My Dear Friends,
I write this pastoral letter to you on the same evening (December 22nd ) as we have held a Zoom Vestry Meeting.
As a Vestry we have decided, given the heightened Covid 19 restrictions, and advice by the Scottish Episcopal Church that the Church should close for public masses this weekend. Our Christmas Services will take place as advertised but the Mass for St Stephen on Saturday at 12.00 noon will be the last public Mass at St Margaret’s whilst the current restrictions obtain.
The Vestry felt that given the proposed reduction in permissible numbers of attendees at services in accordance with Scottish Government guidelines and also with the increased concern for the spread of infection due to the mutant virus, that this was the safest and most sensible way forward. Obviously this will be reviewed at a later date.
I personally cannot thank all of you enough for the help and support you have shown up until now as we have navigated our way forward through this crisis. On this Feast day of the Holy Family we rejoice that this congregation is very much a spiritual family held together in common faith and belief. Our return to church over the past few months has allowed us to express our resilience and resolve in these difficult times. It has been good and for that we must be grateful.
We will as of next weekend begin all our on-line liturgical activity again on the Website and on Facebook. Those who were contacted by surface mail during the last Lock-down will receive similar communication again.
We look forward in anticipation to 2021 and hope that it will be a better time for all of us.
I take this opportunity in wishing all of you a very Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year.
Kindest Regards,
As Aye,
Fr. Emsley
