownload
24th – 31st JanDownload
17 – 24 JanDownload
10 – 17 JanDownload
14 – 27 DecDownload
6th-13th DecDownload
29th Nov – 5th DecDownload
22nd – 29th November 2020Download
15 November-22 November 2020Download
The Link 8 November-15 November 2020Download

Diocesan guidance on wearing Face Coverings

Everyone attending services of any type (including weddings, funerals and baptisms) should wear a face covering unless they are exempted from doing so. For those leading and taking part in the service they are able to remove their face covering at the points where they are leading, preaching or reading. However at these points they should ensure they are at least 2m away from others and the face covering should be worn at all other points of the service. Where this is not possible we would recommend a face covering is worn throughout.

When presiding face coverings can also be removed although care should be taken to avoid speaking over any of the elements (see previous guidance for keeping them covered).

All of this guidance is in addition to the exceptions provided that it is permissible to remove face coverings for those who would otherwise struggle with communication (for example where others rely on lip reading etc..).

We also wanted to provide some answers to some other questions which might be asked.

  • Q. Can anyone be barred from entering a church service if they elect not to wear a face covering?
    • We do not believe that Incumbents, Churchwardens or members of the PCC should feel responsible for enforcing the requirement. They should however ensure that all who attend services are aware. This should include reminding people when advertising services as well as announcements from those leading. The diocese have produced some new posters [insert link] which are an additional way in which the requirement can be communicated.  We should continue to remind everyone that wearing a face covering for those who are able is an act of love and kindness for others.
  • Q. Can the congregation remove their face covering for Holy Communion?
    • You can remove your face covering to take the bread, but the guidance suggests that hands should be sanitised prior to removing the covering and also after replacing it.
  • Q. Should face coverings be worn at weddings?
    • All those attending the wedding as guests should wear face coverings unless an exemption applies. The bride and groom do not need to wear face coverings. Those leading can also remove their face coverings during the service when speaking and preaching but we would encourage them to try and remain 2m away from the Bride and Groom where possible.

Private Prayer in Church

Our Churches are now open for private prayer as follows:

  • Monday 4-5:20pm – St Mary Magdalene’s
  • Wednesday 2-4pm – St Anne’s
  • Thursday 5.55 – 6.30 pm – St Paul’s
  • Saturday 10-12pm – St Mary Magdalene’s
  • Saturday 10-12pm – St Paul’s
  • Sunday 1-3pm – St Anne’s

St Peter’s Church can be made available for private prayer by request. Please contact us to arrange this

Internet help guides

The lockdown is causing many to need to use the internet more than we used to.
There are new technologies we are all trying to get to grips with.
Here are some helpful guides and information that should help us.

How to connect to the internet

Before you can do anything via the internet, you need an internet connection. There are 2 main ways; via a mobile phone service; or via an internet connection piped into your home.

This guide explains the services you need to get connected and how best to choose them.

Smartphones and Tablets

What is a smartphone, what can it do and how do you work one? 
How to choose and use tablet computers: the iPad and more.

View the guide here

FaceBook

Many of our services are broadcast on FaceBook, which you can join for free. Although you can view these without joining, it is much easier if you have joined. If you have a FaceBook account you can be informed when services are due to start, and be sent notifications of other news from the Churches as it is posted.

This guide will teach you how to sign up to Facebook. By the end of the the guide you will know how to join Facebook, add friends or ‘people you may know’ and also how to add a cover photo or profile picture to your account..

How to use WhatsApp

If you have a smartphone, WhatsApp is a greast way to connect with other Church members and family contacts.

St Peter’s Church has a couple of WhatsApp groups – “Chat & Prayer”, and “Things we like”. If you would like to join one or both of these groups, please contact us.

This guide shows you how to install WhatsApp on your phone

YouTube

Another way of viewing services online is via YouTube. Not all our services are published to YouTube at the moment.