GREETING: Our Vicar, the Rev Tom Lusty, pictured at his Licensing Service at St Oswald's Church, Arncliffe, on July 28, with his wife, Helen, and the Bishop of Ripon, the Right Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley Picture: Peter Vetch
Parish Services
This Sunday, September 19, we will have Services at all four Churches in our Parish.
These will be:
* Holy Communion at St Michael and All Angels Church, Hubberholme, at 9.30am.
* A Service of the Word at St Mary's Church, Conistone, at 9.30am.
* Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church, Kettlewell, at 11.15am.
*Evening Service at St Oswald’s Church, Arncliffe, at 6.30pm.
Please click on the picture below for our latest Online Service.
Churchyard is declared the 'best in county'
The churchyard at St Mary's, Kettlewell, has been declared the 'unanimous' winner for the whole of North Yorkshire in a competition run by a countryside charity.
Judges praised the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of the churchyard and the 'immersive' quality of the journey through it. The Bishop of Ripon has congratulated all those whose hard work has contributed to this success.
Please go to the News and Views section of our website for the full story and pictures. You will also find news of plans for a combined Harvest and Patronal Service at Hubberholme, and a special book offer at Buckden School Room.
Judges praised the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of the churchyard and the 'immersive' quality of the journey through it. The Bishop of Ripon has congratulated all those whose hard work has contributed to this success.
Please go to the News and Views section of our website for the full story and pictures. You will also find news of plans for a combined Harvest and Patronal Service at Hubberholme, and a special book offer at Buckden School Room.
Easing of Coronavirus restrictions: Changes to rules during Services and opening our Churches
Following the easing of most restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, July 19, the Parish’s Vacancy Team discussed the situation, taking account of advice from the Diocese of Leeds.
The team sought to balance the wish to return to some kind of normality and to ensure our Churches are reaching out to people with the need to show caution in certain situations and to recognise the concerns about the continued presence of the virus in our society.
Taking these factors into account, the team decided the following:
* Wearing of face masks is not obligatory. We would encourage people to wear face masks when moving around Church but to then, if they wish, remove their face masks when settled in their pew.
* Physical distancing is no longer required inside Church buildings but in this transitional time we would encourage a common sense approach and ask that people to continue to utilise all the available space in Church to minimise the risk of the spread of Covid-19.
* Congregational singing is now permitted in Church. We would encourage people if they wish to sing to wear face masks, although this is not obligatory. As we begin this new phase we will use songs in the repertoire that do not require people to sing loudly/at the top of their voices.
For those who do not wish to sing (at this stage) there will be a zone in Church where people can choose not to sing and, if they wish, continue to wear face masks, and be guaranteed that 2 metres physical distancing is enforced. (This will probably be in the back quadrant near the main Church entrance, or simply the back half of Churches.)
We will still ask people to sign the books at the back on our Churches or to use the NHS app at the entrances, though this is also no longer obligatory.
All our Churches are now open for longer hours during the daytime on most days.
The team sought to balance the wish to return to some kind of normality and to ensure our Churches are reaching out to people with the need to show caution in certain situations and to recognise the concerns about the continued presence of the virus in our society.
Taking these factors into account, the team decided the following:
* Wearing of face masks is not obligatory. We would encourage people to wear face masks when moving around Church but to then, if they wish, remove their face masks when settled in their pew.
* Physical distancing is no longer required inside Church buildings but in this transitional time we would encourage a common sense approach and ask that people to continue to utilise all the available space in Church to minimise the risk of the spread of Covid-19.
* Congregational singing is now permitted in Church. We would encourage people if they wish to sing to wear face masks, although this is not obligatory. As we begin this new phase we will use songs in the repertoire that do not require people to sing loudly/at the top of their voices.
For those who do not wish to sing (at this stage) there will be a zone in Church where people can choose not to sing and, if they wish, continue to wear face masks, and be guaranteed that 2 metres physical distancing is enforced. (This will probably be in the back quadrant near the main Church entrance, or simply the back half of Churches.)
We will still ask people to sign the books at the back on our Churches or to use the NHS app at the entrances, though this is also no longer obligatory.
All our Churches are now open for longer hours during the daytime on most days.
Online Services
Our Online Services were started when we first went into lockdown and have proved to be a huge boon to people in the Parish and beyond. They also involve a lot of hard work and devotion from the dedicated team behind the services. The number of people viewing the services has fallen in recent weeks, though a significant number are still doing so.
With these considerations in mind, it has been decided to produce an Online Service every month instead of every week. This started with the service on July 4. The idea is to continue thereafter with a new service being put on the website (www.upperwharfedalechurches.org) in time for the first Sunday of each month, except when the service is timed to coincide with a specific event or religious festival. Updates and information will be provided in the Online Services themselves and also in other Parish communications, such as on this website and in The Link.
With these considerations in mind, it has been decided to produce an Online Service every month instead of every week. This started with the service on July 4. The idea is to continue thereafter with a new service being put on the website (www.upperwharfedalechurches.org) in time for the first Sunday of each month, except when the service is timed to coincide with a specific event or religious festival. Updates and information will be provided in the Online Services themselves and also in other Parish communications, such as on this website and in The Link.
New Pattern of Parish Services from September
AN EXCITING new approach to our worship in the Parish begins this month with a fresh pattern of Sunday Services.
The plan is that from September we will have a Service in each of our four Churches almost every Sunday, at our ‘traditional’, pre-pandemic times of 9.30am, 11.15am and 6.30pm.
