Four new updates for CiC Members' this week - 21 May

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well and safe at this challenging time.

This is a season of unprecedented change, one in which new developments are coming to pass on almost a daily basis.  We are committed to selecting the news that is most relevant for our members and making it accessible to you.

This week, I have four items of news that you might find helpful.

  1. Church meetings after lockdownIt was encouraging to write to you last week about the Government's plan to allow places of worship to reopen in July.  The United Reformed Church has started to explore this issue and have made their reflections readily available for others.  Ready for the new "normal" - a discussion paper for a pandemic recovery and resumption plan, covers some key questions such as, what must resume, what shouldn't and what needs to be done differently.  A helpful resource for all church leaders in preparation for meetings after lockdown.

    https://urc.org.uk/new-normal.html

  2. Food povertyLockdown triggered an unprecedented rise in the use of foodbanks as countless families found themselves in financial difficulty. Churches are well positioned in the heart of communities to respond, but are finding it difficult to know where to start.  Looprun is a project that makes it really easy for churches to work together to provide emergency food for those at risk of hunger in their community.

    https://www.looprun.uk.com/pop-up-rsba-looprun-response-outlet

  3. Gift Aid Small Donations SchemeWith many churches experiencing a drop in income due to meeting online, we welcome the news that HMRC is allowing a degree of flexibility in relation to GASDS.  Church treasurers will be permitted to determine whether donations made at church meetings after lockdown are actually a culmination of postponed donations that would have otherwise been made if restrictions were not in place, and claim gift aid accordingly.

    Operation of the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme during the COVID-19 crisis.pdf

  4. Churches Together in EnglandEarlier this month, the presidents of CTE encouraged all members to continue to pray at this time.  Follow this link to watch our founder Rev. Hugh Osgood and his fellow CTE presidents share short videos of encouragement.

    https://www.cte.org.uk/Articles/576014/Home/Coronavirus/We_need_to.aspx?redirected=1

On the note of prayer, the CiC staff team pray for our members every Tuesday and we are here to help in any way that we can.  Please do not hesitate to contact us and we will reply when we can.

I look forward to contacting you with further news next week.

Yours in Christ,

Paul Garratt

International Co-ordinator
CiC International

CiC International