 This year, we'll have a very different kind of Nativity. Because of the current situation, it is sadly not possible to have our usual Nativity service on Christmas Eve at Humbie Church. However, we will have a Nativity service that afternoon nonetheless - just in a different way from usual, to keep us all safe.
For our Nativity play, we're planning to film all actors individually (or in family groups), and then put it all together into our very own Nativity movie, which will premiere on Christmas Eve. Costumes, props and technical help are of course available. Equally, we hope to have a brilliant choir, as we would usually in church, although this year it will be a virtual one. If you would like to participate in either the Nativity play or the choir, please contact us by 10 November. Not long until Advent.... And while this year, it might look a bit different,we are planning lots of exciting things that we hope we can all safely engage in, in addition to our services. Read below about our plans, and about how you can get involved: A Parish Advent Calendar We would like to make an online advent calendar this December, which can be watched each day, being festive, informative, thought provoking, biblical, musical, or amusing, or all of these, to give some seasonal spirit during the build up to Christmas. For all who are unable to watch online, a DVD or similar will be available.
While autumn has its hold over us, it is already that time of year to look ahead. We would like to once again support the Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal, which is going ahead as usual this year, although we have to make a few adaptations to the way we deal with the boxes. Any donation would be very much appreciated. As we cannot hand out the leaflets, we are asking those who can to print a copy themselves for their own or friends' boxes. If you do not have a leaflet, please write a list of the items in your box and include it with your donation of £3 to cover transport costs.
Should you be unable to get hold of a shoebox, a drawstring bag is acceptable provided it is not plastic. We will collect the boxes at Humbie Church at the services on 18 October and 1 November. You can also drop a box off at Yester Church on Friday, 30 October, between 9 and 11am, or you can contact us to arrange a pick up from your home. If you are unable to fill a box this year and would prefer to make a donation, that would be very welcome, too. Thank you very much for your support!  To support East Lothian Foodbank, we’ll collect donations at our service on 4 October at Humbie Church, and on 5 October in the Humbie Hub, where you can find a collection box. All donations, big or small, are very much appreciated.
We hope you are well, and that the past few months have not been too hard for you and your loved ones. This is a note from Humbie Church, to update you on our plans for the church, now that Scottish Government guidance allows places of worship to reopen, as long as this is done safely. We are going to start slowly and for the moment, services will take place fortnightly in Humbie Church, at the usual time of 9.30am. They will be shorter and follow a slightly different format from the services before lockdown. There are a number of guidelines which must be followed by everyone attending a service and these are set out at the end of this note. Before attending a service, please read and follow these carefully as they are for your own and everyone else’s protection.
At this time, we would simply like to offer in-person services for all who would like to come together in a church building for worship, and especially all who have difficulty in accessing the online services. However, I know that many of us are very anxious about larger gatherings at this time, and nobody should in any way feel pressured to attend these services in person before they feel ready to do so. All of us will have different circumstances and needs. A video recording of the service will be available on our church website from Sunday afternoon, and audio recordings are available on CD on request. Participating in a service online, or through a sound recording, is worship just as much as doing so in a church building. On the Sundays when we do not offer a service in the church, a pre-recorded online service will be available on the website from Sunday morning, as during lockdown. These services include contributions from people around the parish: readings, music, reflections and prayers, and offer us an opportunity for more creativity in our worship. On Sundays 13 September and 25 October, we will also celebrate Holy Communion in our online worship. Audio recordings of all services are available on CD. If you would like to receive one, please contact Jim Hunter (01875 833223).
If you would like any help or support, or would welcome a conversation by phone, video call or a socially distant visit, please let me know (contact details can be found below). In-person services – guidelines for all attendees
These are the guidelines asked of us by the Church of Scotland, in close collaboration with the Government, to keep us all safe and protected. In light of the current circumstances around COVID 19, we have come to the difficult decision to cancel the Holiday Club for this summer. It would be very difficult to fully enable social distancing at the Holiday Club, and make sure that everyone is safe. We are very sorry for the disappointment this might cause - but we'll have one again next summer, and look forward to seeing the children again soon.
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