Our three churches are following the Government and Church of England guidance:
There will be no worship or any church event in any of our churches. The church buildings will remain closed.
There is detailed guidance available from the Church of England and from the Diocese of Oxford.
During this time of stress and uncertainty, as Christians we are trying to have lives that are:
Calm: the opposite will lead us to do things which might impact seriously on others – like panic buying.
Caring: so that those who self-isolate, (those in high-risk groups, or who have been in contact with the virus) know that we care about them. Let one of the Ministry Team know using the information on the Contact Us page if there is someone who needs a phone call, message, cards, food left on the doorstep, medicine collected.
Considerate: We are looking out for one another, and acting collectively to prevent the spread. This is about us all.
Christ-like: we want to live hopefully, love generously and pray earnestly – and let’s bless each other by the way we behave.
Here are a list of the ways you can either access help if you are in need, or can offer help to other people:
The One Reading Hub is the local community hub where anyone can ask for help or offer help. Contact ☎ 0808 1894325 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. See www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirussupport for more detail.
Team Reading: Coronavirus Response Volunteers rva.org.uk/volop/team-reading-coronavirus-response-volunteers/
Christian Community Action – supplying Reading with an emergency service to vulnerable people and those facing severe disadvantage and poverty. Contact via response@ccam.org.uk.
Reading Voluntary Action are coordinating the community response across Reading. See their website for lots of information: rva.org.uk/coronavirus-community-action/
Readifood is Readings food bank. There information during this crisis can be found at readifood.org.uk/2020/03/16/corona-virus/
The Weller Centre in on Amersham Road in Caversham is acting as our local focal point for feeding those in need. Please contact them at www.facebook.com/wellercentre/
NHS Volunteer Responders – support the 1.5m people in England who are at most risk from the virus to stay well