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This morning in prayer time we read 1 Peter 1:3-9. It was a good verse to read in our first “Morning Prayers Online” moment. Verse 6-7 reads, “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of our faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
We are certainly in a time of trial now and how we respond to this is a matter of faith. Thankfully, what we face regarding our faith is not on the magnitude of what Peter’s original readers were dealing with as they faced persecution for their faith, but the loss that we are feeling is real. Being stuck in our houses and not being able to gather with friends, family and our GTCC community is a real challenge. Know that we are all feeling that same loss and so it is good to reach out to each other on a regular basis. We need to continue to love and care for one another, and we need to make sure that no one is missed during this trying time!
Our Leadership Team met last night via a video conference call to make some decisions about how we are going to approach the next few Sundays. I am thankful for this group that thoughtfully and prayerfully approached these decisions together. We shared our gratitude for the ability to meet together last Sunday and remain committed to the idea that we made the right choice then, but we also know that we shouldn’t make that same choice headed this week. The instructions from our leaders in government and those on the front line of the health crisis say that we should not meet in groups more than fifty. And while they give that number, they also say that we should really make every effort to stay home and not gather at all in public places. That is the only way that we are going to help lessen the strain on our health care system and to “flatten the curve.” We are going to heed that advice!
Therefore, as of now, all in person gatherings at the church are cancelled or moved to an online format. This includes our Sunday worship services for at least the next two weeks. It also includes Thursday night’s Understanding the Bible class with Alejandro, youth group activities and ESL. It does not stop the Food Bank or the Day Care downstairs; those are considered essential services. It also does not stop the work that our Pastoral Team is doing to stay connected and to provide care and opportunities for you to care for each other.
We will live stream a service on Sunday morning. We have not decided exactly what that will look like, but we will continue to wrestle with our theme “Less is More” with this week aptly being about “More Faith” Watch for details about that service and if you have ideas feel free to email them to Pastor Andy. Also, letting people know you are watching by making some comments during the service will help people feel connected.
Prayer time at 9 AM each morning (Tuesday-Friday) will continue but not in person. It will be done in an online format through the conferencing software called zoom. In the box below this are instructions for how to get on to that platform. If you want me to add you directly just text or email me and I can do that. It is set up as a recurring meeting so each day that you are available you can log on and pray with us. If you want an email reminder I can set that up, too. Just let me know.
We will be looking for other ways to connect via Zoom or other platform as a group. Keep an eye on your email and Facebook for opportunities.
We are putting out a call to younger people for the Food Bank next Wednesday. The Food Bank will be meeting from 11-1 so we need people to come at 10 AM to help get set up. We are SO thankful for our faithful Food Bank Volunteers and this is meant to offer care to them not to restrict them. Those over sixty five are officially considered part of the “vulnerable population” in regard to Covid-19 and we don’t want to put them at risk. They all outwork me on Food Bank days so this isn’t saying they aren’t capable!!!
Don’t forget that even though we can’t be at church doesn’t mean we can’t BE the church. We are called to Love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves. Look for chances to do that in your neighbourhood, your family, your life circles AND to your church family! Please reach out to each other. Please jump on opportunities to have conversations with people on line or over teh phone. Please see if there are ways that you can offer help and love to people.
If you are looking for ways to continue to give you are welcome to mail a cheque to the church or we can now accept E-Transfers. That should be easier for some of you. Details will be included soon about how that works. There is also a link to our PayPal on the website which accepts credit cards for a processing fee. I hope to update that website tonight with instructions on E-Transfers. You can always email me to find out how to do that. We appreciate your generosity!
There are indications that this is going to go on longer than two weeks, so we are preparing for a continuation of these practices. However, we remain optimistic that this will pass soon and our lives and church will be able to return to normal. Or, even better may it return with a stretched, strengthened and deepened ability to live out our faith. We “believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy” for we know that as we trust in him and live out our faith in trying times we “are receiving the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls!”
