Sunday services at St Peter and St Paul’s

Updated!

Following much prayerful consideration, the Rector, churchwardens and PCC have decided to modify our attended services from Sunday 18th July 2021. Our live audio stream on Shepton LifeStream is now operating - see here for full details.

Covid recommendations will still be in place for anyone visiting the church building at this time. The protocols below follow current government advice and regulations regarding attended church services. Please read through if you wish to attend. We look forward to seeing you!

While we have put in place recommended hygiene and distancing practices, it is very important that you make an informed decision about when to return to services, taking into account any health issues and risk factors which apply to you or your family. For any who can’t attend, we’ll continue to stream services online so there is no pressure to return before you feel ready to do so.

Church Update 🚦 📯

With the lifting of all major covid-19 restrictions by the government, and new guidance from the Church of England, we are able to change some of the ways we worship and meet together, particularly on Sundays:

What’s Changing?

+ SINGING -We can now sing together(🙌 ),though still behind masks for the moment.

+ SOCIAL DISTANCING - We will keep social distancing between households, and we will ask people to keep wearing their masks throughout the services.

+ HOLY COMMUNION - We will continue to celebrate Holy Communion using bread dipped in the wine.

+ FELLOWSHIP - We will continue to have times of fellowship and refreshments outside when the weather allows ☕

+ SAFETY - We will continue to have maintain good ventilation and ensure hand sanitising is available throughout the building during our times together.

As we continue to regather, join us to worship the Lord Jesus, and to pray for our town and community 🙏 ⛪ . We can’t wait to see you all!

Arriving

• • Doors will open at 10:00 so to avoid a queue please don’t arrive before then! It might take a little while for us to get everyone in safely, so thank you for your patience.
• • In line with government recommendations, we will be displaying the official NHS QR code poster in church and in Peter Street Rooms. If you have downloaded the NHS COVID-19 app, please scan the QR code as you enter the buildings.
• • Parking, as always, is very limited. Please park in the public carparks unless there are mobility issues that would make this very difficult.
• • You’ll need to stay with your household as you come in and for the duration of the service and to stay two metres away from other groups
• • You’ll need to have your own face covering, ready to wear whilst you’re with us - and take home with you after the service
• • We’ll ask everyone to use the hand sanitisers provided as they enter the buildings, and before they receive the bread at Communion when it is held.

During the service

• • Please do not shake hands, high 5 or hug anyone - the Shepton wave is the new way of greeting each other!
• • We are now able to sing out loud (Alleluia!), but please keep your mast on for the time being.
• • Please bring your own bible and notebook etc
• • Please bring a drink if you need one as we will not be providing refreshments.
• • The Peter Street Rooms ground floor accessible toilet will be open, but best just use in an emergency to be on the safe side.
• • The collection will be not be taken during the service - there will be a collection basket at the door if people wish to make an offering as they leave.
• • There won’t be a paper service/notice sheet - please ensure that you can see one of the screens.

Departing

• • Please do not shake hands or hug anyone as you leave! 
• • Please have fellowship whilst respecting social distancing as you do so.
• • Feel free to feedback any comments. We’d love to make the experience of being together as good as possible while being as safe as possible. 

If you or any of your household: 

• • feel unwell
• • show or have shown any symptoms of COVID-19 (or have been in close contact with someone who has) within the last 14 days
• • have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or been in close contact with someone who has) within the last 14 days
• • have been asked to self-isolate under the NHS Test and Trace scheme or have returned from a country outside of the UK government exemption list in the last 14 days

we would kindly ask you to please stay at home and join us online instead.