WELCOME TO HINDE STREET METHODIST CHURCH
Help and Support
Click here for signposts to help and support during 'lockdown', regarding coronavirus, mental health & wellbeing, food, bereavement, domestic abuse, etc
Click here for signposts to help and support during 'lockdown', regarding coronavirus, mental health & wellbeing, food, bereavement, domestic abuse, etc
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES
See below for updates
Update from the Superintendent Minister
Sunday Worship
The Church building will be CLOSED for WORSHIP on Sunday - Updated 16 October 2020
All can access the live streamed service on Zoom up to 30 minutes before each service by logging on to http://hindestreetonlineworship.org.uk/ . Select this this link also for video recordings of services since Sunday 22nd March 2020. Please scroll down to below the Zoom instructions to see the recordings.
**Please do not travel to the building.**
Midweek groups (e.g. 12 Steps / Wednesday Club) that are already booked in, will continue to meet.
Dear Friends,
It is with sadness that we have decided not to open the church building for public worship this week. We have taken the following advice from the London Methodist District.
Following the latest Government advice … that London will move from Tier 1 restrictions to Tier 2 restrictions as from Saturday because of large increases in transmission rates across areas of London, this will mean that there are new restrictions on people mixing between households.
Although strictly this does not mean that meeting for worship is prohibited, even in Tier 3, it is our very strong recommendation as District Chairs that churches do not open for worship when the rate of positive cases is high. Just because we can, doesn’t mean that we should.
To read the whole message from the Chairs, please follow this link.
In the light of this statement, we felt asking people to travel would not be appropriate. We are, however, hoping to stream the service from Hinde Street to maintain a sense of being in our beautiful church.
We hope that you will join together on Zoom, on the phone or on YouTube, as we enter a new stage in this most strange year. What is important, is keeping faithful in worship, praying for each other, our communities and for the world in this challenging time. We will keep you updated via Weekly and our website as we progress in the coming weeks.
If you would like help in accessing the worship, please contact Peter (07366 023140).
May God bless you all.
Peter Cornick and Richard Shepley.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
All can access the live streamed service on Zoom up to 30 minutes before each service by logging on to http://hindestreetonlineworship.org.uk/ . Select this this link also for video recordings of services since Sunday 22nd March 2020. Please scroll down to below the Zoom instructions to see the recordings.
OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER
9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
020 7935 6179
PASTORAL SUPPORT
Rev Peter Cornick is available on 07366 023140,
and Deacon Belinda Letby is available on 07528 187006.
OFFERTORY
As we are having virtual services in the current situation and not passing around collection bags, any donations can be made online via Virgin Money or by BACS transfer:
Virgin Money Giving | Hinde Street Methodist Church
or
HSBC, Sort code 40-04-25, Account no. 51007416
(please use reference "Offertory" and include your name if you want the church to claim Gift Aid.)
Thank you very much for your ongoing donations and support in so many ways for Hinde Street Methodist Church.
See below for updates
Update from the Superintendent Minister
Sunday Worship
The Church building will be CLOSED for WORSHIP on Sunday - Updated 16 October 2020
All can access the live streamed service on Zoom up to 30 minutes before each service by logging on to http://hindestreetonlineworship.org.uk/ . Select this this link also for video recordings of services since Sunday 22nd March 2020. Please scroll down to below the Zoom instructions to see the recordings.
**Please do not travel to the building.**
Midweek groups (e.g. 12 Steps / Wednesday Club) that are already booked in, will continue to meet.
Dear Friends,
It is with sadness that we have decided not to open the church building for public worship this week. We have taken the following advice from the London Methodist District.
Following the latest Government advice … that London will move from Tier 1 restrictions to Tier 2 restrictions as from Saturday because of large increases in transmission rates across areas of London, this will mean that there are new restrictions on people mixing between households.
Although strictly this does not mean that meeting for worship is prohibited, even in Tier 3, it is our very strong recommendation as District Chairs that churches do not open for worship when the rate of positive cases is high. Just because we can, doesn’t mean that we should.
To read the whole message from the Chairs, please follow this link.
In the light of this statement, we felt asking people to travel would not be appropriate. We are, however, hoping to stream the service from Hinde Street to maintain a sense of being in our beautiful church.
We hope that you will join together on Zoom, on the phone or on YouTube, as we enter a new stage in this most strange year. What is important, is keeping faithful in worship, praying for each other, our communities and for the world in this challenging time. We will keep you updated via Weekly and our website as we progress in the coming weeks.
If you would like help in accessing the worship, please contact Peter (07366 023140).
May God bless you all.
