I pray this finds you well, giving thanks to our heavenly for His many blessings. This is an update regarding our life together as a church family.
We (your session) made the decision to live stream only our morning (9:30am) and evening (5pm) Sunday services for March 22, 29, and April 5. This is a temporary decision. Session will meet at the end of March to reassess the situation and plan the subsequent steps.
What does this mean for you?
1. You need to secure a red Trinity Hymnal for your home. If you need more than one hymnal, of if you need a hymnal, you may take one from our church sanctuary. I will be at the church today between 9am and 3pm with the doors unlocked. If you need a hymnal and cannot get it today between these hours, please let me know and we'll figure out a way to make it happen.
2. You need to access the internet for our live stream services on Sunday morning and evening. The services will not be the same liturgy of preaching. I made the decision to keep our regular pattern of morning and evening worship. The evening worship will continue the series through the Heidelberg Catechism.
3. You need to secure a copy of the ESV. You can do this online, if you don't have a physical copy. As part of our morning worship, we will read together a Psalm of Lament, which will be followed by our congregational petitions. Yes, I know this sounds strange to read together a passage as we cannot see or hear each other. However, we will strive to keep the regular habits of worship even through this medium of worship. We must continue to exercise our physical habits of worship. Plus, you are helping your children to worship.
4. You need to secure a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism. You can do this online, if you don't have a physical copy. As I wrote, we will continue our evening worship (5pm) as a study of the catechism.
What can you expect?
1. Brennan will send directions via email to live stream the worship services. If you have trouble securing the live stream, please contact Brennan, an elder, or me for help. We want to make sure that everyone has access.
2. An elder will send directions via email regarding online giving and offerings.
3. Sunday school, choir, and nursery are cancelled through April 5. We also cancelled Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday service, and the Easter breakfast.
4. Elders will be contacting you, asking for prayer requests and hearing any needs. Your deacons have already sent a message via email, requesting that you make known any needs. These are efforts to open the lines of communication as we remain separate from each other. Please let us know your concerns, prayer requests, and physical needs.
What do I need from you?
1. For the next few weeks, this is our plan for life together as a church family. Our aim is to love God and to love our neighbor. There may be other creative ideas from the congregation how we can meet those goals. I need you to share those ideas with me. Contact me via phone or email.
2. While this medium of worship (internet) is not ideal, for the internet makes one easily distracted, you need to consider the ways to make the best out of the situation. Close other programs on your computer when we gather for worship to prevent distractions. Designate a space for worship in your home. Maintain the regular habits of corporate worship, such as standing up, singing, and praying together. Follow the Scripture passage closely, taking notes.
3. Pray for the Lord's mercy, pray for a cure, pray for those affected, pray for our leaders, and pray for all of the helpers.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).
Friday, March 20 Update
Good Shepherd family,
I pray this finds you well, giving thanks to our heavenly for His many blessings. This is an update regarding our life together as a church family.
We (your session) made the decision to live stream only our morning (9:30am) and evening (5pm) Sunday services for March 22, 29, and April 5. This is a temporary decision. Session will meet at the end of March to reassess the situation and plan the subsequent steps.
What does this mean for you?
1. You need to secure a red Trinity Hymnal for your home. If you need more than one hymnal, of if you need a hymnal, you may take one from our church sanctuary. I will be at the church today between 9am and 3pm with the doors unlocked. If you need a hymnal and cannot get it today between these hours, please let me know and we'll figure out a way to make it happen.
2. You need to access the internet for our live stream services on Sunday morning and evening. The services will not be the same liturgy of preaching. I made the decision to keep our regular pattern of morning and evening worship. The evening worship will continue the series through the Heidelberg Catechism.
3. You need to secure a copy of the ESV. You can do this online, if you don't have a physical copy. As part of our morning worship, we will read together a Psalm of Lament, which will be followed by our congregational petitions. Yes, I know this sounds strange to read together a passage as we cannot see or hear each other. However, we will strive to keep the regular habits of worship even through this medium of worship. We must continue to exercise our physical habits of worship. Plus, you are helping your children to worship.
4. You need to secure a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism. You can do this online, if you don't have a physical copy. As I wrote, we will continue our evening worship (5pm) as a study of the catechism.
What can you expect?
1. Brennan will send directions via email to live stream the worship services. If you have trouble securing the live stream, please contact Brennan, an elder, or me for help. We want to make sure that everyone has access.
2. An elder will send directions via email regarding online giving and offerings.
3. Sunday school, choir, and nursery are cancelled through April 5. We also cancelled Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday service, and the Easter breakfast.
4. Elders will be contacting you, asking for prayer requests and hearing any needs. Your deacons have already sent a message via email, requesting that you make known any needs. These are efforts to open the lines of communication as we remain separate from each other. Please let us know your concerns, prayer requests, and physical needs.
What do I need from you?
1. For the next few weeks, this is our plan for life together as a church family. Our aim is to love God and to love our neighbor. There may be other creative ideas from the congregation how we can meet those goals. I need you to share those ideas with me. Contact me via phone or email.
2. While this medium of worship (internet) is not ideal, for the internet makes one easily distracted, you need to consider the ways to make the best out of the situation. Close other programs on your computer when we gather for worship to prevent distractions. Designate a space for worship in your home. Maintain the regular habits of corporate worship, such as standing up, singing, and praying together. Follow the Scripture passage closely, taking notes.
3. Pray for the Lord's mercy, pray for a cure, pray for those affected, pray for our leaders, and pray for all of the helpers.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).
In Christ, Pastor Jud