Now that the incidence of Swine Flu has reached pandemic levels we have received directions from the Diocese of Manchester and the National Church on precautions we should follow and changes we should make to our usual practices.

• The chalice will not be shared. The celebrant only will receive the wine as a representative of the congregation.
• The shaking of hands during the Peace will not take place. The Peace will be shared verbally led by the minister.
• Clergy will not be able to shake hands at the door. (Church members are also discouraged from shaking hands with each other.)
• Hand sanitizer gel will be available for the clergy and congregation to use at all times. Church members are invited to use hand gel on their way into church. (NB: Hand gel must have dried to be effective.)
• The communion rail will not be used. (The infection risk of using it is too high and the need to clean it after each touch would be too intrusive.)
• No Faith Lunches or Faith Teas will be held.
• Children’s groups should serve individual juice cartons instead of using cups and jugs.

The purposes of the above are to limit the spread of infection.

Due to illness it may be necessary for there to be changes (possibly at very late notice) to the planned Team Services Rota. In extreme circumstances there may not be a member of the clergy available and a Church Warden will then lead a service of Morning Worship.