Tadcaster Benefice

​Following the national decision to allow churches to re-open for private prayer, we have received some more detailed guidance on how this may be possible.
 
All of the churches of the Tadcaster Benefice are committed to opening for private prayer as soon as is practically possible and once we have ensured that it can be done safely. There are lot of things to consider and a lot of practical things to be done and this will take some time.
 
Our current aim is for our PCCs to consider detailed plans for each building within the next couple of weeks and for our churches to open for private prayer – subject to approval – for the first time on Saturday 4th July. Just like shops which have reopened this week, numbers allowed into church will have to be limited.
 
Initially, each church will be open for a short period of between 1 and 3 hours each Saturday. This will allow us to ensure that everyone is kept safe and that appropriate cleaning can take place each week.
 
We are very aware that there are many people who want to be able to come into church and pray. Whilst church is closed, there are many people praying at home, in their gardens, whilst out walking and in all sorts of places. You do not have to be in a church building in order to pray! Our prayers, Sunday services and other activities together continue on Zoom and Facebook Live and details can be found on our website (www.stmarystadcaster.co.uk), our social media content and in the notice sheet.
 
We are here for you. If there is anything that you want prayer for or if you just want to chat to someone, please get in touch.
 
God bless,
 
Reverend Simon Biddlestone

​The government has announced that church buildings will be permitted to open for private prayer from 15th June. This announcement means that each of the churches of the Tadcaster Benefice are able to consider this limited reopening of our buildings.
 
This news has come with very short notice – and earlier than had previously been indicated – and we need to ensure that there has been proper time to plan and that all of our Churchwardens and Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) have had time to discuss what is going to happen.
 
We are awaiting clarification and advice from the Church of England nationally and from the Diocese of York over the coming days as to how best to respond to this announcement. We will update you when we have further information to share. It is highly unlikely that any of our buildings will be ready to open on 15th June.
 
It is important that we get the balance right. We need to protect our volunteers who would need to open and close the buildings, do thorough cleaning and sanitizing and be there as required when the building is open, and we also need to protect the people who want to come and pray. Equally, we know just how special our churches are to people and we know that there will be people who very much want to be able to come into a special and sacred space to pray. We will make our churches available for individual prayer as soon as we safely can.
 
Throughout the closure of our churches, prayers and services have continued in people’s homes and gardens and on Zoom. All of this will continue when our churches open for individual prayer and we will keep you updated via social media, our website and the notice sheet.
 
We are praying for you and we are here to support you. Please get in touch if you want a chat, if you have any comments about church reopening or if there is anything that you want us to pray for.
 
God bless,
 
Reverend Simon Biddlestone (Curate)

As a Benefice we are joining the global wave of prayer, calling all Christians to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know the love and peace of Jesus Christ.
 
It is hoped that everyone who takes part will:

• Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
• Pray for 5 friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
• Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness

 
We begin with a service for Ascension Day on Thursday 21st May at 8.15pm on Zoom.
 
Then from Friday 22nd May until Saturday 30th May there will be a service of Night Prayer for Thy Kingdom Come at 8.30pm every evening – again on Zoom. These will be led by different people from the Benefice and will follow the Order of Service that can be found on the church website at http://www.stmarystadcaster.co.uk/uploads/1/3/6/0/1360245/night_prayer__thy_kingdom_come_.pdf.
 
Our 10 days of prayer ends with a service for Pentecost at 10am on Sunday 31st May (on Zoom) when our preacher will be Paul Blakey MBE.
 
 
Further information on the Global Wave of Prayer is available at https://www.thykingdomcome.global

​We know that some of you are missing your opportunity to pop into church, to sit quietly for a while and to reflect on the ideas on our prayer table.
So, we are trying to help with putting together a Virtual Prayer Table.
Here are some suggestions that you can use at home – and you can still send us a prayer request which we will pick up and use at our Monday Morning Prayer on Zoom (just like we used to do every week with the cards that were left on the board in church) – and perhaps at some of our other Zoom services as well.
If it’s a general prayer and you don’t mind anyone reading it, then feel free to just add it in the comments. If it’s more personal and you don’t want the whole of the world to know, then please send a pm to the Tadcaster Benefice Facebook page, or an email to the Administrator at stmarystadcaster@gmail.com and we will only share it with the few people who meet on Zoom to pray.
Please do use the ideas below and on the photos to help you to pray at this strange and sometimes difficult time.
 
 
 
At the moment, we might be finding things particularly difficult. We might struggle to find positive things to think about.
But as spring comes, we see signs of new life and hope around us, particularly lambs in the fields.  We are reminded that God is our faithful shepherd.  He cares for us through the good and the bad times.
The words of Psalm 23 talk about God being our Shepherd and being with us in all sorts of situations through life.
Read through the words and then spend some time reflecting on the pictures.
Try thanking God that He walks alongside you and all those who you love. If you are worried about yourself or someone else, try to imagine that God is holding your hand in the middle of all the darkest times. And then look forward to the celebrations when all this lockdown is over and we can again share with all those we love and are missing seeing in person.
Psalm 23 – a modern version
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.
Psalm 23 – a traditional version
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
 
 
A prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that you see us right where we are,
in the midst of our pain and struggle.
Thank you that you have not forgotten us and never will.
Forgive us for not trusting you,
for doubting your goodness,
or not believing you’re really there.
Thank you that you care for us
and your love over us is so great.
We ask for your hope and comfort
to continue to heal our hearts where they’ve been broken.
Give us the courage to face another day,
knowing that with you before us and behind us, we have nothing to fear. Amen.

