NHS Test and Trace is now up and running with QR Codes for the app on every entrance door in the church building. To find out more about how it all works to help keep us all safe and how to get your free app, go here.

From Thursday 24th September you will see NHS Test and Trace QR codes at all of the entrances to our building. This is to aid the NHS in being able to quickly identify those who may have had direct contact with someone else who has tested positive for coronavirus and to identify potential outbreaks as quickly as possible.

To be able to use these QR codes you will need to have a smart phone and will need to have downloaded the official NHS Covid-19 Test and Trace app from your App Store. Simply open the app and scan the code to record your attendance in the building. If you are not able to download the app, don't worry, we can still take your details on paper (please ask if you need to do this).

​Please be assured of our love and our prayers during this challenging time.

S4B have produced a video about how it has met the challenge of Social Distancing in working safely with the local people and highlighting some of the great work going in the Brunswick Community, featuring COMAS, Positive Steps, and a few faces you might recognise...!

Like a lot of things, our Refurb Project has been sidelined to some extent by the Coronavirus Pandemic, although the Brunswick Beestro has shown yet another way in which our building (the one Refurb is about improving) is a resource to the community.

However, in the last few weeks we have had news of not one, but TWO grant awards which will take us closer to our Refurb funding goal. These were:

• 12k from All Churches trust
• £70k from Tudor Trust – this was amazing as we were only expecting £30-40k – even more heartening was what they wrote:

"The trustees felt that the hall really is at the heart of the community and that it offers a vital community resource in an area where this kind of accessible and welcoming space is lacking. They thought that the church works in a genuine, inclusive and consultative way with the very diverse Brunswick community, and liked the way the hall is used both to deliver your own community-led work via the Positive Steps Community Project and as a base for a really good mix of other activities and services.
They were impressed with the commitment shown by the church and its members, both through finding out what the community most needed and then putting a substantial level of funding towards the redevelopment as well. Their decision to make a capital grant at the higher end of our usual range was partly in recognition of this, but it was also hoped that a grant at this level would help you to keep up momentum on the project by reducing the need for further fundraising."

This is getting exciting!

As Positive Steps gets up and running again offline, we're delighted to announce the return of Women Only exercise in the form of Chair Yoga – Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30am at Brunswick Church.

Please Note: Pre-Booking is Essential as we have limited numbers for these sessions due to Safe Social Distancing. To book, contact Hebe on 07815029992.
 
Beginners Welcome! 

At Brunswick, as with a lot of things, we do our AGM (Annual General Meeting) a bit differently. For a start we usually have it in the context of a regular Sunday service and use it as a time to give thanks to God and celebrate the year just gone, and also share vision for and commit to him the year to come. Normally this happens in April, but this year due to lockdown, that was not possible. So this year we're making some changes, but keeping the celebration.* 

This year our AGM will be on Wednesday October 21, 7:30pm via Zoom. There will be the usual business such as choosing a new Church Council and other officers and reviewing our finances. But also we want to celebrate what God has been doing with us and through us during this difficult time. We're looking for stories, pictures, videos and updates of all the great stuff that has been going on. If you've got something to share, send an email. More details soon.

*And, if at all possible, the cake... (watch this space)

Remember this? Further to our recent update, we can now announce we will be reverting to meeting in our building again for our main morning service as from Sunday September 13 at 10:45am. It will be good to see each other "in the flesh" rather than on screens – socially distanced of course and with other precautions for everyone's safety (check out Jess's video guide here).

We are working to get technology in place so that the service can be simultaneously participated in via Zoom for those unsure or unable to join us.

Here is the last batch of cake ready for the final Cake Fairies lockdown distribution. Food in general (and cake in particular) plays a big part in the life of Brunswick Church, so it will no doubt not be long before the bakers are at work again. Meanwhile, a huge thank you to all who have baked, boxed, delivered, designed and printed.

Our services back in the building so far have been working well, and we are now working towards a next stage some time in September. This will enable all that been good about our Zoom experience to be transferred to our services in the building, enabling full participation, both with us in person as well as continuing for those who wish or need to remain online. This will mean acquiring and learning some additional technology, which we are in process of doing.

​As before we will continue to observe full social distancing guidance for everyone's safety (check out Jess's video guide here). Watch this space for more updates and a go date.