Message from Fr Chris - Wed. 18th March 2020

IMPORTANT MESSAGE RE THE CORONAVIRUS  
​
All of us at the Parish Church of St Cross with St Paul, Clayton hope that this message finds you well.  We are sure that you will have been following the news at what is a very anxious time for everyone in the nation and especially for those who are considered most vulnerable.  Lots of our sisters and brothers who are connected with St Cross Church are in those categories.
 
In response to the government and Church of England advice you will probably not be surprised to hear that we have decided to suspend all church activities and public worship with immediate effect. That will include everything - Move it or Lose it on Tuesday at 11am, Stations of the Cross and Compline on Tuesday at 7.30pm, Deanery Dancing on Wednesday at 7.30pm, Lectio Divina on Thursday at 6pm, Choir at 7pm and Film Night on Friday at 6pm, as well as our Sunday and Thursday Worship.
 
We will however continue to operate our Food Bank with some changes to how we do things so as to minimise potential risk to our users and volunteers. 
 
We are expecting to receive further advice from church leaders in Manchester and London in the coming days and we will stay in touch with everyone as things develop.  There are all kinds of questions which we are unable to answer right now.  Questions about weddings, baptisms and funerals are some of the issues are being discussed.
                                                                        
There will be a meeting of our Standing Committee today (Wednesday) to discuss how we can to continue share worship and prayers digitally to keep our community connected and involved and we will keep you updated on these plans through our website, Facebook and email.
 
We are also working on ways that we can maintain pastoral contact with those who are ill, lonely or feel isolated, and you will receive further emails from us once our plans have become more fully developed.  In the meantime, if you know of anybody who needs assistance, please use my contact details below and I will do my best to arrange support.
 
The most important consideration for us at St Cross with St Paul is how we continue to be the Body of Christ and serve the people around us, when all of our normal ways of doing this are unavailable.  We'd rather it had come in another way but we have been presented with an opportunity to stop, think and pray about what BEING church looks and feels like.
 
We will keep in touch… we invite your prayers for those affected in so many ways.
 
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…
Be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46)
 
With our love and prayers,
 
Fr Chris
​