WELCOME TO ST PETER'S CHURCH
Serving God by serving you,
your family & the community
WEEKLY NEWS
To keep up to date with the latest news and events, have a look at the Week Ahead.
In line with new Government advice, St Peter's is open for public worship.
HOWEVER: in light of the new Omicron variant, increased restrictions will apply in order to keep everyone safe. Whilst in church, you must wear a mask covering your mouth and nose at all times. Please be respectful of social distancing and avoid congregating at the back of the church. Booking remains highly recommended. However, you do not need to book if you wish to join us for the Midweek Eucharist.
You can join us at our Sunday Eucharist at 10am, or you can come along to our Midweek Eucharist at the new time of 12noon.
Sunday services will continue to be streamed on our Facebook page at 10am.
You can also follow services on the Church of England website here.
ST PETER'S CHURCH - COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT UPDATE (JANUARY 2022)
At St Peter’s we are doing all we can in order to protect you and your loved ones. We know that you will be wanting to do the same. Revd Lizzie will be taking a lateral flow test prior to each service and we would encourage you all to do so as well. If you test positive for COVID, feel unwell with either COVID or cold symptoms, or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID please do not attend but join us instead live on our Facebook page. Please also ensure you are fully vaccinated and take the opportunity of having the booster when you are offered.
For each of the services, you will be shown to your seats, and numbers on each pew will be limited. Masks must be worn at all times through the services. The priest and any involved in the services will continue to follow strict hygiene rules. Please be aware that windows will be open to improve ventilation inside the church so you may wish to bring an extra jumper! You will be asked to use the one way system in church and to refrain from gathering at the back of church.
Although no longer essential, booking for a Sunday 10am service is still highly recommended.
Communion will continue to take place in one kind only, though you are welcome to come to the Altar to receive it, (using the side aisles to take the Host back to your seat to consume it), and the peace can now be shared verbally. Singing is allowed - with masks.
Each month our COVID-19 precautions will be reassessed by the Standing Committee. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.
The past 18 months have seen unprecedented challenges for the church. You can read the Rector's report about our response to the pandemic here.
Scroll down to read our new Vision Plan, created in response to the pandemic, and discover our new service structure.
NEW SERVICE STRUCTURE
At St Peter’s, the PCC are committed to ensuring that in-person fellowship, worship and pastoral care will continue as we find a new, post-Covid normal. Alongside this, we also feel it is important to continue to welcome and nurture the online community as well. For this reason, a new ‘mixed mode’ of ministry will continue to ensure we cater as effectively as possible to all, and enable God’s word and God’s love to be made known as fully as possible in this changed society - both in-person and online.
Looking at the particular areas of need within our local community, the monthly service plan, structure and timing of church groups and activities has been amended. This changed structure enables us to move forward in a mixed mode of ministry, catering to both in-person and online communities, all part of the same church family. In amending the service pattern, all forms of worship that did exist will continue, but at a different time or frequency.
Visit our Services page to find out more.
HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHURCH
Generous giving is an integral part of Christian discipleship. As Paul writes, "But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
2 Corinthians 8:7
The Parish Giving Scheme has been set up to best manage regular donations. Donations can be made on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, and your money will always be used in your parish.
Through your generous commitment, we can be assured of a regular source of income, and you will benefit from a system that is secure, confidential and easy to use, supporting your church today and in the future.
You can set up your donation easily on the Parish Giving Scheme website or call 0333 002 1271 and someone will set up your direct debit for you. You will need your bank account details, as well as the following information:
Parish Name: Filton St Peter
Our PGS Code: 05 06 05 077
Lines are open Mon-Fri 9-5pm
Did you know that you can support St Peter's, at no extra cost to you, whenever you shop at Amazon? Click on the link to visit the website and select "The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St. Peter, Filton" as your chosen charity. Every time you shop at smile.amazon.co.uk Amazon will donate a percentage directly to the church.
PILGRIM - A COURSE FOR THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY
The next instalment of the Pilgrim Course will begin in the Autumn, via Zoom*.
The course is designed to help you discover the Christian way of life. It unpacks the basic message and teaching of the Christian faith, and also shows you how to pray and how to live like Jesus. It does this in a way that is reflective and conversational.
As we look at the fourth booklet, we will be exploring how Christians behave, by looking in particular at The Beatitudes.
Please note that there is no requirement for you to have done the previous books; each stands alone as a complete course.
To find out more, visit
The course will run for 6 weeks and is completely free. Contact Faith or Revd Lizzie if you would like to join us. If you aren't able to make the first meeting, that doesn't matter; you'd still be very welcome to join us when you can.
*The Zoom details are:
Meeting ID 349 514 8166
Password 154 508
LIVING IN LOVE AND FAITH
How do questions about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage fit within the bigger picture of the good news of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to live in love and faith together as a Church? Bishop Lee introduced this initiative in November and you can read his letter here. He has now sent out more information, and you can read that letter here, and find out more from the Diocese of Bristol website.
