This thread is for the benefit of some journalists who can’t seem to do proper research

The church is NOT CLOSED/door shut/clergy sat in the safety of their own homes etc

This is what the church has been, and is doing throughout the pandemic>>

(ministers pls add your own too)

Running Foodbanks or working with existing to make sure they are resourced with food, finances & volunteers etc

Feeding the street community, whose usual routes for support are dramatically reduced

Calling people up who are isolated and stuck at home, lonely and/or vulnerable

Supporting those whose mental health is dipping/ in decline, some fo the first time

Organising its members to do delivering shopping/ food/ errands for those who are shielding.

reached out via social media/phone/email to offer prayer for those who are struggling, anxious and suffering

rethought every aspect of our roles, including how to worship corporately when not in a building together

learned stupid amounts of digital technology

posted sermons and service outlines to the more isolated and non tech minded

responded to messages, emails, calls from the wider community and worked with other organisations supporting those in need.

Supported those who’ve lost loved ones to Covid and other reasons. Helping them deal with grief & organise funerals that are not what anyone wanted

Opened our buildings to be vaccination centres

Worked in non parish roles like chaplaincy. Hospital chaplains being on the front line in hospitals, visiting patients when relatives can’t, bringing solace to those spending weeks or months alone in hospital

Hospital chaplains are also helping support keyworkers in the NHS, hearing their exhaustion and grief

other CofE chaplains work in other areas too, schools are another one where school chaplains are dealing with a huge increase in pastoral needs from pupils and staff

teaching people to use tech so they can access services/zoom for social interaction and more

supporting schools, teachers, and pupils. Providing online assemblies and RE lessons

I've seen countless examples of churches providing food for NHS staff, local surgeries, those giving vaccinations etc

and also, speaking prophetic truth. Speaking out about and challenging injustice.

we'e also supporting each other in our own exhaustion, mental fatigue, pain and brokeness.

from a Prison chaplain: no lockdown here. Still going out every day, trying to keep people going; staff, prisoners, officers. Absorbing untold amounts of emotion, fear, anger, trauma, confusion. We’re all on our knees. #COVID19 #TheForgottenService #HMPPS #Chaplaincy