[Magdalen] Streaming Services

[Michael Bishop]

I am retired so have not the responsibility of decisions in a parish - 
and as I am over 70, although I have the Bishop's permission to 
officiate, whilst I could officiate from home, even in the event of the 
Rector being ill, in the present circumstances because of my age I would 
not even be allowed to officiate at the only semi-public service allowed 
- a funeral - even if I knew the deceased well and only the funeral 
director were to be attending. In any case funerals can only take place 
at a crematorium or in a cemetery with minimal mourners (perhaps up to a 
dozen) - all closely related to the deceased and all required to keep 
two metres apart from each other.

If I were still in my former parish, I lived next door to one of the 
churches and had access to the church direct from my garden to the 
churchyard. Even there, under the Archbishops' ruling I would not have 
been allowed to go to church alone to pray without any congregation. 
that ruling is a nonsense - I would have been as safe in that church as 
I was in my home next door. When I went into the church for the daily 
office, I always rang the bell to inform my parishioners that I was 
there to pray for them. I rarely had any of them come to the service, 
but they valued knowing that it was taking place in church. That could 
not happen in this emergency.

I cannot see why that solo prayer in church by the parish priest could 
not be allowed where (s)he can get to church without any risk. People 
would appreciayte the use of their church in this way - despite 
regretting that only one person was allowed in. Equally, in those places 
where there are the facilities available, I do not see why services 
should not be allowed to be shared live from the church if possible for 
it to be "broadcast" in a simple form. People would appreciate seeing 
and hearing their church being used even when they could not attend 
physically.

Actually my former post was more complicated in that I had 8 parish 
churches and had a system of going on an advertised rota to  every one 
of them for at least one weekday office on a publicised rota. I realise 
that that would perhaps be impractical in the present circumstances. I 
would, however, have wanted to continue saying the office in the church 
which I could reach without any risk.

The parish I am now in does indeed have  services recorded and made 
available on Sundays and Thursdays at the times when services normally 
happen. For these contributions to the service are made by people who 
recorded themselves in their homes with reading of lessons, sermon, 
prayers etc as appropriate.

We also have a Zoom "Coffee Morning" before our Sunday service and any 
parishioner can take part in that and see and hear one another in their 
homes.

Perhaps I am too old and out of touch to understand the ruling from the 
Archbishops. All I can do is continue with my prayers of the office at 
home alone.

God bless

.....
.....
Michael Bishop
rev at michaelbishop.name

On 16/04/2020 4:10 pm, Charles Wohlers wrote:
> First, I'll mention that such a restriction has been imposed on the 
> entire Church of England by its archbishops - and there is 
> considerable grumbling about it which you can read on Thinking Anglicans.
>
> Here in Vermont there is no such restriction. We at Christ Church, 
> Montpelier, have streamed one Holy Week service from the church (one 
> lay person & the organist, properly separated). Other than that, it's 
> just been virtual coffee hour via Zoom. Our bishop has been streaming 
> daily morning prayer & compline from her home (or office, can't tell 
> which). Both are several miles from the cathedral, so it is far more 
> convenient for her to do it that way. The great majority of rectors 
> here also live at some distance from their churches (i. e., not many 
> rectories), so, with "stay at home" orders from Gov. Scott, it's just 
> logical and convenient to do things from home.
>