Church in the time of Covid19

Wherever we are, we are still the light on a lamp stand, the city on a hill, the Body of Christ, the Church!

Hello all,
The Church of Scotland has instructed that we are to refrain from gathering for worship or meetings, so unfortunately all in-person events are on hold until further notice.

HOWEVER: not being in a specific building at a specific time DOES NOT mean that we are cancelling church! The Church is the people, not the building, and not 11am on a Sunday. The way the world will know us as Christ’s disciples is by our love. So let us love one another, keeping connection even when we must be physically apart.

Instead of weekly in-person worship and study groups at this time, the following things will happen:
1. Packets of the take-home inserts usually placed in the order of service will be distributed to homes in the same manner as the Church Notes—either posted through the door or mailed.
2. The manuscript of a sermon and prayers (the same script normally printed for those who can’t hear well) will be published on the church website on Sunday mornings. This will also be printed and mailed to those who don’t have internet access at home. If you know someone who needs this delivered in hard copy, please let Teri know.
3. There will be a brief Facebook live video devotion mid-week, similar to the advent calendar though obviously without the same props!
4. In a separate post you will have the chance to sign up for an email devotion that would come out once a week as well, which will also be printed and included in the material posted to those without internet.

Hopefully these ways of connecting to our faith will enable people to continue to grow spiritually during this time.

In addition, we will be asking church members to check in on each other via friendly phone calls…elders will also be checking in on people in their districts. We hope that we will continue to build up a sense of community even when we cannot physically meet together. It might even lead to deeper relationships across our community in the future!

Isolation and loneliness are significant dangers to health, both mental and physical, as well as spiritual. This is an area where we as the Church can really step up in the midst of this crisis and demonstrate love of God and neighbour in new ways.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, gathered and scattered.
peace,
Teri