Returning

This coming Sunday we’ll be holding the first service at AFC since March 15^th 2020, fifteen weeks ago – probably the longest absence of worship in the building (and its predecessor in Sycamore Road) since the congregation was established in 1907.

We know that not everyone will be able to return, indeed we wouldn’t want that because the health of everyone is so important.  To that end we have decided to continue with the Audio Services. I’m very grateful to Michael Autton who will be helping out with this.  These services will be in a slightly simplified format than before.

The 10.30am service at AFC will be open to all, but we do have a maximum capacity of around sixty.  The chairs have been physically distanced and an Advisory Notice has been published both on the website and this blog to help people prepare for attending.

The 10.30am service will be videoed and then posted on the website later in the day.  We had hoped to livestream but in the second test run last week the signal failed or was very variable.  This was a disappointment as, on the first test, it had been reliable.

Maybe later in the year we’ll consider the whole issue of livestreaming but, for now, we have these three ways to engage in worship: Audio Service (to be listened to on the internet or through CDs), 10.30am AFC Service or Video Service and I hope that will fulfil our desire to be as inclusive as possible so that we are ONE congregation worshipping in different places.

I was so glad when Patrick, our Room Booking secretary, said that the first regular booking back on the AFC calendar was Morning Worship – and that, I think, is how it should be!

As a church community we were saddened to hear the passing of one of our former Associate Ministers, The Revd Alan Kirkcaldy, last week.  I know Alan was much loved at AFC.  Only a few days ago someone said to me: I only met him the once but felt as if I’d known him all my life.

This week the COTHA (Churches on The Hill, Amersham) Clergy held a Zoom ‘lunch’ together and finished putting together the various parts of a ‘United’ Audio Service, with contributions from all our churches, to be broadcast for July 19^th!  It was good to be together and share stories of how the three churches on the hill have managed over the days of the Pandemic.

This weekend marks a tentative beginning back to a very limited normality – it is neither complete or all inclusive, but it is a ‘start’ of sorts, even if it develops temporary blips on the way.

Small steps… to be taken at ‘the speed of love’.

Ian
ps a new Manse Talk will be posted on the website over the weekend