Worship this Holy Week will be rather different than usual. We will host our services on the Zoom app which will allow you be involved in worship, or you can watch live or catch up later on our YouTube channel. Please do note that if you are using Zoom, you will be part of the broadcast on YouTube. So if you prefer not to be seen, then please watch on YouTube - www.youtube.com/ferryhillparishchurch

Please use the following links at the given time on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer:

Palm Sunday Evening Online Gathering
5 April 2020 7:00 PM 
https://zoom.us/j/370097436
Meeting ID: 370 097 436

For the Palm Sunday evening gathering you may want to print out a copy of this palm leaf and cut it out and colour it in (if you have the facility). We will be writing on it, so have a pen handy.

Ferryhill and South Holburn Online Worship (Monday of Holy Week)
6 April 2020 7:00 PM 
https://zoom.us/j/975075886
Meeting ID: 975 075 886

Ferryhill and South Holburn Online Worship (Tuesday of Holy Week)
7 April 2020 7:00 PM 
https://zoom.us/j/273863477
Meeting ID: 273 863 477

Ferryhill and South Holburn Online Worship (Wednesday of Holy Week)
8 April 2020 7:00 PM 
https://zoom.us/j/980335223
Meeting ID: 980 335 223

Ferryhill and South Holburn Online Worship (Maundy Thursday)
9 April 2020 7:00 PM 
https://zoom.us/j/581888924
Meeting ID: 581 888 924

Ferryhill and South Holburn Online Worship (Good Friday)
10 April 2020 7:00 PM 
https://zoom.us/j/916087756
Meeting ID: 916 087 756

For the Good Friday online gathering please have a candle to hand to light at the start.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Easter Morning we will have an 11 a.m. service via live stream on our YouTube channel, as per normal.

You are welcome to join us online for morning worship (or catch up later).

We continue on Sunday evening for a virtual Lent Study Series. You can join from your laptop or desktop, smartphone or tablet, which will be starting at 7 p.m. tonight, though we would recommend trying to log in a bit earlier in case you need to add a bit of software before doing so (you will be told if you need to do that when you follow the link). Please use: https://zoom.us/j/789860859

See you online!

As many of you will have already seen, churches across the Presbytery have been instructed to no longer have public gathering for worship. This is sensible, the right thing to do, and accords with government advice with regards to Covid-19.

It does not mean that the church itself is doing nothing. Remember that the church is not a building, it is people of faith who make up the church. And we are still active.

Worship will still be happening on Sunday morning and you will be able to access it through our YouTube channel as usual - www.youtube.com/ferryhillparishchurch - or go to our Webcast page. We are also working on how to use technology to our advantage through group video conferencing for other ways to meet virtually, discuss and worship.

Our Pastoral Care Teams are on the case, adapting to the new circumstances, but please expect contact over the next few months by phone, postcard or email rather than in person.

Remember that we have a weekly newsletter which you can sign up to by clicking on the link on the right of the homepage.

PLEASE NOTE

The Trustees of Ferryhill Parish Church have decided to close until further notice the Coffee Shop, Lunch Club and the Living Well Cafe that we host. This is both to protect those who are at higher risk from Covid-19 as guests and patrons, and also to reduce the risk to our many volunteers.

As of Sunday 15 March 2020 we are offering the following guidelines about the use of Ferryhill Parish Church and Halls:

General Guidance

• We would ask that people refrain from shaking hands and all physical contact in the Church building until further notice.
• If you are feeling unwell then please stay at home until you are better (seven days is being recommended).
• Ensure that all areas are kept clean.
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly.
• Please do not use home-baking or open plates of food. Individually wrapped cakes/biscuits are recommended.

Worship

• Please do greet one another but not by contact! The BSL sign for “Peace Be With You” is being taught.
• Those on the Welcome Team will hold the door open for you to the sanctuary.
• The offering will no longer be received by passing the bags along the pews but rather through plates at the entrance to the church. Those on the offering count should ensure they wash hands both before and after handling the money.
• Remember that all services are streamed online so you can join worship (and we will expand this provision for other events) from home at youtube.com/ferryhillparishchurch.
• Be aware that public gathering for worship may have to be suspended in order to best protect church members and the wider community. Online provision of worship will continue.

