Covid-19 Update

Baslow St Anne’s PCC has decided, in the light of the seriousness of the current stage of the pandemic, to review its position on opening the church. The law is unchanged and it permits the Church to be open, both during the day and for services. However the PCC felt it right to review our current position in the light of the seriousness of the current situation. The decisions we have reached are borne out of concern for the safety of those attending the building, and the risks that are associated with people gathering together.

We are concerned to offer spiritual support to those in need. But the risks are now much greater than previously and so, for the time being, the church will no longer be open during the day. Services, strictly controlled on numbers, social distancing etc will continue on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, with online services for those who do not wish to or cannot attend in person. The gaps between the church being in use ensure we can open safely, maintain the cleaning required to make it safe to do so, and reduce the risk of the virus being present on surfaces. Funerals will take place, in line with the regulations, by arrangement with the Rector.

This decision will be reviewed and may change if the situation worsens. We hope, and pray, that you are all safe and well and we look forward to welcoming you all at St Anne’s once the virus is under control and the law permits us to do so.

The church is here for all. If you would like to get in touch the phone numbers to use are :

• the Rector - Mike Gilbert – 07947 092951

• Churchwarden – Irene Roscoe - 01246 582900 or mobile 07484 201989

Dear Friends

Being an aged rocker I love listening to very loud rock music. I also love it when the same songs are played acoustically with all the sound stripped back so that the melody and the lyrics are centre stage.

Lent is with us; the six weeks leading up to Easter starting this year on February 16th, Ash Wednesday. It has been used by many over the centuries as a time of stripping back, of trying to reduce the noise of external things, of the everyday, so that we can retune our hearts to God’s song - His call on our lives. It is an opportunity to take stock and decide what the lyrics of our lives should be.

This year the restrictions due to the pandemic has meant that much has been stripped back for us. A great deal of what we had done before and took for granted has gone. Whilst I wish it wasn’t so I have found that there have been times when the stripped back nature of our lives at the moment has allowed the melody of love and goodness to re-emerge. We have done things differently; often more simply and in that stripping back we have found new meaning and new beauty. My prayer for us during this Lent is that the melody of life and the lyrics of love will be clearer and more precious this Lent than ever before.

God bless

Mike Gilbert, Rector 

On Sunday Mornings there will be a service live-streamed from church at 9.45am for those who don’t feel able to come to church. Even if you don’t come physically but would like a prayer or hymn included in the service we could probably arrange that if you tell us.

Wednesday Evening Prayer at 7 will also continue for the time being.

If you know of anybody who needs anything do tell us, we would like to help.

St Anne's is digital!

A new Contactless Donation Unit has been installed in St Anne’s Church to attract donations from an increasingly cashless world.

It is located next to the visitors’ book near the main entrance to the church.

The unit offers a range of donation values, starting from £3 and then in increasing steps to £5, £10, £20 and finally £30. Each donation can be individually set on the unit.

Making giving contactless – and so much easier to do – helps support the funding for the church.

The money will be used to maintain and develop the church as well as broaden the range of services for the village and its residents.

Funds collected via this unit will be credited directly to the church’s bank account. It is totally secure with no actual cash being stored on site.

This is another small step in the modernisation of St Anne’s Church – and now we are part of the cashless revolution!

Something different this month – a Bible sayings quiz

1. Who said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built.”?

2. Finish Christ’s sentence, “these ought ye to have done, and not ...”

3. Who said, “days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom”?

4. Who promised his people “The Lord shall fight for you, and Ye shall hold your peace”?

5. What is the verse of the Psalm that ends “all ye lands”?

6. Who said, “Thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth”? To whom was it said and of whom?

7. In what book is the saying about the Lamb’s book of life?

8. Who advised the Sanhedrin to let the Christians alone, saying that if their work was of God it could not be overthrown?

9. Who said “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife”?

10. What is Christ’s saying which begins “If the Son therefore shall make you free”?

Something to ponder on:

1. What have I learned recently that's what helped me grow?

2. What opportunities do I currently have that I am grateful for?

3. What physical abilities do I have but take for granted?

4. What did I see today or over the last month that was beautiful?

5. who is a person that I don't speak to often, but, if I lost them tomorrow, it would be devastating? {Take this as a cue to reach out today!}

6. What am I better at today than I was a year ago?

7. What material object do I use everyday that I am thankful for having?

8. What has someone done for me recently that I am grateful for?

9. What are three things that I am grateful for right now?

By taking time to write down our answers, we consciously redirect our attention to that which we are grateful for. It is also a great way to look back and realise what we may have thought of as insignificant was actually the thing that brought us joy.

Irene Roscoe

Church Choir

During the current lock down, the Church Choir will be practicing on the Church Facebook page, at 6.00pm each Tuesday

Bel Canto will be practicing on the Bel Canto Facebook page, at 6.00pm each Wednesday

New choir members are always welcome, so if interested, please telephone Claire on 07515 287222. 
 

Church Library

Our library facility is temporarily closed to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission. 

Parish Safeguarding 

The Church of England is called to share the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. The life of our communities and institutions is integral to how we address this task. The good news speaks of welcome for all, with a particular regard for those who are most vulnerable, into a community where the value and dignity of every human being is affirmed and those in positions of responsibility and authority are truly trustworthy. Being faithful to our call to share the gospel therefore compels us to take with the utmost seriousness the challenge of preventing abuse from happening and responding well where it has.’  HANDBOOK

PCR2

Protocols and practice guidance for the Church of England’s Past Cases Review 2, (PCR2) have been published and are on the National Church of England Website. 

Individual survivors who wish to make representations to the PCR2 process in the Derby Diocese or who need to come forward with information or make any disclosures regarding church related abuse are encouraged to make direct contact with the Safeguarding Team 01332 388678. 

However, recognising that this may not feel safe for those with experience of abuse from within the church, a dedicated national helpline - 0800 80 20 20 - operated independently from the church, by the NSPCC, was set up in September 2019 and remains available.

Survivors were not invited to contribute to the 2007-2009 PCR and the Church has wanted to ensure a different, trauma informed approach is taken by PCR2. Listening to survivor voices has helped to shape how this review will be conducted. 

We are now at the beginning of the PCR2 process, this is an independent review to look at all the safeguarding files, historic and current for both adults and children, including all Church officers. The review aims to ensure that wherever concerns have been raised that the cases have been handled appropriately.

The National Church has given a commitment to undertake a new Past Cases Review (PCR2) which will not only look at all types of harm, both to children and or adults, but will probe much deeper in records or concerns held in parishes, some of which may not have been reported to the DSA. Your vicar (or church warden if in Interregnum) will now have received a letter from +Libby outlining what is required to enable this significant piece of work to be completed. We need to submit the final report to the National Safeguarding team by the end of December 2020. We will be in touch directly with PSOs’ to give the detail of the next step, but it may be helpful if you identify where any parish records are held so that there is less work to do when we ask you for the details. The timescale for responding to PCR2 in the Diocese of Derby is by 31st March 2020.

Safeguarding Concerns

If you have any concerns over any safeguarding matter, please contact the Parish Safeguarding Officer, Richard Nicholson on 01246 583023 or Member of the Clergy, Revd Mike Gilbert on 07947092951 or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 01332 388678.