Parishes are reaching out with video
More and more parishes are taking advantage of social media and video technology to take their worship online, engaging with their local communities and some unexpected far-off places.
News
Holy Week worship at the Cathedral
The Diocese of Chester and Chester Cathedral have announced a schedule of live-streaming worship and music to mark Holy Week. As the symbolic centre of the diocese, it is hoped people from across the diocese will join in.
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Palm Sunday with Archdeacon Ian
A Palm Sunday sermon from Archdeacon Ian in which he says: "We're the resurrection people and through the pain of the days ahead we have, as Jesus had, a hope that is born in the promise of eternal resurrection life."
Ministerial Development Review for Clergy
Clergy should now have received notice that this year’s cycle of MDR conversations will be postponed until 2021. The decision was taken due to the fact that clergy are of necessity and having to focus on the immediate pressures of ministry.
Funeral fees
Owing to the fact that an increasing number of funerals are being conducted at crematoria, a number of people have asked about funeral fees. The Diocesan Secretary has requested that the usual fee arrangements continue.
Caring for church buildings
The Church of England has issued an update to its advice for Incumbents, Churchwardens and PCC members to help with some of the practicalities of closing a church building for an extended period of time.
Paper palm cross Sunday
As many will miss the blessing and distribution of Palm Crosses on Sunday, we’re joining dioceses across the country in a campaign, to encourage as many people as possible to make a cross and place it in a window of their home.
"For such a time as this"
As Boris Johnson announced everyone should stay at home, Holy Trinity Blacon had just begun work serving the local population of Blacon with emergency food, organised by a multiagency collaboration called Blacon Action Team.
Could you give someone the gift of life?
A Bunbury parishioner with life-limiting cancer, is appealing for people to sign up for a stem cell donation scheme to see if they are a match for him and others like him. Even with today's restrictions, people are still registering from home.
Funerals and ministers over 70
The bishop and the archdeacons have today written to advise ministers over 70 that they should not be engaging in ministry which involves direct public contact, such as conducting funerals. Read their note in full here.
Bishop Keith: "Share a prayer, pray a prayer"
The Acting Bishop of Chester, Keith Sinclair, is inviting you to “share a prayer and pray a prayer†as part of a diocesan-wide effort to support and serve one another through the coronavirus crisis.
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Safeguarding and DBS factsheet
The Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser wishes to highlight government information designed to address specific concerns that people involved in supporting their community may have at this time.
Download the latest CDN
The April edition of CDN is out now and this month prayer is the focus. Produced before coronavirus had taken hold in the UK, the CDN will become digital-only until further notice, to help to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease.
Brilliant new faith resources
In this blog, Jonathan Masters, Youth, Children and Families Missioner, shares some brilliant new faith resources for families to use at home. He says the resources on offer mean that being a church family at home, "has never been easier."
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Public notices for faculty petitions
Display of public notices for faculty petitions during the Coronavirus restrictions, a Direction from the Chancellor for the Diocese of Chester
Church House Blog: Being a House of Prayer
In this Church House Blog, Emily Allen, Church Buildings Missioner reflects on the decision to close church buildings and provides practical tips and thoughts on how your church building can be a blessing, even when the doors are shut.
Bishop Keith's sermon at Passiontide
Bishop Keith offers a sermon at Passiontide from his home in Wirral. Readings include: Ezekiel 37: 1-14, John 11: 1-45, Romans 6: 8-11. The home sermon follows the archbishops advice to "stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives".
Bishop Keith: "What does a good day look like?"
Bishop Keith offers a reflection for us all, based on his own personal experiences and concerns and asks us to think about what a good day looks like and how we might nurture that at this time.
Securing and caring for your church building
The Church of England has issued some helpful advice for Incumbents, Churchwardens and PCC members to help with some of the practicalities of closing a church building for an extended period of time.
Archbishops reiterate their guidance
The archbishops have written to all clergy to reiterate their advice to stay at home and follow government advice. They say: "The Church of England is called to model the very best practice. We must lead by example."
New resources to support good mental health
The Church of England has published resources to support good mental health and to cope with anxiety and loneliness. The resources have been welcomed by Head of Counselling Services in the Diocese of Chester.
Safeguarding guidance from the NST
As the Church finds new ways to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable in our society, the National Safeguarding Team (NST) has issued new guidance to help the Church observe good safeguarding practice.
G'day from Grappenhall
Revd Jane Proudfoot has recently taken to YouTube to share sermons and children’s worship with the local community. So, she was surprised to receive an email from someone 10,464 miles away thanking her for her new style of ministry.
Join in with the #prayerjarchallenge
School children across the Diocese of Chester are being encouraged to take part in the #prayerjarchallenge, a fun competition to see who can come up with the most exciting and creative prayer jar.
Love in a time of Corona
A couple from Wistaston were married on Monday afternoon, hours before the Prime Minster announced strict measures to close all church buildings. Alana and Joe were due to be married on 04 April in front of some 100 guests.
"The church of Jesus Christ is never closed"
In an open letter to the diocese, following the Prime Minster's address to the nation, the Acting Bishop of Chester, Keith Sinclair says "the church of Jesus Christ is never closed" and through technology, "the church is more open than ever."
Diocesan advice on parish finances
The Diocesan Secretary, George Colville, has written to parishes to explain what measures are being put in place by the Diocese of Chester and the National Church to support parishes during this time of uncertainty.
Financial measures for parishes
The UK Government has issued financial measures and a package of support for businesses, including charities, through the period of disruption caused by Coronavirus. The national Church has published guidance for parishes.
A letter from the Archbishops
The Archbishops have issued a letter in response to the Prime Minister's decision to close all places of worship. The letter says: "it is imperative...the Church of England strictly observes the new guidelines".
Bishop and the Dean: "regrettable" but "necessary"
The Acting Bishop of Chester, Keith Sinclair, and the Dean of Chester, Tim Stratford, have offered their support for the Prime Minister’s decision to close all places of worship.
