Christ Church rises to the challenges of Covid
Christ Church in Eaton has reinvented its worshipping life so as to provide a relevant service to the local community during the current lockdown. The parish team reports
We have assembled a list of volunteers to give practical help to the community, including setting up phone and email contacts with the more vulnerable and isolated who are likely to be experiencing loneliness and depression.
We have 152 people receiving our emails and are encouraging people by email, Facebook and our website to give to the foodbank as well as specific charities each month.
We are encouraging our worshipping community to donate to the foodbank through local supermarkets rather than weekly church collections and donated the chocolate eggs bought for Easter service to it. Those involved with the young people’s groups have prepared and delivered craft packs for the children.
There has been a steady stream of photos and posts on the church’s Facebook page and frequent updates, with links to other websites. The Parishes magazine has been online since April and volunteers give information to those without internet access, whilst strictly observing social distancing guidelines.
Patrick Richmond our vicar, has set up Zoom services, meetings and prayers and keeps us regularly updated via email, with helpful links to online prayer resources as well as inviting the worshipping community to take part, for example, by lighting a candle as part of the Day of Prayer, saying the Lord’s Prayer from your doorstep, and applauding the NHS.
“The Lockdown has presented unprecedented challenges to faith, hope and love,” said Patrick, “and I am so grateful to all those rising to these and taking the opportunity to reach out in both time-honoured and new ways to our local and virtual community.”
Factfile
Project title: Faith, Hope and Love from Christ Church, Eaton
Who runs the project: Christ Church, Eaton
Where do you operate: NR2, NR4
Address: 161 Newmarket Road, Norwich NR4 6SY
Public contact details: vicar@christchurch-eaton.org.uk, 01603250844
Website: Christchurch-eaton.org.uk
Our main contact: Vivien Humber rogerhumber@btconnect.com 01603 507855
Prayer requests: for those self-isolating without the internet, especially those already in poor health.
Eldred Willey, 05/05/2020