Services during Holy Week will be done over Zoom.  Everyone is welcome to join for the service, you don't have to have the camera on if you don't want to.  

​You can use Zoom on a laptop, tablet or smart phone.  To join Zoom go to  https://zoom.us/  and register for a free account.  You can also download the app to your phone.  To join a meeting, at the time the meeting is scheduled to start either click the link for the meeting or open the app/website and enter the meeting ID.  If you’re struggling don’t worry – give Rachel a ring and she will try to help.

​Join our Holy Week Zoom services with meeting ID 9861012744 and password 377646
 

What’s happening next week?
 
Morning Prayer will continue next week, led by the list below from their homes.  Please join in at 9.30am. If there is something/someone you would like us to pray for please let Rachel know. You can access the document to follow the service at:  https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer 
 

• Monday – Celia Oldroyd
• Tuesday – Steve West
• Wednesday – Dorothy Clark (10.30am)
• Thursday – Tricia West
• Friday – Brenda Christmas

 
Simon will lead Compline (Night Prayer) every night apart from Friday (which will be the Wests).  You can access the document to follow the service at http://www.stmarystadcaster.co.uk/evening-prayer.html. Night Prayer will be done over Zoom conferencing on Wednesday and Sunday evenings (meeting ID 659184880).
 
How to use Zoom conferencing
You can use Zoom on a laptop, tablet or smart phone.  To join Zoom go to  https://zoom.us/  and register for a free account.  You can also download the app to your phone.  To join a meeting, at the time the meeting is scheduled to start either click the link for the meeting or open the app/website and enter the meeting ID.  If you’re struggling don’t worry – give Rachel a ring and she will try to help.
 
Virtual Coffee Morning/Afternoon
Following the success of Night Prayer via Zoom we would like to try a social meeting at 11am on Saturday 28th and 2pm on Thursday 2nd April.  Grab a hot drink and join the call for some general chat – and a quiz on Thursday for some light entertainment.  It would be lovely to catch up with people virtually. Click the link to join the meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9861012744 or use meeting ID: 9861012744

The below statement was released on 23rd March.  This means we are no longer able to open our churches for prayer and reflection.  Please continue to pray at home.  Morning and Night Prayer will be said in the homes of those leading the service, if there's something you'd like us to pray for please get in touch.

Archbishops and Bishops: stay at home but continue to pray, to love, to care for the vulnerableThe Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England have urged everyone to follow the instructions given by the Prime Minister to stay in their homes in a national effort to limit the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19).But they called on the Church to “continue to pray, to love, to care for the vulnerable”.
It follows the announcement by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson of sweeping restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.
It means all Church of England churches will close with immediate effect in line with the Government’s instructions. There will also be no Church weddings or baptisms.
Funerals at the graveside or in crematoriums can still take place, but only in line with the Prime minister’s Statement.
In a joint statement the bishops said: “In the light of the Government’s measures, announced by the Prime Minister this evening, we urge everyone to follow the instructions given. 
“We will give a fuller statement of advice as soon as possible. Let us continue to pray, to love, to care for the vulnerable, and build our communities, even while separated.”

Coronavirus Guidance
 
At the time of writing, 15th March 2020, the Church of England guidance on Coronavirus is as follows:
 

• All must wash hands or use hand sanitiser upon entry to church.  The sidespeople/welcomers will advise you where to do this as you arrive.
• There will be no use of the common cup (chalice) for the administration of wine. The presiding priest will receive wine on behalf of all the congregation and everyone else will receive only the wafer/bread.  Communicants are encouraged to stand to receive communion, to avoid contact with the rail.
• The Church of England commends good hygiene in the preparation and administration of Holy Communion, so that the President (and any others administering the bread) will use a hand sanitizer immediately before the preparation of the table and administration of the bread.
• Until further notice, the exchange of the Peace will not include a time of shaking hands etc.  Collection plates will not be handed round, a plate will be available for your offering at the end of the service.
• Catering is suspended (teas, coffees etc.) where multiple people touch mugs, utensils and foodstuffs.  Refreshments will not be served before/after services.  Saturday Morning Coffee Morning at the Boys’ Sunday School is suspended until further notice.

 
Some groups and events may be cancelled – we will issue updates on cancellations via social media/the website/ weekly notice sheets.  If you are unsure if a service/event/group is going to be going ahead and can’t find any information on this please contact Rachel on 07545 516949 (between 9 and 6pm). Don’t forget you can sign up to receive the notice sheet by email.  Contact Rachel on stmarystadcaster@gmail.com or telephoning 07545 516949 to be added to the notice sheet by email list.
 
At the time of writing Tadcaster Flood Action Group were setting up a community group to coordinate helping those in need during the Coronavirus outbreak.  We believe that it is important to have one central point of co-ordination rather than lots of separate groups replicating each other. Therefore, the plan at the time of writing is that we will be working in close partnership with this group. If you are self-isolating and worried about getting shopping/ prescriptions/ caring for pets or simply need someone to ring you to speak to you – please contact Rachel on 07545 516949 who will be the main point of contact for the Benefice. 

Mothering Sunday
22nd March 2020
​
We will be holding special services across the Benefice on Mothering Sunday, suitable for all the family. 
 
10am Family Service at Newton Kyme

10am Morning Worship Service at Church Fenton

10.30am Family Friendly Holy Communion at Tadcaster
 
10.30am Morning Worship Service at Kirkby Wharfe
 

Come along to any of the services – flowers for all the ladies.  We look forward to seeing you.