Please Note Updated Information

At Ferryhill, having noted the fast changing situation with the pandemic and the growing concern over the transmissibility of the new Omicron variant in addition to the current Delta variant, we have decided to switch our worship back to only live webstreamed worship. The Kirk Session will review this at the end of January. We do so with sorrow as we know how much it is appreciated to be able to worship in-person with one another, but also with a sense of duty to care for one another.

Please remember the guidance we are being given at the moment to limit the number of contacts we have with other people and when meeting with others to undertake a Lateral Flow Test. Note also that the evidence is pointing to the Omicron variant being far more easily transmissible and that this happens via the air.

Coffee Shop

We are also keeping the Coffee Shop closed at the moment and this also will be reviewed at the end of January. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Each year a local and an international Charity are chosen for Advent/Christmas. The special collections in church this Christmas will go to support these charities. We would ordinarily have taken collections at the Christingle and Watchnight services, but as these are now online only that is not possible. You can still donate in-person if attending the 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day service at South Holburn Parish Church.

Note that direct donations can be made via the Rehoboth website, but that is not possible for the Living Well Project. For the latter you could write a cheque and send to the address on their website, or pop the donation you intended to make in an envelope, marking it clearly, and hang on to it until we are back to in-person worship when we will gladly receive those donations.

The Living Well Project

This charity aims to improve the physical, emotional and social wellbeing for those who are socially isolated and also for those living with dementia and their carers. The cafes have operated successfully in four Church of Scotland churches - Oldmachar, Newhills, High Hilton and here in Ferryhill. They have provided a safe, welcoming environment, a place of fun, entertainment and information about other services for those with dementia and/or memory loss.

Rehoboth

Rehoboth cares for and supports the needs of children and young people in the Philippines. The charity was set up in 1981 by Connie Andrews (from Aberdeen) and her husband Vernon who established in partnership with Pastor Juanito Luzano and his wife Ledobina, the first house parents. Since then Rehoboth Children's Home has provided residential care to children who have been orphaned, abandoned, neglected and who are at risk in the community. The Residential Accommodation for children is in Santa Maria in The Philippines. They also support the children through the Rehoboth Educational Assistance Programme (REAP).

On 23 March 2020, the UK went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many organisations came to the fore to help and support their communities, including the Riverside Parish Churches. A leaflet was produced giving important information and also some ideas on how to keep busy while stuck at home. One challenge was to create knitted or crocheted squares for the purpose of turning them into blankets to yarnbomb trees around the Riverside community to provide some brightness as people took their walks around the community at that time.

In the above video Peter gives a guided tour of the church to show the changes that have been made and precautions that have been taken to enable people to gather for worship at Ferryhill Kirk.

We have a new service available whereby you can listen over the phone to the weekly bible reading and message, along with a reflection when available on that theme. This is ideal for those who cannot access the online service over the internet.

The phone number to use is 01224 002502. This local number means costs will be minimal or free for those calling. This allows access both to the current week's reading and sermon, and to the previous week's by pressing "1" when asked.

Please do pass this information on to family, friends or neighbours who you think might appreciate listening to these parts of the Sunday service. Note that it is available at any time with the audio updated each weekend.

There is a chance for you to donate food for local charity Instant Neighbour at the church each Wednesday and Saturday morning when the Coffee Shop is open. Non perishable food items and toiletries can also be dropped off on Sundays when attending worship. Items will be distributed to vulnerable and housebound people by the charity.

Instant Neighbour have informed us that they are approaching the busiest time of the year for the foodbank and with the changes to Universal Credit and the Furlough scheme they are sadly already seeing a sharp rise in foodbank usage so any donations are very gratefully received.

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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!