By Rev Fiona Bennett (From Seeds October 2021)

Throughout October, we continue to offer Sunday worship online every week, and in-building on the first and third Sundays (when there is also communion).

In-building worship no longer requires advanced booking, but Track & Trace is taken on the door, seats are still distanced and masks are required to be worn throughout the service. Junior Church is also in-building on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. [Note slightly different arrangements on Sunday 10th.]

SUNDAY 3RD OCTOBER

We are celebrating Harvest. During the service we will join with churches across the world as we support the work of Christian Aid (in particular their campaign to support Afghan Refugees www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/stand-afghanistan) through financial giving, campaigning and praying.

As part of the service, we will also join with the Young Christian Climate Network in making paper prayer boats to join their collection being carried from St Ives to Glasgow, and strengthen the voice calling for action from those meeting at COP 26 (www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/prayer-chain). As a first Sunday in the month, people are invited to share in worship online and in the building. There will be Junior Church activities in the building and communion.

SUNDAY 10TH OCTOBER

How will this work? For those who are worshipping online and in the building, we will share the same worship activities from the start of the service at 11am (including the christening) until the Bible reading and sermon.

Those online will then hear the reading and sermon while those in the building will share round tables in theme-related craft activities suitable for all ages. After the sermon, the craft activities will end and everyone online and in the building will share together for the rest of the service.

Seats in the building will be around tables to enable the crafts. The seats are open to all but are limited by capacity, so for this service advanced booking in advance is essential. (Rachel will send out an Eventbrite link the week before.)

SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER

We are marking Mental Health Sunday with Maxwell Reay preaching. This will also be a service with in-building worship and communion.

Mike Holroyd is preaching on Sunday 24th and Laurence Wareing on Sunday 31st.

SINGERS

For the next few months, we are experimenting with having pairs of singers lead our hymn singing in the building on the 3rd Sunday. This is to address the challenge of having live singing as part of worship that streams well online (people in the building singing with masks on is not very clear for people at home).

Getting the right blends of voices to sound good online may take a bit of time but, fortunately, Katrina Hadland has offered to do the coordinating.

If you are a confident singer and interested to be part of a singing pair, please drop her an email (katrina.hadland@augustine.org.uk) and she will try to work out good blends of voices and dates!