Pastoral Care

• Pastoral support will be affected by Covid-19 which may mean a restriction in physical visits, following the guidance of hospitals, care homes and so on.
• We will endeavour to maintain contact through other means (phone, email, video chat).
• Should you need to make contact with the church please call either the office on 01224 213093 or the minister on 01224 949192.
• If you would be able to assist in supporting the vulnerable or isolated over the next months please do offer your service.

We are trying to follow the guidance and advice available and follow best practice. We need to be sensible and put one another’s health at the forefront of our planning. Please keep an eye on the church’s website or facebook page for more information.

We try to do something different each Lent. Sometimes we create a Devotional Diary as we did last year or run a series of discussion evenings. We're doing the latter this year with our friends from South Holburn Parish Church. The core themes we will be exploring in this season as we lead up to our remembering of the events of Holy Week and Easter Sunday will be hope and redemption.

We're going to use the film "The Greatest Showman" as a hook into those themes, watching a part of the film each evening as talking about the themes that rise and linking them to passages in the Bible and faith in God. You don't need to have seen the film before you come, for we will be watching it across the month of March, but if you can it would probably give you a wee head start!

The series is open to everyone of all ages, of strong faith or seeking to know more. There is an accompanying book that we will be using to guide us through this. We will have copies available which you can use, but if you would like to purchase your own you can easily do so online from the usual book resources. The book is "From Now On" by Rachel Mann (it is also available for Kindle if you prefer an electronic copy).

Refreshments will be available too and we will be meeting either in the Jubillee Hall at South Holburn Parish Church (accessed via the doors on the left side of the sanctuary) or in the Foyer at Ferryhill Parish Church.

Sunday 1 March 2020

"A Million Dreams"
7 p.m. South Holburn Parish Church

Sunday 8 March

"Come Alive"
7 p.m. Ferryhill Parish Church

Sunday 15 March

"Rewrite The Stars"
7 p.m. Ferryhill Parish Church

Sunday 22 March

"Never Enough"
7 p.m. via video conference
Please use this link at the time on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer:
https://zoom.us/j/400466415

The first time you use Zoom you will need to install a small piece of software or an app, that is normal. You may find using headphones makes it easier to hear what is being said. If all goes well you should be able to participate in the discussion, but you will need to bring your own biscuits!

Sunday 29 March

"From Now On"
7 p.m. via video conference
Please use this link at the time on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer:
https://zoom.us/j/789860859

Ferryhill Church aspires to be an Eco-Congregation. This means we encourage and enable our Church to care for Creation in every part of church life and to link environmental issues and Christian Faith in worship and education. We try to take environmental and ethical action in church buildings and grounds and in finance and purchasing. We aim to work with the community for a greener world through our personal lifestyles, community projects and global links.

As Climate Change requires urgent action on many fronts, we now seek someone who can advise, inspire and encourage us to do more than we do already. The leader of this group is standing down after 10 years to make way for some enthusiastic young activists. Could that be you? You do not need to be a church member!

There are many other Eco-Congregations in Aberdeen and Scotland that share ideas, support and advice. Resource material with suggested projects and programmes is available on the website, www.ecocongregationscotland.org. Please do consider if this is something you could be involved with, and if you would like to find out more, please get in touch with the minister, Rev Peter Johnston (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the church administrator, Julie Thompson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Ferryhill Parish Church recognises the importance of protecting privacy and personal information, and has updated Privacy and Data Retention Policies which state how we use, disclose and protect such information according to law. These Policies are available by clicking this link, and any questions on the matter can be addressed to the Session Clerk by email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Over the next couple of months we will be encouraging us all on a Sunday morning to join with Rev Mary Whittaker during the Lord's Prayer to also sign the prayer. If you would like to practise that, please use the video above!