Coronavirus & Christ Church
The continuing response to Covid 19 impacts a lot of what we do at Christ Church, like it does with everyone. It makes it much harder to function and means that some of our activities are suspended. It doesn’t stop us being a church, even though we are now to a large extent a scattered rather than a gathered church for a while. More than ever, we need God’s word, we need prayer and we need each other – these are the gifts which God uses by his Holy Spirit to keep us going in Jesus.
How is this going to work now then?
Services online and in church
Each Sunday at 10.30am we have a live streamed morning service. Under Tier 4 arrangements corporate worship is possible, and so we are able to meet in person in a socially distanced way. Because this limits the capacity of the building, if you wish to attend please let us know via email at office@christchurchnorthfinchey.org.uk, stating your name, which service you wish to attend and the number of people in your group. Please do not attend if you have any Covid symptoms.
You can join in with our services live online via our Facebook and YouTube pages. You can see previous services here too. We invite you to say hi in the comments during the service, as its always encouraging to hear that people are joining in.
Keeping in touch through Hub groups
It’s impossible for us all to keep touch with each other meaningfully at a time like this in one big group, which is why we’re hoping that every Christ Church member will be part of a Hub group. The idea is that groups of about 10 people keep in contact by WhatsApp, email or telephone. That way we can pray for each other, encourage each other and ask and offer practical help where needed. Each of these groups will have someone who is connected to the overall church WhatsApp group, and so the groups will also be a way of passing on helpful bible teaching and prayers. To help explain what I mean I’ve recorded a video about it, which you can watch here.
Youth & Children
Our youth and children's groups are still functioning - each of our groups is now connected via a WhatsApp group, and is producing and shariing weekly materials and online videos. Currently under Tier 4 arrangements it is not possible for these groups to meet in person, but this wil change if we move back to a lower Tier. Contact us if you'd like to join in via our Facebook page or by sending me an email (address at the bottom of this page).
Times of prayer
Because we are united in Christ by his Holy Spirit, we can pray and worship together even when we are in different places. As well as getting together watching the same service online on Sunday mornings, there will be other times set aside to encourage us to pray at the same time. These will be 7.15 on Monday evenings for half an hour (the same time as we would have unity prayer meeting) and 10.30 on Thursday mornings (the same time as we would have our morning prayer service).
Helpful resources to keep going spiritually
Via the Christ Church WhatsApp group we will be sharing bible and prayer helps regularly. We’re also putting together helpful resources to help families with children and some specifically for young people which will be shared by our youth and children’s leaders. If you have a smartphone you can get WhatsApp for free from your app store.
Here are two top recommendations for now:
Premier Christian Radio – can listen to it online or on DAB radio. A wonderful help providing encouraging music, conversation, teaching & prayer. By far the best way to listen to the news, as it comes in the context of prayer.
The whole back catalogue of Christ Church sermons are available to listen to or download here.
If you need help or a chat, let me know! You can email me direct on david.walker@christchurchnorthfinchley.org.uk
God bless
Dave Walker