OUR TALENTED CHOIR!
Lockdown has encouraged our very fine choir to be more inventive in the way they produce music for church. As the weeks and months have passed, our musical director Viv has provided ever more complex music for the streamed services. So, for your enjoyment, here are some of our members singing Mozart's Ave Verum - enjoy!
REOPENING
Coming to Church
EUCHARIST SERVICES
On Sundays and Wednesdays
Whilst the church can now legally open for acts of public worship and certain life-event services such as weddings, baptisms and funerals, there are still many guidelines in place to ensure Governmental & Public Health Guidance is followed. The safety of clergy, volunteers, members of the congregation, and the wider community will be kept paramount. The opening of the church for small acts of worship does not mean that the church is open as normal, or that people can come and go as they wish. Strict guidelines remain in place, and those wishing to come to an act of worship must adhere to the Community Covenant, accepting that worship will look very different for some time to come.
PROTOCOL FOR REOPENING
Please read before considering coming to church
The Covid-19 Protocol for Reopening can be found here. It tells you everything you need to know, and everything you can expect to see in church, and is essential reading before coming to church. It is summarised in the Community Covenant.
BOOKING A PLACE
Booking is strongly recommended as places remain limited
Once you have read the Protocol for Reopening (above), follow the link to book a place for your desired service. Booking a place assumes you have read and agreed to all the points in the Community Covenant. Booking can only be done online. If you know someone who would like to come to church but does not have access to the internet to book a place, please consider adding them to your booking.
Please note that booking only opens 3 days before each service, at 10am.
You do not need to book a place at the Wednesday service.
OCCASIONAL OFFICES
Baptisms
If you would like to book a baptism, in the first instance please contact faith.stpeterschurchfilton@gmail.com to find details of the next available date. Baptisms take place during our special Family Eucharist service, at 10am on the third Sunday of the month but must be booked in advance. You should familiarise yourself with the Covid-19 Baptism Protocol before booking.
FELLOWSHIP
The Church Hall and Coffee Shop
We understand that many of you come to St Peter's for fellowship and to meet with friends and church family. Regrettably the church can only open to provide short services, and you will be asked to go straight to your designated seat upon arrival, and leave promptly after the service.
The Coffee Shop is now open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 1.30pm and the Church Hall is now open for bookings. Contact our Parish Secretary to find out more.
The church looks quite different as we continue to observe social distancing measures. Certain areas will be closed. You will not be able to access the Lady Chapel or the Coffee Shop. There will be no children's play area.The sanctuary, sacristy and choir vestry are off limits, and there will be no toilet facilities.
A one-way system will be in place to help you move around the church safely whilst remaining one metre away from everyone at all times.
On arrival through the main entrance, your name will be checked against our list of everyone who has booked a place. You will be asked to use the central aisle only, and fill up the church from the front. The yellow ticks indicate available seats.
You should remain at your seat for the duration of the service. Communion will be brought to your seat.
After the service you will be asked to leave the church by the East Porch, following the one-way system as shown in the diagram, and keeping one metre away from everyone at all times.
Please visit our Facebook page which gives you helpful advice on how to book a place, and a "What to Expect" video which will walk you through the church. Click on the button below to go straight to our Facebook page.
OUR VISION & PRIORITIES
NEW VISION PLAN LAUNCHED
For the past year the PCC has been developing the new vision plan for St Peter's in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was launched on St Peter's Day, 27th June 2021, and reflects the changes that St Peter's has made in response to a new way of worship.
Click on the images below to read all about our Vision and Priorities for the next couple of years and how we hope to serve the individuals, families and communities of Filton.
If you would like to help in any way please be in touch.
WHO WE ARE
A welcoming Anglican Church with its heart in the sacraments and its place at the centre of the community
St Peter's Church is a church devoted to developing a holy consciousness. We believe that worship is something that can be expressed in everything we do, whether that be nourishing our bodies with food, chatting with friends, playing music, or enjoying nature. Our philosophy is deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures and Sacraments; life’s only guidebook. Whatever your age, gender, race or ability, there is a special place for you at our Church. We offer members a chance to become part of something greater, to grow their love for God and for one another in our beautiful community. Get in touch today or swing by for a visit.
REVD LIZZIE GREGORY
JOHN CHAPMAN
THOMAS MOLLER
AMY ATKINSON
POSITION TO BE FILLED
Youth Worker
VIV WILKINSON
FAITH TUTTON
ALISA STARR
OUR SAFEGUARDING OFFICERS
JOHN CHAPMAN
ANNE DUKE
Safeguarding Officer with responsibility for children and young people
0117 949 7288
SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46.1