However, it is also envisaged that the times that our different Churches hold Services will vary as the month progresses, so some weeks a particular Church will hold a Service at 9.30am, then the following week perhaps at 11.15am, and the week after at 6.30pm.
The major exception to the above rules is when there is a fifth Sunday in the month, when we will hold a Benefice Service at one of our Churches at 11am, as we did previously.
Please do not panic if this appears a little complicated, because the idea is that the same pattern will be repeated in coming months, so people will be able to get used to the pattern of Services, and we hope to provide numerous reminders of what is happening as we go along.
Apart from the occasions when there is a fifth Sunday in the month, the plan is to hold Services as follows:
First Sunday of the month – 9.30am: Arncliffe and Kettlewell (Methodist-led Service of the Word at Kettlewell); 11.15am: Conistone; 6.30pm: Hubberholme.
Second Sunday – 9.30am: Conistone and Arncliffe (Service of the Word at Arncliffe); 11.15am: Hubberholme; 6.30pm: Kettlewell.
Third Sunday – 9.30am: Hubberholme and Conistone (Service of the Word at Conistone); 11.15am: Kettlewell; 6.30pm: Arncliffe.
Fourth Sunday – 9.30am: Kettlewell and Hubberholme (Service of the Word at Hubberholme); 11.15am: Arncliffe; 6.30pm: Conistone.
The idea is that the majority of these Services will be ones of Holy Communion led by Tom, with other Services of the Word led by Lay Readers or Methodist Preachers shown in the pattern above.
The liturgical style of the 6.30pm Services will vary, with perhaps a tendency to hold BCP Evensong Services at Hubberholme and Conistone and possibly using Taize, Northumbria or Iona liturgy at Kettlewell and Arncliffe.
The new pattern was discussed by the PCC at its meeting on July 28, and it was agreed to bring it in from the start of September.
Details of our Services will also be published on our website (www.upperwharfedalechurches.org), in our Parish emails and on posters as appropriate, so it is well worth checking with these nearer the time of a Service.
*Click on the button marked 'Sunday Services' below to find a version of the template for our new pattern of Services that can be printed out and folded to create a two-sided instant guide.
The plan is that from September we will have a Service in each of our four Churches almost every Sunday, at our ‘traditional’, pre-pandemic times of 9.30am, 11.15am and 6.30pm.
However, it is also envisaged that the times that our different Churches hold Services will vary as the month progresses, so some weeks a particular Church will hold a Service at 9.30am, then the following week perhaps at 11.15am, and the week after at 6.30pm.
The major exception to the above rules is when there is a fifth Sunday in the month, when we will hold a Benefice Service at one of our Churches at 11am, as we did previously.
Please do not panic if this appears a little complicated, because the idea is that the same pattern will be repeated in coming months, so people will be able to get used to the pattern of Services, and we hope to provide numerous reminders of what is happening as we go along.
Apart from the occasions when there is a fifth Sunday in the month, the plan is to hold Services as follows:
First Sunday of the month – 9.30am: Arncliffe and Kettlewell (Methodist-led Service of the Word at Kettlewell); 11.15am: Conistone; 6.30pm: Hubberholme.
Second Sunday – 9.30am: Conistone and Arncliffe (Service of the Word at Arncliffe); 11.15am: Hubberholme; 6.30pm: Kettlewell.
Third Sunday – 9.30am: Hubberholme and Conistone (Service of the Word at Conistone); 11.15am: Kettlewell; 6.30pm: Arncliffe.
Fourth Sunday – 9.30am: Kettlewell and Hubberholme (Service of the Word at Hubberholme); 11.15am: Arncliffe; 6.30pm: Conistone.
The idea is that the majority of these Services will be ones of Holy Communion led by Tom, with other Services of the Word led by Lay Readers or Methodist Preachers shown in the pattern above.
The liturgical style of the 6.30pm Services will vary, with perhaps a tendency to hold BCP Evensong Services at Hubberholme and Conistone and possibly using Taize, Northumbria or Iona liturgy at Kettlewell and Arncliffe.
The new pattern was discussed by the PCC at its meeting on July 28, and it was agreed to bring it in from the start of September.
Details of our Services will also be published on our website (www.upperwharfedalechurches.org), in our Parish emails and on posters as appropriate, so it is well worth checking with these nearer the time of a Service.
*Click on the button marked 'Sunday Services' below to find a version of the template for our new pattern of Services that can be printed out and folded to create a two-sided instant guide.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAST SERVICES FROM THE PARISH OF UPPER WHARFEDALE & LITTONDALE.
The church communities of Upper Wharfedale and Littondale aim to be open and welcoming to everyone.
We extend the hospitality of Jesus to people of all faiths and none whatever your background or identity.
Whether you are seeking God's presence, looking for information or some help with prayer and worship, we hope that you will discover that God's love is unconditional and within all things.
Keep us, good Lord,
Under the shadow of your mercy
In this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
And lift up all who are brought low;
That we may rejoice in your comfort,
Knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
In Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace to all who enter.
God's grace to all who depart
We extend the hospitality of Jesus to people of all faiths and none whatever your background or identity.
Whether you are seeking God's presence, looking for information or some help with prayer and worship, we hope that you will discover that God's love is unconditional and within all things.
Keep us, good Lord,
Under the shadow of your mercy
In this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
And lift up all who are brought low;
That we may rejoice in your comfort,
Knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
In Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace to all who enter.
God's grace to all who depart