In the light of changes in the requirement to wear a face covering in shops, the Church of England now strongly advises all people to wear a mask from this Sunday onwards during worship.

Could I please ask everyone from now on to bring a face covering with them when they come to church? The only exceptions include:

• children
• if you are exempted from wearing masks in shops and public transport by government legislation
• whilst you are receiving holy communion

We will, of course, never turn anyone away from worship because they have forgotten a mask or don’t have one – we will have a supply of disposable ones available for anyone who needs one. However, these are expensive to buy, so we would ask people not to rely on being able to pick one up at the door and to bring their own if they are able.

Fr Peter

Liturgical Arrangements for Masses until further notice
The most important thing to note is that until further notice, St Benet’s can only accommodate a maximum of around 40 people according to regulations for Covid safe worship. The number of seats has been radically reduced. If therefore, you are able to come to Mass later on a Sunday to the 7.00 pm Mass, or to the Saturday evening 6.00 pm Mass, this could help make the 11.00 am Mass less busy.

Before you set off for church, please wear or pack a face covering. Before you enter the building, please put your face mask on. When you arrive at St Benet’s, please enter through the door marked “Entrance.” Wear a face covering at all times when you are in the building. You will be asked to sanitise your hands immediately upon entering the church.

Those coming to church with their family can sit together as a domestic bubble in clusters of four chairs. Everyone else must maintain a two metre distance from their neighbour and sit in single chairs, which have been spaced out.
The liturgy will be much simpler and shorter than usual. There will be no singing, for example, and no sharing of the peace. Communion will only be in one kind (i.e. only the Eucharistic bread and no chalice.) There will also be no refreshments after Mass. You are permitted to remove your mask in order to receive holy communion.

There will be a very simplified Sunday School on offer. This will consist in children who are nursery age and above being taken outside to our garden for a story and then play time. It will not be possible for parents to join the Sunday School under any circumstances. All children must be left in the care of our trained Sunday School teachers. It will also not be possible to admit late comers to Sunday School, and there will be a cap of 15 on the total number of children we are able to take. If you intend to come to church with your children and want them to attend Sunday School, please arrive early.

At the end of Mass, you are asked not to congregate at the back of church but to leave the building immediately. If you wish to have a socially distanced conversation, please make your way to our parish garden on Ospringe Road, where we will be able to catch up with one another.

Full details of all our Covid planning and liturgical arrangements can be found here.

Notices

Online liturgies
From now on, there will just be one Sunday Mass recorded each week on a Saturday night with a homily which will be uploaded to YouTube for those who are still shielding or are uncertain about leaving their homes.

Services for the coming week

Please note that until further notice, our weekly Mass at Ash Court, Holy Hour, Rosary, and our monthly German Mass are suspended.

In place of the Ash Court Mass, there will be a Saturday evening Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00 pm. This is a Mass of Sunday celebrated the evening before as our liturgical celebration of Sunday begins. If you find it difficult to get to Mass on a Sunday morning, you can come instead on Saturday evening. Coming on a Saturday evening may also help make the 11.00 am Mass on Sunday less busy, as we can only fit 40 people in church and remain Covid safe.