Mid-September will mark six months of living and ministering in Covidland and we wanted to look back on that as well as forward to the next six or so.
Current conditions are different, so our fellowships need to be different too. Where previously our greatest constraint was where we met, now it is more about how: online or offline; interactively, watching or in person?
Our top priority is that we should all continue to minister to one another according to our own gifts and one another’s needs. These are the ‘services’ we plan:
- Interactive Church on the
GreenScreen, Sunday @ 10am: Usually this is led by Rob using Google Meet or telephone (a London number so please consider any phone charges). At this time you should not think this is limited to just Rudloe people. Consider attending this service if you want to be able to participate more than just watching online allows. - Recorded church, Sunday @ 10am: This will continue the recorded worship and usually Eddie will preach as before summer. From the 20th Sept we hope to stream live from Priory Street with a small congregation in the building, giving priority to those not online. For those attending in person, masks and booking are necessary.
- In person church, every Wednesday @ 2pm: This cannot replace the Mid-Week Service previously led by Eric and team – and we’d like to pay particular thanks to David, who stepped into the breach since Eric’s illness. This will be a small, physically-distanced service, again with priority given to those not online. This will usually be led by Eddie and use the same teaching material as Sunday. However it will be informal and allow room for questions and conversation. Once again masks and booking are necessary.
Small groups
Perhaps most important of all – given the current advice to restrict the number and frequency of people you meet – are the many different small group and individual meetings. Whether by phone call, in person, Zoom, video calls, Whatsapp groups, we urge you all to be in contact with at least a few brothers and sisters regularly. Be bold! Reach out to someone, whether you know them a little or a lot. If you’re really stumped, ask your congregational leaders or leave a message on the office answerphone.
If your small group wants to meet in person and does not have enough space to meet at the recommended distance the Sanctuary @ Priory Street is available. This needs to be booked and virus-limiting precautions taken but we will seek to make it available to as many as we can.
This is our current plan through until Easter ’21 but we will keep all under review as circumstances and Government advice change.
— The Oversight Team
The latest update on using the building in Priory Street, including response to Government changes this week is now available.