Dear Friends,

After recent announcements, it is now possible to open up churches for private prayer and for small  private funerals.   We have decided not to do this as yet.  This is primarily because the stringent regulations involved are such that we do not feel it would be fair to our volunteers to seek to implement them at this time.  There has been no demand for private prayer and my own view is that we can pray anywhere; it does not have to be in a church building.  

The Kirk Session will meet in early August to discuss the situation regarding the re-opening of the church building for Sunday worship.  By that time, we will have a better idea as to the timing.  However, we have to weigh up the fact that initially worship will be different from what we are used to from before the Lockdown.  Physical distancing measures will be in place, which means individuals will need to sit two metres apart from each other, unless you are a couple or family group  (although of course, this might be reduced to one metre). There will be no singing or teas and coffees and strict hygiene conditions will be in place.  One option on the table is for the five congregations in the Cluster Group to open initially for midweek worship in mid August, before gradually moving to re-opening for Sunday worship. 

You are advised not to attend church if you are shielding or have an underlying health condition, until the situation is back to normal.

We do hope that the online worship to be found each Sunday on the Aberdeen West YouTube page might continue for a time after we return to our buildings.  We also now have a facility which allows you to phone in and listen to the services.  Just phone 01224 013222 on a Sunday at 10.30 am, plus the recording stays for 7 days.   Or if you prefer, you can request a CD copy. 

We continue to hope and pray that the situation with the virus will keep improving and we remember everyone in prayer who is still being affected by it.

Yours sincerely

John Ferguson