IN LIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE AROUND NON-ESSENTIAL CONTACT, THE ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY AND YORK HAVE ISSUED ADVICE THAT PUBLIC WORSHIP IS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE and the church is now locked

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ST MICHAEL’S AND ALL SAINTS?

From this Sunday - March 22^nd  in Framlingham and Saxtead there will be NO public services. I am really sad about this and I’m not sure this has ever happened before. We need to pick up the Archbishops’ challenges and carry on our task of sharing Christ’s good news. We need to make sure that our life of prayer and serving others continues.

We have made a start on this:-

1. The Church buildings in Framlingham and Saxtead will remain open for prayer every day - requests for prayer which are left there or phoned through to Mark (768875 or email - revmarksanders@tiscali.co.uk) will be prayed. If you come in Church there will be new resources there.
2. We are being encouraged to pray at home or in Church and there will be daily prayer in Church. We need to join with the other Churches in the day of prayer. There will be live streaming of simple services from some churches. There are plenty of resources for Lent and for prayer available at

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-liturgy-and-prayer-resources

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/learning-pray

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer

1. The collect and readings will be emailed round to the newsletter list and we will keep in touch in that way too
2. Phone contact lists will be worked on for both churches
3. Saxtead is working on a phone tree, anyone happy to volunteer to keep in touch with a couple of neighbours regularly, and anyone who would like to be contacted, please ring Saxtead Church Warden Christina Darell-Brown on 07977 575165, or email on cdb1946@icloud.com.
4. Framlingham Town Council is working with The Hour Community  and Churches Together  on staying in contact and working out how to help people with food and medicines - this information will be shared once developed. And St Michael’s and Framlingham Churches Together will be sending out prayers and thoughts as well.
5. The hope is more resources and information will be sent week by week. This is all happening for quick implementation following the announcements earlier this week but progress is being made.

THE ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY AND YORK WRITE TO US:-

Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead. Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day. We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support. Please do carry on supporting the local foodbank and buy extra provisions for it. Ensure the night shelters wherever possible are kept open. There are many very encouraging schemes happening right across our country in communities to focus on caring for the most vulnerable, so do continue to play your part in those. Then by our service, and by our love, Jesus Christ will be made known, and the hope of the gospel – a hope that will counter fear and isolation - will spread across our land.

We have called, along with our fellow church leaders, for a day of prayer and action this coming Sunday - Mothering Sunday (22nd March). Mothering Sunday has always been both a day of celebration for many and a sensitive and emotional day for some. Wherever you are this Sunday please do join in this day of prayer and action and remember especially those who are sick or anxious, and all involved in our Health Service. As one action, we are calling on everyone to place a lighted candle in their window at 7.00 p.m. as a sign of solidarity and hope in the light of Christ that can never be extinguished. This is a defining moment for the Church of England. Are we truly a church for all, or just the church for ourselves? We urge you sisters and brothers to become a different sort of church in these coming months: hopeful and rooted in the offering of prayer and praise and overflowing in service to the world. Please, therefore, join us in this great challenge; and pray for our Government and nation, for each other, and especially for those who work in our health and emergency services. See https://www.cte.org.uk/for more information and resources

OUR BISHOPS MARTIN AND MIKE SHARE :-

We have been live-streaming services from across the diocese:
•         Morning prayer from the Bishops’ Oratory (8.30am).
•         Evening prayer/evensong from St Edmundsbury Cathedral at 5.30pm.

We invite everyone to join us to pray daily and you can view these services live on Facebook:

St Edmundsbury Cathedral Facebook
Bishop Martin and Bishop Mike Facebook

For those without Facebook, please visit our website where we have added a page with downloads of the most recent services where possible. 

This comes with love and prayers - and if you need to contact me please do so  revmarksanders@tiscali.co.uk Tel 01728 768875

And remember the website:   www.stmichaelsframlingham.org.uk

Best wishes

Mark