We are going to be taking church online in the days ahead. This means all of our gatherings are cancelled for the time being, including Life Groups.
However, we are passionate about continuing to find ways of meaningfully practicing community. We will be in touch in the coming days to explain how we hope to achieve this.
As we enter this new season, we want to encourage you to think about four things.
First, think about how we can continue to be a community. In the same way that you continue to be a family with your parents, or siblings and cousins, even when you are in different places, so too we want to continue to be a family even if we can't spend time together in person. (If you are new to Grace this will be particularly difficult, but we hope that you can participate in a meaningful way when we begin to explore ways of interacting online. Don't lose heart! Please contact us so we can find a way to help you.)
Second, the Christian's call to one another and love our neighbours has in no way been reduced, relaxed, or rescinded. Therefore, this will mean finding ways of expressing love to each other – phone calls, text messages, gifts in the mail, notes of encouragement, or the occasional cheeky meet-up in an open space without physical contact ;) You may also want do as others have done, and arrange help for your literal neighbours, as many may be self-isolating or elderly. Read this post by Matthew Hosier.
Third, there is also the high call to love God. This is an extraordinary opportunity to use your time alone to foster a deeper and richer walk with the Lord.
Fourth, we would ask you to think about your giving to the church. It is obviously a concern for all pastors at this season that as Christians stop gathering, they may well stop giving. We don't expect that from you, but We do want to flag it as a concern. We don't want to be in a position of weakness, especially when it comes to restarting our normal church life. We are also looking ahead to the new academic year, and we want to increase the staff team to help catch up with the growth of the church. This kind of forward planning will only be possible if you continue to be generous. Go to our giving page to sort things out if you haven't already set this up.
We want to say a deep and heartfelt goodbye to those who we will not see again in person, because you are heading back home overseas sooner than you anticipated. This is so sad to say goodbye in this way, but please know that you are loved, and that we will miss you.