Return to In Person Church Services
Wednesday 31st March – Prayer Meeting Resumes in Seminary
Now that restrictions on attending places of worship have been eased, the Kirk Session has agreed to recommence meeting for prayer in the Seminary on Wednesday evenings, beginning on 31st March 2021 at 7.30pm. For the benefit of those who are not able to attend, the Zoom arrangement will continue as before with the same login details.
Sunday 4th April – Lord’s Day Worship Services Begin in Seminary for three weeks
The Kirk Session also agreed to recommence services of worship on the Lord’s Day. The first of these will be an English morning service in the Seminary on 4th April at 11.00am. This arrangement will continue for three weeks after which it will be reviewed in anticipation of a morning Gaelic service being held in the Seminary and an English service being held in the church on Kenneth Street.
New YouTube Channel for Seminary Services
The Lord’s Day services from the Seminary will be live-streamed on YouTube. We have set up a new YouTube channel specifically for services broadcast from the Seminary. Simply go to YouTube.com and search for ‘Free Church Seminary Stornoway’ or Click here.
Please note that there are now separate YouTube accounts for the church and the Seminary. They are named as follows:
For the Church on Kenneth Street - ‘Stornoway Free Church’
For the Seminary on Francis Street – ‘Free Church Seminary Stornoway’
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN TO CHURCH SERVICES
As required with all public buildings during the current health crisis, all the necessary hygiene and social distancing requirements have been addressed to ensure everyone’s safety. Attending the services will be quite different to pre-lockdown arrangements and it’s important that those who plan to attend familiarise themselves with the following:
1. Restriction on numbers:
Attendance at the service is currently restricted to a maximum of 50 people. Seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis and anyone who misses out one week will be added to the list for the following week.
2. Who must not attend the service
a) Anyone with a high temperature, a continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
b) Anyone who is self-isolating due to a member of their household showing symptoms of COVID-19
c) Anyone who is self-isolating as a result of being contacted through ‘Track & Trace’.
3. Who should seriously consider not attending the service?
If you fall within the category of high risk or extremely high risk you should seriously consider if attending the service is in the best interests of your health.
4. Pre-booking and Track & Trace details:
Those attending the prayer meeting on Wednesday must pre-book by contacting Elizabeth McGowan on 07900586930 or by email to [email protected] and should be done no later than Tuesday evening.
Those attending the English services on the Lord’s Day must pre-book by contacting Alasdair Macleod (Elder) on 07810691033 or by email to [email protected] and should be done no later than Saturday evening.
For the purposes of Track & Trace it will be necessary to record your name, your contact telephone number and the number from your household who will be attending. This record will be securely retained for 21 days after which it will be destroyed.
5. Bibles and Psalm books:
These have all been removed for public use but you can take your own Bible or use a downloaded copy.
6. Singing is currently not permitted during the services.
7. Attending the service:
It would be greatly appreciated if everyone arrived in good time and that the following measures are adhered to:
a) Social distancing (currently 2 metres) must be observed both outside and inside the building, except where there is more than one person from the same household or where a person is assisted by an allocated carer.
b) Face coverings are mandatory (unless you have a medical exemption) and must be worn by everyone attending a place of worship.
c) Please enter the buildings by the main door and use the hand hygiene facilities available.
d) To minimise contact with each other, the office-bearers on duty will guide people to their seats.
e) For hygiene purposes the fabric cushions have been removed from the pews.
8. Exiting the building after the service:
a) At the close of the service please remain in your seat until you are asked to leave in turn by the office-bearers. Exiting the building will be from the double door at the side of the pulpit.
b) Please use the hand hygiene facilities as you leave and be sure to maintain social distancing (currently 2 metres) even when outside the building.
All those attending the service can be assured that our buildings have been thoroughly cleaned, including a full sanitising of pews and all regularly touched surfaces.
Stornoway Congregation, Free Church of Scotland
Scottish Charity Number: SC011447
