This is the Capel and Ockley PCC page for the latest COVID-19 information
General Guidance
The Church continues to be alive and active, but our buildings are open for private prayer only.
CofE COVID-19 guidance document: click here
A selection of appropriate prayers: click here
Daily COVID-19 newsletter from the Diocese
Click on the title to read the full article
COVID-19 Briefing 13/10
It was a challenge I set myself as a young adult – to learn Romans chapter 8 by heart. Compared with the old Jewish practice of learning the whole Pentateuch (or the Muslim memorisation of the Koran) it should have been a stroll in the park, though it still took this bear-of-little-brain a while to achieve it. But even now, those rolling phrases from that great chapter frequently come to mind just when I need them: ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his good purpose’. ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ Christian hope is at the heart of this chapter – not some false cheerfulness or mindless optimism, but a hope that is set against the darkest backdrop of suffering and persecution, and is inextricably linked with the life, death and resurrection of God’s Son and the coming of His Spirit. There is plenty of groaning along the way: the whole creation is groaning, we are groaning, the Spirit is groaning – but groaning ‘as in the pains… Read MoreCOVID-19 Briefing 06/10
‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us’. (Hebrews 12:1) It was strange seeing people running the London Marathon through Godalming as I drove to church last Sunday – as if Storm Alex had blown them off course. It struck me that here is a picture of the race that faces leaders at present: relocating, reinventing and reorganizing themselves, through the storm of an ugly pandemic. In running terms, I avoid such extremes. In leadership terms, it’s not so easy. But if simple couch to 5k running has taught me anything, it’s that pace in challenging circumstances is crucial – and it’s closely related to endurance. I’ve been reflecting on this in relation to two groups of people this week. First, our ordinands who will be ordained (at last!) across seven services next weekend. Please do pray for those to be made deacon and ordained priest this year (I’ve got the Society of Catholic Priests [SCP] to join me in a Novena of Prayer for them – 9 mins @… Read MoreCOVID-19 Briefing 29/09
Coming up for the month of October is the Transforming Generosity initiative across our diocese: a daily podcast and a weekly sermon – perhaps also other things in your parish too? – to encourage us all to think more deeply about the subject of giving. I wonder if there’s any resistance in you as we raise this topic? I confess to it myself, in these uncertain times when the demands can leave me feeling I’ve already given everything. I felt it even as I set about preparing ‘my’ sermon in the series: because it is so costly. Giving can demand more than we ever set out to offer. Yet, in my experience, it also returns more than we are ever ready to receive. It’s the only way to live, to really live. If I could invite one further contributor for the coming month it would be Chuck Feeney. He is one who set about Transforming Generosity among the super-rich elite, with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet (where, most commonly, he found a similar resistance to giving!). Dubbed the ‘James Bond of philanthropy’, you might have read about him in the papers last weekend. At 89, he recently fulfilled his lifetime ambition of… Read MoreCOVID-19 Briefing 22/09
‘The one who sings prays twice’. These words, attributed to Augustine of Hippo (354-430), are almost certainly not his but they do resonate through the centuries. We have been deprived of making music together, ‘the way we’re used to’ since March. Professional musicians and voluntary music groups are now permitted to sing indoors provided appropriate social distancing and other Covid-secure arrangements are in place. We’re delighted that at our Cathedral our musicians are back making music which serves the liturgy and is to the glory of God.. We’ve had recorded music for Sunday worship since lockdown, thanks to very hard work from the whole team, but during those weeks, as now, we can’t sing with them. And that’s really difficult. It’s difficult because participating in music making is part of how we worship the Creator. It’s difficult because singing is fundamental to human beings. Singing together is good for us. It brings people together, it produces mood enhancing hormones, it aids wellbeing and contentment, and singing together makes many into one. Whether we sing with others at a sporting event, the Last Night of the Proms, the familiar school song at the start of term or in our churches –… Read MoreCOVID-19 Briefing 15/09
Over the last 6 months many of us have been wrestling with the question ‘What does it mean to be church in a time of pandemic’? It is a question that has taken up much head and prayer space for us, and rightly so. But some of the core foundations of what it means to be church have not changed; the church is part of God’s work of transformation; being a follower of Jesus in every aspect of life is core to who we are as church; and as Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 5:17, the church is called to join in with God’s central mission of reconciliation. Coronavirus has forced us to ask questions relating to who we are as church and how we do church differently. It is forcing us to change our culture; forcing us to rethink why we do what we do. Covid-19 has opened up many new opportunities for us to live out the good news of Christ in our everyday life. As we begin to return to our buildings there is pressure to resume what we were doing before we had to leave them. I want to suggest that we must not lose… Read MoreCOVID-19 Briefing 08/09
Bishop Andrew shares his thought for the day on ‘As some are in the habit of doing’. Full transcript is available in the YouTube description. Critical Reading Changes in the Safeguarding Team I would like to take this opportunity to announce the following changes within our Diocesan Safeguarding Team: I am very pleased to announce that Jane Huttly has been appointed as Safeguarding Manager with immediate effect. Jane’s new remit will include the leadership of the Safeguarding Team, in addition to continuing to lead on safeguarding policy and training for the Diocese of Guildford. We are currently recruiting for a Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor and we are pleased that Ian Berry has kindly agreed to continue in this role on an interim basis, pending the appointment of a successor, in addition to his role as DSA for the Diocese of Portsmouth. Ian will be the primary safeguarding contact for our parishes in the immediate future. For all safeguarding queries or issues, please contact Ian in the first instance on 07544 566850. As previously announced, Linda Hayward will be retiring from her role of DBS Manager in early October. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Linda… Read More