Covid-19 Update, 4th August

Dear friends,

I hope this finds you safe and well. I write to update you on matters connected to the re-opening of our church building. These fall into 5 categories:

1. Sunday Worship: The Kirk Session has decided that a return for Sunday worship is not going to proceed under current Scottish Government restrictions. This is because we can only seat 30 people; masks would have to be worn; no singing can take place; and we cannot hug or shake hands. In the view of the Kirk Session, this is not worship. We have always been one church family, and the thought of turning people away at the door or worshipping in a way that lacks so much is something the Kirk Session feel we just should not do!
Our worship on a Sunday continues online for the time being. This can be accessed via Facebook; or on the church’s website; or on the church’s Youtube channel; or via text message, sent by me to your mobile phone. If you struggle with access to any of the above, please get in touch and I shall be happy to assist.

2. Prayer Days: The Kirk Session has decided to open the church for Prayer. The first of these will take place THIS SATURDAY, 8th AUGUST 11am till 3pm. Please come along and join us. The idea is you come into the church, with face mask, and spend time in the sanctuary in prayer. It’s a sacred time for you to be at one with God in the intimacy of the sanctuary. Obviously we have to take all precautions in ensuring you are safe – so face masks must be worn; a one way system will be in operation; and track and trace will also be operational. Don’t worry though – our Volunteers will explain everything in detail when you arrive.

3. Funerals: Again, the Kirk Session currently feel that under current Scottish Government restrictions, we are unable to open for funeral services. These would also be restricted in numbers attending and the Kirk Session can envisage situations when this would be difficult to implement in a spirit of fairness and equity. Until such time as the current restrictions are eased, we feel a funeral service within our sanctuary would not be in-keeping with the spirit of openness and equity we seek to share.

4. External lets: The Kirk Session has agreed that at such time as we are permitted (by both Scottish Government and Church of Scotland), we will open for external lets with risk assessments to be provided by those organisations duly submitted to the Property Team; and possible cleaning costs also being met by those organisations.

5. Our own organisations: The Kirk Session has agreed that at such time as we are permitted (by both Scottish Government and Church of Scotland), our own organisations can use our premises with risk assessments to be provided by those organisations duly submitted to the Property Team.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Yours in Christ,
Rev Alan Gibson
Minister