We are here to serve the combined Anglican churches and the wider communities of Corsham, Lacock, Bowden Hill, Neston and Gastard. Our main aim is to grow followers of Jesus Christ through three key areas of activity which build upon each other, and which encourage us to look up, in and out:
- Growing in God (or looking up). We will be committed to being disciples of Jesus through prayer, Bible study and an active Christian life.
- Growing in Love (or looking in). We will model Christian love towards each other, creating attractive and hospitable communities of faith where people feel at home.
- Growing Community (or looking out). We will engage with our communities, seeking to be a Christian influence and encouraging people to follow Jesus.
Whilst our churches may be closed because of COVID-19 we continue to serve our congregations through on-line resources and christian fellowship over the phone and Internet where possible. For the latest Information please go to this page: LATEST TEAM NEWS AND INFORMATION
The remainder of our site remains available, even though our services and activities are in abeyance. Should you find something that interests you and you may wish to pursue when we are back to normal, or about you would like more information please contact the named person on the article or admin@corshamandlacockchurches.org.uk
You can keep up-to-date with what’s happening in our monthly and weekly Newsletters, the Rector’s News, and joining in with our activities; we also offer a wide variety of services for all ages. We look forward to meeting you in person!
There a wide variety of external sources in our Useful Links area and in particular should you need help with your faith please see our Growing In Faith section.
We also have a wide selection of ministers and other laity who help keep our parishes running, refer to our contacts section for more information
Revd Dr Andrew Johnson
Priest in Charge (Team Rector)
Last updated 3 June 2020 at 10:45
Whilst some Government guidance has been revised, it is still vital that the necessary hygiene and social distancing precautions are kept in place in order to protect the NHS and save lives.
The Church of England has issued revised guidance and notes: “from the Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy that churches could be open from July as part of the conditional and phased plan to begin lifting the lockdown. We look forward to the time when we are able to gather again in our church buildings.”
“We are examining what steps we will need to take to do so safely and are actively planning ahead in preparation. We strongly support the Government’s approach of continuing to suppress the transmission of the virus and accordingly, we recognise that at this time public worship cannot return in the interests of public health and safety.”
A twice weekly newsletter, replacing the current WIS, Church News and Lacock Pew News, will be published on a Wednesday and Saturday giving more information. This will be emailed to those who have signed up to our current newsletters. You can be added to this distribution by emailing office@corshamandlacockchurches.org.uk. Copies of these newsletters can be found at: TEAM NEWS. Latest Issue 23 released on 3 June 20
More info at: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches
A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
This page will contain a list of on-line resources that you may find helpful. It was last updated on 1 June 2020. Should you require past items that have been posted please email admin@corshamandlacockchurches.org.uk
NEW: A service for Pentecost (in a similar format to the Easter one) has been produced by our clergy can be viewed/downloaded at tinyurl.com/GCLTV(or use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15b24bZjOoA).Please see Team News for further details of formats for those who cannot view via the internet.
A daily prayer resource from Thy Kindgdom Come. Whether you are new to ‘structured’ prayer or an old hand, you are invited to try praying with us for the period between Ascension and Pentecost. We hope you may find in it a spiritual rhythm which will nourish your heart and keep prayer on your lips, enabling you to become part of a global wave of prayer. That rhythm might take the form of saying both Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Or you might start with just Prayer During the Day – suitable for any time of day – followed, perhaps, by Night Prayer. For booklet click here – CW Daily Prayer for Thy Kingdom Come (Please note that if printing this it is 27 A4 pages).
The Church of England has a new telephone number to ring to hear daily hymns, prayers and reflections – ideal if you do not have a computer (Please pass this to anyone you know like this) 0800 804 8044. More info here:https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-parishes/daily-hope-phone-line
Posters available: DailyHOPE_Poster-A4_colour DailyHOPE_Poster-A4_B&W
https://www.alonetogether.org.uk/. These online resources are offered to help people live through the coronavirus pandemic. Their special quality is that they don’t come from theories; they all come from those with experience of social distancing or isolation, people who have lived this reality either intentionally like monks and nuns or against their will like hostages or the housebound. This is a new and difficult journey for most people but experienced guides give us hope along the way. As the pandemic unfolds, more resources will be added.
https://springharvest.org/spring-harvest-home/. Spring Harvest Home is a completely free online conference programme with content suitable for everyone in the family. Lined up for the week after Easter, we have some amazing material all built around the 2020 theme of “Unleashed – The Acts Church Today“. Never has there been a more appropriate time for us to gather together as a community to worship, learn, laugh and pray together.
Refreshing the Lord’s Prayer material written in 2019 by Bishop Steven Croft will allow Christians to continue beyond Easter Day with content that lends itself to a context where personal prayer is paramount and gathering for worship is not possible. The 40 daily reflections, with new introductions for each week and daily family challenges, will lead people to the start of Thy Kingdom Come. Content will be available through a campaign app with full audio, smart speakers, daily emails, an ebook (Kindle and iBooks), and print options are being explored.
On-Line video resources (Scroll down for other resources)
You can find some daily services here: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
and here: https://www.stpaulsweb.org.uk/welcome.htm
or here: https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/
and here : https://www.bathabbey.org/
A daily refection with music can be found here: https://pray-as-you-go.org/
Miss singing hymns? Fancy singing in the privacy of your own home? The RSCM is offering a Hymn for the day and Sunday Self Services: https://www.rscm.org.uk/our-resources/hftd/
Concerned about mental health? This resource contains thirteen daily reflections written by Professor Chris Cook and accompanied by “have a go” habits developed by Ruth Rice.: https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-health-resources/supporting-good-mental-health/supporting-good-mental-health
The United Reformed Church offering to be found at devotions.urc.org.uk. You subscribe to receive daily devotions by email which can simply be read or listened to in podcast form and then, during the current situation, each Sunday there is a complete service which again can be read or there is a link to an audio version.
Other resources are available on the Church of England website at: www.churchofengland.org
PRAYERS in a PANDEMIC Our Team Vicar has put together a booklet which contains some simple acts of worship, a number of prayers to use, some suggested readings, and some ways of using TV, radio, or the internet to join in on services. View or Download here: PRAYING IN A PANDEMIC
More news ...
