It was a large ‘socially distanced’ congregation that returned to St Bartholomew’s today to join in private prayer and enjoy some fellowship together. Many were glad to just be amongst their church family once more and happily chatted across the pews that kept us safely apart. Jane and Ellie shared two prayers out loud and some visitors who were passing arrived, who were still unable to visit their own church, which hasn’t opened yet. Afterwards, many had a walk around the newly remodelled interior and were unanimous in their praise of the new space that had been created. We look forward to being open again at 10am next Sunday, for private prayer once more.

St Bart’s is now open every Sunday at 10am until the situation changes further.

This will not be for a traditional service, but for people to meet for a time of private prayer and fellowship.

Full precautions will be put in place by the churchwardens.

Social distancing will be maintained, a register of those attending taken, cleansing gel made available, a one way system laid out, no hymns or prayer books and no service sheets.

Thank you to all those who have made donations to St. Bartholomew’s or have bought face masks in aid of the Church.

While we are cash-strapped, due to the closure of the Church Building for Covid-19, we are extremely grateful for this boost to our funds.

Jane Hough is making face masks!
She has a few available ..grey, blue pink and solid grey for those who don’t do flowers.
All  proceeds to St Bart’s.
Metal nose bridge for good fit and washable..triple layered.
Price £5 (Etsy have them at £12!)
Visit on Facebook or telephone 01270 522568 to order yours.

Revd Catherine Cleghorn, Curate of St Andrew’s, All Saints’ and St Peter’s Crewe is livestreaming Compline at 8.00 pm each evening on the St Andrew’s Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/standrewschurchcrewe/A brief address for ‘Spy Wednesday’Revd Claire Maxim (who preached at the Plough Service at Reaseheath College this year) has also written a series of reflections for Holy Week, one for each day, inspired by her visit to the Holy Land last year. You can find these on The Arthur Rank Centre website at: https://arthurrankcentre.org.uk/together-apart/together-apart-worship-resources/ The Archbishop of Canterbury is posting a thought for the day each day on his Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/archbishopofcanterbury/posts/?ref=page_internalOn Thursday during the day, Bishop Keith will be leading the Diocesan Maundy Thursday Eucharist live at 11.00 am on the Cathedral website at: https://chestercathedral.com/stream/

The Acting Bishop of Chester, Keith Sinclair, is inviting you to “share a prayer and pray a prayer” as part of a diocesan-wide effort to support and serve one another through the coronavirus crisis.
Bishop Keith says: “We are all coming to terms with the new realities of the coronavirus pandemic. For us all this means staying at home, but even from our armchairs we can serve our communities in prayer.
Prayer sheets made up of prayers requested for a wide range of situations will be made available for people to download and pray in their own time. You can share a prayer and pray a prayer by visiting the prayer hub at www.chester.anglican.org then clicking on the ‘coronavirus’ heading, then on ‘prayer hub’.

Bishop Keith has asked that homes throughout the Chester Diocese should again, safely, place a candle in their front window at 7pm on Sunday, 29th March. The clocks will have gone forward, but as darkness gathers, they should become more obvious. Let us remember again, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it”.