COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Guidance & UPDATES
Sunday 22nd March 2020
We're live-streaming our Sunday service tomorrow at 11 am. Click here to join us over on Youtube.
We’ve also created a page with everything you’ll need for today’s service. These include Sermon worksheets for you children, family devotions and praise item. Click here for our resources page.
Thursday 19th March 2020
Although we may not be able to meet for our Wednesday night prayer meeting, we would love for you to join us in your homes as we pray during this pandemic. We have put together a small prayer resource for you, click here to read it: Prayer Resource - Covid-19
Tuesday 17th March 2020
Following advice from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we are suspending all RPC activities, including Morning and Evening worship, for the foreseeable future. This is to minimise the risk of illness and protect those who are entrusted to us. We have not made this decision lightly, but we believe it is the wisest course of action at this time. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and adhere to the recommendations of the Public Health Agency. When it is safe to resume our services and other events, we will communicate this to you.
We are living in unprecedented times with many people suffering. As a Church family we need to support one another and our community. The Elders are prayerfully planning what this might look like. We want to provide practical and spiritual care and support to our Church family and the community. If you have a specific need, please contact Gladys in the Church Office (02838872116) or your Elder.
We have decided to pause our current sermon series, instead plans are in place to record a short series on The Psalms during these unprecedented times. A video and audio recording of this will be available on the Church Website weekly on Sunday Mornings. In the days ahead, Staff will be working on creative ways to share useful material to help our church members of all ages. This will appear on our website when available and we will update you on our different social media channels too.
We encourage our families to pray together and seek comfort and wisdom from the Word of God. Please pray that as a Church we will find creative ways to be salt and light at this difficult time. Pray also, that God will use this crisis to draw people to Himself. Remember He is sovereign and He is good.
Psalm 27 v1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?”
Saturday 14th March 2020
At this time, the best advice from the UK government is that we should carry on with some slight alterations to our normal Sunday Services. In consultation with our Elders, we have decided to proceed with our Sunday gatherings & other Sunday ministries (Sunday school, ABC, Ignite & Place) as scheduled. However, we will continue to monitor this situation and we will keep you updated on all our social media channels, communication emails, and our website.
It is expected that we may have to close Sunday Services & Sunday school at some stage in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), but until we are recommended to do so by the UK government or we feel as a Leadership Team that this is the right response, we will continue to serve those in our community through our Sunday service.
Should I attend this Sunday?
Whilst we love meeting together as one big family, we advise each of you to make your decision based on what is best for your health, your family, our wider community, and according to Public Health guidelines for those at increased risk.
If you are unwell in any way, please do not attend, and if you have any underlying conditions that place you at a higher risk, we would advise you not to attend either.
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Friday 13th March 2020
We ask all church members and volunteers, who are feeling unwell, to stay away from church until fully recovered.
If you feel unwell and develop a fever, we would ask that you do not come to any events at Richhill Presbyterian Church. Call your GP for advice and here is the NHS guide to taking your temperature.
To help prevent the spread of infection, please follow general best practice as outlined by Public Health Agency.
If you have recently returned from abroad, or are planning travel, please ensure that you are following all FCO advice.
Please do not attend any Richhill Presbyterian environments if you are in a period of self, or mandated isolation.
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Thursday 12th March 2020 - 10pm
At Richhill Presbyterian Church, we want to do all we can to show care and consideration to each other, especially those who because of age or health, may be vulnerable at this difficult time.
In light of the current situation, here are some precautions that we will be taking for upcoming Sunday services:
While it is important for us to greet each other, given the current circumstances we do not encourage the shaking of hands or hugging in any form.
The offering plates will not be passed through the rows as normal. Instead, worshippers can place their tithes and offerings on the plates as they enter or leave.
Stewards will open the outer doors for people to enter the building and as many internal doors as possible will be wedged open to avoid any unnecessary contact.
Toilets will be well stocked with soap.
Tea and Coffee before and after the morning service will be cancelled for the foreseeable future.
We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis, making the appropriate changes when necessary.
Lastly, we encourage all at this time to be good neighbours, looking out for one another, especially those who are vulnerable. Do not panic, God is good and God is sovereign. Trust in HIM.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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Thursday 12th March 2020 - 8pm
Due to an increasing prevalence of the current infection COVID-19 in the local area, we have regrettably decided to suspend our Junior Youth Club (IOTAS) and Senior Youth Club (Connect).
Until the full picture becomes clearer, running both youth clubs is an unnecessary risk to the young people attending and the connecting families.
We will continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate as needs be.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.