Peter Cornick and Richard Shepley.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
All can access the live streamed service on Zoom up to 30 minutes before each service by logging on to http://hindestreetonlineworship.org.uk/ . Select this this link also for video recordings of services since Sunday 22nd March 2020. Please scroll down to below the Zoom instructions to see the recordings.
OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER
9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
020 7935 6179
PASTORAL SUPPORT
Rev Peter Cornick is available on 07366 023140,
and Deacon Belinda Letby is available on 07528 187006.
OFFERTORY
As we are having virtual services in the current situation and not passing around collection bags, any donations can be made online via Virgin Money or by BACS transfer:
Virgin Money Giving | Hinde Street Methodist Church
or
HSBC, Sort code 40-04-25, Account no. 51007416
(please use reference "Offertory" and include your name if you want the church to claim Gift Aid.)
Thank you very much for your ongoing donations and support in so many ways for Hinde Street Methodist Church.
WEEKLY PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Please click here for our prayers and meditations.
NOTICE: The Tuesday 1pm Meditation Group is now running by Zoom. Please click here for details. All are welcome.
Please click here for our prayers and meditations.
NOTICE: The Tuesday 1pm Meditation Group is now running by Zoom. Please click here for details. All are welcome.
DAILY AND WEEKLY UPDATES
Do look at the link to the District prayer diary which this week, features the West London Mission.
https://www.methodistlondon.org.uk/district-prayers-west-london-missio
Re-opening Hinde Street for Lettings - update 14 September 2020
Hinde Street acknowledges the frustration and disappointment caused by this delay in reopening the church. Whilst we acknowledge that anonymous group meetings are exempt from the ‘rule of 6’ there remain some other reasons that are delaying our opening. We are now working towards opening on Monday 5 October. Further information and booking forms will be shared as soon as possible.
We sincerely apologise for this disappointment
Re-opening Hinde Street for Lettings - update 10 September 2020
We appreciate how keen so many groups are to return to meetings at Hinde Street Methodist Church. We had previously said that the church would be reopening for groups on 14 September 2020.
However, in light of the government’s announcement yesterday about it being against the law to meet people you do not live with in a group larger than 6 from Monday 14th September, we are postponing the reopening of the church. It is clear that there will be exemptions for example for education, however it is not clear yet about other groups including anonymous groups. We are awaiting the publication of the government’s legislation to provide further clarification on which groups are permitted to meet and will contact you again next week with further news.
An update from the Superintendent Minister - update 10 September 2020
Last Sunday, we were pleased to be able to return to the church building for worship, as well as continue worshipping via Zoom (online and on the telephone) and YouTube. I am grateful to the many people who made worship possible, in various forms, in a very short time. Apologies go to those on Zoom, some of whom were unable to hear parts of the service. Our technical team have been working on solutions and you will appreciate the challenge of streaming the sound in church to Zoom. We are all learning.
The government announcement on Thursday 9th, limiting social gatherings to 6 (‘rule of 6’), is not applicable to religious worship. The terms on which we returned to church last week remain the same. (It is still unclear how the ‘rule of 6’ will effect weekday ‘groups’. Prior to the government announcement, the Stewards had delayed the re-opening for ‘groups’ until October at the earliest. This is to enable the correct staffing and logistics to be put in place. All groups are being contacted with the updated conditions).
The new restrictions brought in by the government, remind us that whilst we are still able to worship in the building, COVID-19 has not gone away. How we behave on Sundays will make a difference to how long we can continue to use the building and to the transmission of the virus.
I am grateful to you all for adhering to the rules last Sunday with good grace and common sense. When you attend the church building and see people for the first time, it is tempting to hug and get closer than 3 feet (whilst wearing a mask) – or indeed, to remove the mask and be closer than 6 feet – 'lead us not into temptation'.
Remember, love your neighbour: stay socially distant! Your deeds might save a soul!
Peter Cornick
Return to Hinde Street building - 17 August 2020
We intend to worship in the church building on Sunday 6 September at 11am only. The service on that day will also be on Zoom, accessible in the usual way. The Church Council wanted to ensure that everyone is provided for - whether you wish to travel to Hinde Street, or feel it is still safer to stay at home. Please note that if you do drive in to church, there are now both ULEZ and Congestion Charges on Sundays. You will understand that the situation could still change, so please check in Weekly or on the website. For those returning, please also be aware that there will be a number of Covid related restrictions - including that masks must be worn in places of worship.
Other groups in the church building will start (at the earliest) from Monday 14 September. Again, this is subject to change, and there will be Covid related restrictions. Please check with the Church Office about any particular groups.
