The Headlines

The Collect - for the week commencing 31 March 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Latest Guidance - the latest guidance from the Church of England

National Virtual Church of England Services - Listen to Sunday Service on BBC Radio 4 or a local radio station

Message From The Rector - Reverend Ian Welch, Rector, St Andrew with St Alban, Parish of Mottingham

#LiveLent: Care for God's creation - follow the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Course

Five Marks of Mission - discover what they are and how you might follow them

Safeguarding - see our Safeguarding Page and the Church of England's Code of Safer Working Practice

HeartEdge - What A Difference A Month Makes! March 2020 Mailer

Diocese of Southwark - The Bridge, April 2020 Edition
 

Elsie Louisa Hudson 13 October 1915 - 6 March 2020

A New Look!

This website has been refreshed and given a spring clean! There's more editorial freedom giving greater prominence to the important headlines and space for more detailed reporting, including visual information and photos in the sections further down the page.


At this time of isolation you can use this website to participate and enjoy church and its community on a virtual basis; a new way of being church and being uplifted when meeting together publicly is not allowed!

Now is the time for you to explore this website, discover what it has to offer and provide feedback where you think improvements and additions could be made - your views will be appreciated.

In the meantime why not take time to reflect and enjoy some photos of the Tarn in Spring. Alternatively, listen to Michael Morpurgo giving his Point of View, aired on Radio 4 on Sunday 22 March 2020 - not to be missed! 

Coronavirus - Message From The Rector, Revd Ian Welch

"Our Archbishops have announced that, due to the Coronavirus, for the foreseeable future all public worship is suspended and our church buildings are closed. We may not be able to pray together in the ways we are used to, but in the safety of our homes we can still pray for one another and the world, keep in touch and offer practical care and support when it is safe and possible to do so.

In the days ahead I will be offering resources for daily prayer and for sharing in an 'Agape'-style home Communion service, as an alternative to the Sunday and Mid-week services of Holy Communion. This means that though we may not be bodily in church together, those who wish can still unite in spirit in recalling our Lord's Last Supper at the usual times on Sunday and Wednesday. Weekly readings and prayers will also be made available by internet, along with suggestions for daily prayer.

As ever, please be assured of my prayers for your safety and protection, and please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need pastoral support.

God Bless,

Ian

Parish Priest, Mottingham St Andrew with St Alban

T: 020 8851 1909;  E: standrewsmottingham@tiscali.co.uk
Parish of Mottingham St Andrew with St Alban Pew Sheet 5 April 2020
Parish of Mottingham St Andrew with St Alban 'Agape'-style Home Communion Service.

To see and hear Revd Ian's Passion Narrative from Matthew 26 & 27 click the Passion Narrative Video link below.

The Palm Sunday Service can be viewed from the Online Services page.

Holy Week April 2020 - Revd Ian's video re-telling of Oscar Wilde's 'The Selfish Giant' for 'children of all ages'! here

Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Recorded in 2019 by the Archbishop and Archdeacon of Canterbury, with prayers led by Revd Isabelle Hamley, this series of five podcasts takes people on the Holy Week journey by exploring and reflecting on five of the biblical Stations of the Cross.

National Virtual Church of England Service

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby led a national broadcast on Mothering Sunday as the Church of England responded to the challenge of becoming a "different sort of church" in the face of the coronavirus crisis. The service, including prayers, hymns and a short sermon was broadcast online by the CofE and broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Sunday Worship and 39 local BBC radio stations. The service can also be viewed on the Church of England website which also has many resources available for those who wish to pray at this critical moment for our country. In a recent television interview the Archbishop noted that the number of CofE website visitors looking to participate in online services had increased dramatically. A sign of things to come, possibly!

To listen and/or watch future online services click the CofE Sunday Services button below. The service on Sunday 29 March 2020 was conducted by the Archbishop of York and recorded at Bishopsthorpe Palace.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Churches

See the Church of England's website for guidance on what churches should do. There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section at the bottom of this CofE website page which includes a section on 'What Churches should do at this stage'. It covers some of the issues that have been raised within our (Southwark) Diocese. Please continue to check this guidance as it is updated regularly. 

A joint letter issued on 17 March 2020 from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York called for the Church of England to become a "differenct sort of church" in the coming months to face the challenge of coronavirus. Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu said it is now necessary to put public services on hold until further notice. Accordingly, no services will be held at St Andrew's and St Alban's until further notice. Please continue to check this page regularly for updates.
 A second joint letter issued by the Archbishops on 24 March 2020 updates this, clarifying the latest position.

How is the Church of England adapting plans for Holy Week and into Easter to meet the challenges of Coronavirus? Read how.

Supporting Good Mental Health - visit the CofE website and read the thirteen daily reflections or print them.

In a joint statement leaders of the Church across Britain and Ireland have come together to urge Christians to pray, serve and do all we can to slow the spread of Covid 19 - read here