Welcome

COVID-19 Guidelines (from 17/12/21)

Due to the increasing prevalence of the Omicron variant, the Scottish Government and Church of Scotland have enhanced their regulations in relation to COVID-19. As a result, from Sunday 19th December, we are again reinstating the social distancing measures within the church buildings and returning the option to worship within the Old Hall.

The new variant of the virus is extremely transmissible and therefore, all those attending church buildings are requested to undertake a lateral flow test prior to attending. Home testing kits are available free of charge from most local community pharmacies or online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

The responsibility is on individuals who need to consider how much risk they want to take. We encourage all people to worship so please respect others’ wishes, if they make it known that they need a more space.

1. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND CHURCH IF YOU OR ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: DRY COUGH; FEVER; LOSS OF TASTE or SMELL; SHORTNESS OF BREATH or AS A RESULT OF CONTACT TRACING YOU ARE STAYING AT HOME TO MINIMISE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

2. Face masks remain a legal requirement inside places of worship, unless exempt, including whilst singing.

3. All people to maintain good hand hygiene practices - apply hand sanitiser on entry to and exit from the Church buildings.

4. Upon entry all worshippers will be asked to provide their name and telephone number. This is to support NHS Test and Protect. Your details will be held for 21 days and then destroyed in line with GDPR. A Privacy Notice will be displayed in the vestibule should you wish to refer to it.

5. To reduce cross contact transmission risk, hymn books, bibles and/or mission praise will provided for you to collect at the entrance to the Church and Old Hall. These should be left on the pews/chairs at end of service to be removed and quarantined for at least 72 hours.

 6. Green ‘please sit here’ signage are in place throughout church and would ask single households to sit at each sign and respect one metre social distancing. PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THESE SIGNS. The choir are 2m distanced in view of mask removal whilst singing. The Old Hall seating will continue to be laid out at 1m social distance.

7. Stewards will be positioned at main entrance door, in the church nave and 1 in the Old Hall. Only the stewards to open/close/touch doors. Stewards to fully open both sets of vestibule doors and Old Hall doors at end of service for ventilation.

8. Exit after services to be one way only through main door, north and south transept doors.

9. Enhanced cleaning of all touch points (internal and external) will be undertaken in line with Health Protection Scotland guidance.

10. For those wishing to donate offerings, it is strongly encouraged that you donate to St Nicholas Church via https://cos.churchofscotland.org.uk/donate/. A collection box and plate are also available for freewill offering.

Scottish Government Guidance for Places of Worship

This was updated last Wednesday and can be seen at Coronavirus (COVID-19): safe use of places of worship - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Thoughts for the Week

Compendium 26th September 19th September 12th September 5th September 29th August 22nd August 15th August 8th August 1st August 25th July 18th July 11th July 4th July 20th June 13th June 6th June 30th May 23rd May 16th May 9th May 2nd May 25th April 18th April 11th April 4th April 27th March 21st March 14th March 7th March 28th February 21st February 14th February 7th February 31st January 24th January 17th January 10th January 3rd January 27th December 20th December 13th December 6th December 29th November 22nd November 15th November 8th November 1st November 25th October 18th October 11th October 4th October 27th September 20th September 13th September 6th September 30th August 23rd August 16th August 9th August 2nd August 26th July 19th July 12th July 5th July

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about preventing harm and abuse and making a timely and appropriate response if it occurs.

Harm or abuse of children and adults at risk can happen anywhere – even in church communities. We have a duty to Ensure a Safe Church for All. This means protecting children and "adults at risk".

For further information please go to the safeguarding area of the Church of Scotland's website.