We are pleased that the Wednesday Club has begun again - serving our friends on the church steps
Peter Cornick
We intend to worship in the church building on Sunday 6 September at 11am only. The service on that day will also be on Zoom, accessible in the usual way. The Church Council wanted to ensure that everyone is provided for - whether you wish to travel to Hinde Street, or feel it is still safer to stay at home. Please note that if you do drive in to church, there are now both ULEZ and Congestion Charges on Sundays. You will understand that the situation could still change, so please check in Weekly or on the website. For those returning, please also be aware that there will be a number of Covid related restrictions - including that masks must be worn in places of worship.
Other groups in the church building will start (at the earliest) from Monday 14 September. Again, this is subject to change, and there will be Covid related restrictions. Please check with the Church Office about any particular groups.
We are pleased that the Wednesday Club has begun again - serving our friends on the church steps
Peter Cornick
A message from the Superintendent Minister - 25 June 2020
Dear friends,
The government have announced that churches may resume worship from 4th July – without singing!
This is a much swifter and fuller resumption than ‘the grapevine’ was anticipating. However, there remain significant ambiguities to understand. For example, it is not at all clear what numbers can meet. The Methodist Church has assured us that further guidance will be issued regarding this third stage of the easing of lockdown. I am not expecting this until after the Methodist Conference, which is meeting this week.
The Methodist Church stress that risk assessments need to be carried out and it is for the managing trustees (the Church Council) to assess when it is safe and suitable for a church to resume worship. They further stress that managing trustees should not feel pressurised into re-opening. There are many factors to be taken into consideration. The stewards have been preparing risk assessments, but it takes time for all concerned to reflect on these and to put the necessary precautions in place, as well as to ensure communication and training has happened. The government have lifted restrictions. The scientific community are vocally more cautious. We should not rush to meet for worship or groups until we have properly heard the measures being put in place and have reflected upon them.
Therefore, I, with Richard Shepley, our Senior Steward, feel the most appropriate action would be to present the risk assessments to the Church Council, meeting by Zoom on 26th July. We can then come to a mind on a suitable phased and cautious return date for worship and groups in the church building, having heard the concerns and practical implications raised by members of the church.
We will continue to worship on Zoom until we resume worship at Hinde Street. Following the resumption, we will be making an on-line facility available, building on the success of the last three months in attracting people from far and wide. We also recognise that not everyone will be able to get to Hinde Street for some time to come. Indeed, those for whom it was impossible to travel prior to the lockdown, have appreciated the on-line experience.
So, as we prepare to exit the lockdown situation, please bear with the staff and stewards. We are all working hard to put in place worship and activities which conform with the restrictions and above all, keep our members and guests safe.
May God bless you,
Peter
Dear friends,
The government have announced that churches may resume worship from 4th July – without singing!
This is a much swifter and fuller resumption than ‘the grapevine’ was anticipating. However, there remain significant ambiguities to understand. For example, it is not at all clear what numbers can meet. The Methodist Church has assured us that further guidance will be issued regarding this third stage of the easing of lockdown. I am not expecting this until after the Methodist Conference, which is meeting this week.
The Methodist Church stress that risk assessments need to be carried out and it is for the managing trustees (the Church Council) to assess when it is safe and suitable for a church to resume worship. They further stress that managing trustees should not feel pressurised into re-opening. There are many factors to be taken into consideration. The stewards have been preparing risk assessments, but it takes time for all concerned to reflect on these and to put the necessary precautions in place, as well as to ensure communication and training has happened. The government have lifted restrictions. The scientific community are vocally more cautious. We should not rush to meet for worship or groups until we have properly heard the measures being put in place and have reflected upon them.
Therefore, I, with Richard Shepley, our Senior Steward, feel the most appropriate action would be to present the risk assessments to the Church Council, meeting by Zoom on 26th July. We can then come to a mind on a suitable phased and cautious return date for worship and groups in the church building, having heard the concerns and practical implications raised by members of the church.
We will continue to worship on Zoom until we resume worship at Hinde Street. Following the resumption, we will be making an on-line facility available, building on the success of the last three months in attracting people from far and wide. We also recognise that not everyone will be able to get to Hinde Street for some time to come. Indeed, those for whom it was impossible to travel prior to the lockdown, have appreciated the on-line experience.
So, as we prepare to exit the lockdown situation, please bear with the staff and stewards. We are all working hard to put in place worship and activities which conform with the restrictions and above all, keep our members and guests safe.
May God bless you,
Peter
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Worship at hinde streetWorship takes place three times on a Sunday at Hinde Street, at 10am, 11am and 6.30pm. To find out more about the very different services, click HERE
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