Clent Parish Church

St. Leonard’s is a pretty, rural church, set below the south flank of Clent and Walton Hills, in the north of the county of Worcestershire. We are part of the Stourbridge Deanery of churches in the Diocese of Worcester. Clent was formerly part of the United Benefice of Clent & Belbroughton with Fairfield. Recent re-organisation affiliates St. Leonard with the two neighbouring churches of St. John and St. Saviour in Hagley, all under the guidance of Rev. Richard Newton.

See the announcement in the left-hand column

regarding reopening details

WELCOME

Services this month: AUGUST

“Belonging to Christ has never been measured by the number of people in church for a Sunday Service but by the service we offer to others every day.” Rev. Richard Newton invites you to participate in our next on-line Sunday Service ~ 10:30am Tenth Sunday after Trinity 16th August Details to “attend” our Zoom Service will be posted here before next weekend_ Download the previous order of service here There is an alternative service available ALL WEEK on this website - on the next page <This Week>

SAFEGUARDING

If you feel that, as a child, or vulnerable person, you need HELP - there are people at St. Leonard trained to give you every assistance. • Come to church and ask to speak to SARAH . Call her on 01384 637 331 • Ring HILARY on 07495 060869 • Ring the Parish Office on 01562 730 777 • Ring CHILDLINE on 0800 1111 • or ACTION ON ELDER ABUSE on 080 8808 8141 _________________________

REOPENING CHURCH

St Leonard’s Clent, and St John the Baptist and St Saviour’s Hagley ~ private prayer and public worship. We plan to commence opening for Private Prayer from Wednesday next (05/08/20) between 10:30 and 12:00 (the one day per week) – in the Lady Chapel – observing ‘social distancing’ – with ‘Track & Trace’ – without using books – with masks (advisedly) – use of sanitizer – post wipe- downs. In terms of public worship , we all look forward to the day we can return to church but the consensus is that Services would (hopefully) resume in September – with ‘all of the above’ – with special arrangements for Communion (non-contact). We will therefore continue, for the time being, to hold Sunday Worship on Zoom . Even if you haven’t got a computer, we may be able to help you connect with Zoom on the phone, and supply a service sheet. Please contact me , 01562 882442 or the Hagley office , 01562 886363 if you wish to explore that. Revd. Richard Newton. _______________________________

WEDDINGS

The government has published guidelines on how to have a ''Covid-secure'' wedding in England. • Venues can only reopen if they can do so safely • Ceremonies should be kept as short as possible • No food or drink should be consumed unless it is essential for the ceremony • Group singing and playing of instruments should be avoided • A maximum of 30 people should attend ceremonies, and only where there is space to socially distance. This includes all guests, the officiant and any staff not employed by the venue, like a photographer • Social distancing of at least one metre between different households should be practised at all times • It is''strongly advised'' that receptions do not take place afterwards, with only small celebrations of six people outside or two households inside taking place • The venue should keep a temporary record of visitors for 21 days, in case they need to be traced.

A Prayer for those being admitted to hospital

God of love, Make yourself known to me as I enter this hospital. Help me to adjust to this new manner of life. Give me gratitude for those who care for me, compassion for those in the ward with me, love for all who I may meet here, and your presence - that I may know your healing touch. Amen.