We would like to share with the Mungrisdale community news about what’s happening with the church during the Coronavirus outbreak.  We will provide regular updates to let you know about any changes.  If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with the churchwardens.: Brian Davis  drbriandavis@btinternet.com  017687 79640 or Christine Fleming  christine.fleming7@btinternet.com  017684 84217.

 

Re-opening the building

The church building has been closed since lockdown was imposed in March.  However the church has met for worship each Sunday morning via Zoom, which has been a blessing for those who are shielding, more vulnerable or stranded elsewhere on lockdown. 

The guidelines now allow us to open the building under strict rules. To comply we must complete a detailed risk assessment and carry out a plan to ensure the church building is safe for those entering.  This has taken time, but we aim to open the building on 2^nd August, for the 11am service.  However due to restrictions it will be closed in-between services.

To support those in the community who can’t physically attend, we are planning to stream Sunday services via Zoom.  Please get in touch with Brian if you would like to join the Zoom services.

 

Appointment of a new minister

Since the Rev Bill White retired last year, Greystoke, Penruddock and Mungrisdale churches have not had a minister and have depended on retired clergy and local church members to lead services each week. Currently, we are helping the Diocese to appoint a new minister.  The process has been delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak but is now moving ahead.

 

Mission Community

The Diocese is working with other denominations to divide Cumbria into a number of ecumenical Mission Communities so that groups of churches can work together to help their local communities.  St Kentigern’s Church is now part of the “Blencathra Mission Community” and will be working with the churches of Greystoke/Penruddock, and ‘The Inglewood Group of churches’: Ainstable, Armathwaite, Calthwaite, Hesket, Hutton, Skelton, Plumpton Wall, Cottage Wood Methodist Church and Skelton Methodist Church.   As this develops we will include more details in future bulletins.

Finances

The stipend for our minister is provided by people giving money regularly to the local church.  Each year local churches make a “parish offer” to the Diocese to cover the stipends of clergy.   God’s people like to be generous givers, but to be realistic and good stewards.  The Diocese has asked us to consider what we can offer for 2021.  The PCC is prayerfully and carefully working through budgets and forecasts in the knowledge that we are about to appoint a new minister.  Members of the Mungrisdale Community generously gave over £28,000 to support the church last year.  The costs, including our Parish Offer for 2020 of over £19,000, were £25,638.  With the support of the Community we hope to maintain our Parish Offer for 2021 to support a new minister.

 

 

The Diocese has provided new ways of giving to the church to supplement the current use of bank standing orders and direct debits directly to the church account. They will allow people to give via a mobile phone text as you may see on TV charity appeals, or through a Justgiving type of website.  The Diocese will pay the money raised from these each month into the local church’s account.  These new methods will help to limit handling cash in the church.  When we have set up these new systems for St Kentigern’s, we will include the details in a future bulletin, to enable people to give towards God’s work here In Mungrisdale.

 

The future

St Kentigern’s church has been an important part of Mungrisdale’s community and history for many generations.  During that time the church has faced many periods of local and national upheaval.  We are confident that with your support our church will continue to be the centre for God’s presence in the community.

 

OTHER NEWS & NOTICES

 

Jonathan Scott Foundation

Grant money is available under the rules of the trust to help young people under the age of 25 years who reside in the Civil Parish of Mungrisdale, towards the cost of education, training (including social and physical training), and/or towards the cost of books and equipment which would help to prepare for or to enter a trade or profession.

Completed forms must be returned no later than 1^st October.

Application forms can be obtained from;

Mrs D Elliott, Bank House, Mungrisdale,  Penrith,CA11 0 XG

Tel -  017684 84323, Email  pjanddeelliott@yahoo.com

 

Mungrisdale WI

There will be an update on the WI in the next bulletin.  Meanwhile if you have any questions, please  contact the President, Pat Green, on 01768 779857.

Update about Mungrisdale Writers, which is still flourishing in its 22nd year. We have been furloughed from meeting in the VH since lockdown but I have run three virtual meeting via Zoom for MWG which have proved very popular. Our Hon. Sec. Trevor Coleman keeps everyone in touch with up-to-date news. I will continue to conduct a few Zoom meetings when the new term starts in September. 

 

I can’t emphasise enough how important these contacts clearly are to everyone. We are open to new members who are very, very welcome, so if anyone would like to try their hand at writing in these extraordinary times, or if they are already a closet? writer then please contact me on angelic@globalnet.co.uk or via my website www.angelalocke.co.uk  You don’t have to live in Mungrisdale. Also some of MWG members have joined my ongoing Zoom group.

 

Very many thanks

All best wishes

Angela Locke

www.angealocke.co.uk  

Contacts:

If you have something for the newsletter, please get in touch nancy.tweddell@outlook.com

 

Church wardens:  drbriandavis@btinternet.com     and     christine.fleming7@btinternet.com

PCC secretary:  lesley_hall79@hotmail.co.uk

 

“Lord you have been our refuge in every generation…”  Psalm 90  v1

If you feel like picking up the Bible in these strange and difficult times, the Psalms are often a good place to start.

 

The Church in Mungrisdale is here should you have prayer requests or things on your mind which you’d like to talk to someone about.  You can make contact through Brian Davis on 07746641932 or Christine Fleming on 017684 84217, or others you know.

 

Although places of worship are now allowed to open, the church building is still closed as we are considering the implications of making it Covid 19 safe.   Meanwhile, we continue to meet on Zoom on Sunday mornings at 11am, and on the 3^rd Sunday of the month we have a joint service with Greystoke.    If you would like to join in contact Brian – contact details as above.  

We are also holding church fellowship meetings on Thursday mornings on Zoom –to share thoughts about our daily Bible readings, to chat and to pray.  If you would like to join in please contact Brian.

 

Parochial Church Council:   Richard Hall has recently stepped back from being a member of the PCC.  We are very grateful for all the help and support he has given and still gives us.

If anyone would like to join the PCC, we would be pleased to hear from you; please contact our secretary Lesley Hall or churchwardens Brian Davis and Christine Fleming,  or myself (Nancy) as vice-chair. (Contact details above)

 

E Mail prayer:  Every month an email prayer is sent out (bcc) round our community with the names of people who need support and have consented to be included. If you wish to include anyone for prayer and/or you would like your email address to be added to the group, please email Stephen on stephen@sacredspace.org.uk”

 

WI

The WI cannot meet at present but Pat, our president, is hoping to arrange a socially distanced get-together when the weather and Coronavirus situation allow.  Pat can be contacted on 017687 79857.

 

NORTHERN FELLS GROUP

Please see the Northern Fells website for all updates and newsletters.

Contact Philippa on Philippa.groves@northernfellsgroup.org.uk     NFG Village Agent for Mungrisdale & Castle Sowerby 016974 785

 

CALDBECK SURGERY

At present, the surgery remains open as usual.  See the website for up to date information on

www.caldbecksurgery.co.uk     Tel 016974 78254