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And again...

 Hi folks

Please find below a statement from the bishops in Northern Ireland in regards to the return to in-church worship.  I'm afraid it was the news we were expecting - the earliest date that we might be able to gather for worship is Good Friday, 2nd April 2021.

In respect to this decision, we are going to make alternative arrangements - and from the start of March I intend to return to car park church - meeting in the Parish Hall car park at 11am.  I am delighted that my church and glebe wardens have agreed to support the decision, and that my greatly trusted colleague, David, has agreed to join me!

For a week or two, we might need to wear our coats rather than our formal cassocks and surplices - but I'm sure you'll forgive us under the circumstances!

More news closer to the date!

Regards

Johnny



Bishops’ statement in relation to public worship
 
 
A statement from the Church of Ireland Bishops in Northern Ireland in relation to Public Worship.
Following the Northern Ireland Executive’s decision to extend the current Covid–19 restrictions to Thursday 1st April 2021, representatives of the Churches met earlier this week with Ministers from the Executive Office, the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer. At that meeting the Chief Medical Officer stressed that it would make a significant difference and be of huge benefit to public health and safety, if churches were willing to continue, for the time being, not to gather in–person for services and other meetings.
 
 
In the light of the Executive’s extension of the current restrictions, and on the basis of the continued and unequivocal public health message that people should continue to stay at home, we have agreed that all in–person Sunday gatherings for worship, along with all other in–person church gatherings, should remain voluntarily suspended for the time being in all Church of Ireland parishes in Northern Ireland until Thursday 1st April 2021 – with the exception of weddings, funerals, arrangements for recording and/or live–streaming, drive– in services and private prayer (as permitted by regulations).
 
 
We have also agreed to further assess the situation immediately after the next NI Executive review of current lockdown provisions on Thursday 18th March 2021, in the cautious anticipation that, from Friday 2nd April (Good Friday) onwards, our parishioners in Northern Ireland could return to in–person gatherings for worship, with all necessary precautions and mitigations in place. This recognises the importance of Easter, the significance of which was acknowledged by the Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer at their most recent meeting with Church representatives.
 
 
We welcome that a similar approach is also being taken by the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and, in a slightly different form, by the Roman Catholic Church.
 
 
+John Armagh
+Andrew Derry and Raphoe
+David Down and Dromore
+George Connor

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