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You can read Sean’s latest letter at https://rossparishes.uk/letterjan21/

A new lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister on the 4^th January 2021, and unexpectedly, communal worship is permitted under this lockdown. 

Unlike a year ago, we are now dealing with a COVID variant that is significantly more transmittable, and despite our churches being COVID-19 secure, any gathering of people poses a heightened risk of transmission or infection. We are particularly concerned that people, starved of social contact, might mingle and chat to one another before and after services, and in so doing, put one another at risk. 

As Christians our behaviour needs to be guided by our faith. One of the most basic teachings of Jesus Christ was that all interpersonal ethical choices should be directed by the principle of loving your neighbour as yourself. In the context of COVID-19 this means avoiding any risks of transmitting the coronavirus to others. Furthermore, churches need to be safe places – not places where we put our health or lives in danger. But equally, as Christians we are called to worship God and we need to be spiritually replenished and encouraged, especially in such a difficult time. 

Holding these principles together, we strongly urge people to attend services online, and will only make 10 seats available at selected services for those who believe that their mental and spiritual health would be significantly compromised by not attending a physical service. To attend a service physically, booking through Eventbrite (https://rossparishes.uk/digital-services) will be essential or please phone the church office on 01989 562 175. Those at services will be social distanced and no mingling or chatting will be allowed.

Full details of the arrangements that will be in place from 7^th January 2021 will be found at https://rossparishes.uk/digital-services. In brief, they are:

St Michael and All Angels, Brampton Abbotts    
No services until further notice

St Michael and All Angels, Walford                   
The church is open for private prayer daily
No Parish Eucharists until further notice
Family Zoom Services will continue

St Mary, Ross-on-Wye                                      
The church is open for private prayer daily
Thursday 10 am Livestreamed Eucharist. Max 10 in church.  
Sunday 8 am Livestreamed BCP Holy Communion. Max 10 in church.
Sunday 9.30 am Livestreamed Benefice Eucharist with Max 10 in church.  
Followed by Virtual Coffee
Come As You Are Services – pre-recorded
Messy Church – pre-recorded/Zoom
Toast and Toddle – pre-recorded/Zoom
LEAF – pre-recorded/Zoom

Please note: All pre-recorded services will be available on the website (rossparishes.uk) and livestreamed services will be available on the Ross Parishes Facebook page or YouTube. If you are having trouble accessing any services online please contact Mark or the church office.  

We are very fortunate to have the ability to livestream and pre-record services, and I thank all involved in bringing worship into the safety of our homes. The ministry team and I will do all we can to maintain contact with parishioners through phone calls, emails and Zoom calls, and will continue with pastoral care in every way we possibly can. Please do be in contact with me or the church office if you need any help of any kind.

God bless, and keep safe

The Rev’d Sean Semple
Rector, The Ross Parishes

As 2020 ends we invite you to commemorate anyone you have lost during 2020 on the Ross Remembers site. We set up this online book of remembrance in March, during the first lockdown to remember anyone who has died for any reason. There’s a simple form on the site for you to enter details (including photographs, poems etc). There is no charge and the site is available to anyone in or around Ross-on-Wye. https://rossremembers.org