As a church we are monitoring the situation regarding Coronavirus very carefully, and any significant changes will be communicated via this website, and our Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as via our e-bulletin, which you can sign up for HERE.

USEFUL LINKS

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
For the latest government information and advice re. Coronavirus click HERE.

NHS HEALTH ADVICE
To see the latest UK specific health advice click HERE.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND GUIDANCE
For the latest guidance from the Church of England click HERE.MIND
To get advice on how to manage any stress or anxiety that you may be feeling right now click HERE.

WORSHIP

All public worship has been suspended until further notice.

We will be broadcasting a weekly service via our Facebook page and YouTube channel every Sunday.

If you know someone from church who is self isolating, please inform Simon (call 01228 319830 or email simon@stjamescarlisle.org.uk).

For your own safety, and the safety of others, please do not visit anyone who is self isolating, but please DO keep in regular contact with them through phone calls and text messages.

CORNERSTONE & THE OP SHOP

Are closed until further notice.

PARISH CENTRE

Is closed until further notice, although the church office will be staffed from 9am to 11am from Monday to Friday to deal with enquiries relating to the food bank.

If you need help or support please contact us on 01228 810616, or contact the Vicar Simon on 01228 319830.

FOOD BANK

Whilst Cornerstone is closed, the food bank is moving back to the Parish Centre. Demand for food parcels is likely to increase greatly, and therefore all donations of food, and toiletries are gratefully appreciated – please drop them off at the Parish Centre between 9am and 11am Monday to Friday.

People note the food bank is for emergencies only and we can only provide this service if we have enough food in stock. Those people wanting a same day food parcel will be asked to phone the Parish Centre between 9am and 11am. Anyone who phones after 11am will be able to collect a food parcel the next day.

In addition, residents in Denton Holme/Long Sowerby/Cummersdale who are in isolation and who are about to run out of food can also phone between 9am and 11am to request a parcel being dropped off on their doorstep.

Covid-19: How you can help

There are many throughout our city working hard to keep our hospitals, schools, vital services and food supply running for such a time as this. There are roles for us all in contributing to help our city just now – whether those are from your home, helping to deliver items or volunteering locally.

For a list of volunteering opportunities go to giveadaytothecity.org/how-you-can-help

ONLINE RESOURCES

Here are a number of online resources that we hope people will find useful, especially when we cannot gather together for worship:

Church of England Daily Prayer – services of Daily Prayer which are available in both contemporary and traditional forms and for all times of day. Also available as an app.
Pray As You Go – a daily prayer session, lasting between ten and thirteen minutes, it combines music, scripture and some questions for reflection. Also available as an app.
Worship At Home – designed to be downloaded and printed off for use at home, this provides morning and night prayer particularly geared to those who are isolated or housebound, or who are unable to attend church.
Evening Prayer Live From Taize – every evening at 7.30pm (UK time) a prayer with a small group of brothers will be broadcast live from the Taize Community in France.
TBN UK – is the UK’s main Christian television channel, and broadcasts on Freeview channel 65 and Sky channel 582. They also stream live online, and their original programming can be watched On Demand.

Worship Resources That Don’t Require Internet Access

There are a number of ways you can participate in worship, without requiring access to the internet.

Sunday Worship on BBC Radio 4 – every Sunday at 8.10am
Sunday Breakfast with Richard Corrie on BBC Radio Cumbria – every Sunday from 6.00am to 9.00am, a spiritual look at the week’s events.
BBC Songs of Praise – every Sunday on BBC 1 at 1.15pm, also available to view on the BBC iPlayer.
TBN UK – is the UK’s main Christian television channel, and broadcasts on Freeview channel 65 and Sky channel 582.

RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Daily Family Prayer & Worship Activities

Engage Worship are posting a daily family prayer and worship activity, which can be accessed by going to https://engageworship.org/engage-at-home-daily-family-prayer-and-worship-activities

Growing In Faith Together

Here are five simple ideas for families to weave prayer and bible readings throughout these days of home schooling.

Keep a regular routine of prayer. Good times to pray together are those times you do something regularly, eating together, going to bed or washing your hands! Or Light a candle and Pray the same family prayer at the same time every day.
Read a bible story at bed-time or watch one online with them during the day.
With the ongoing situation, it can be difficult adjusting to not seeing family and friends in person, however, you can still pray for them together daily. Write them a letter or send them a picture saying that you are thinking and praying for them?
Choose one of the follow family Fun prayer ideas – Bright prayer ideas for families at home!
Listen to a podcast together. For example, you can click HERE to listen to our Family Prayer Adventure podcasts.

Free Resources For Children

To help parents feed their Children with the word of God at this crucial time, Heartshaper are offering three weeks of Primary and Preschool level Sunday School material.

These three weeks cover the period from next weekend through to Easter Sunday morning and is designed to help parents feed their Children with the word of God at this crucial time.

Click HERE for more information.

STAYING ACTIVE AT HOME

Dignity in Dementia have produced resources on how to stay active at home if you can’t go out due to Coronavirus. This advice is not only helpful for dementia sufferers but anyone having to self isolate. CLICK HERE to download the document.