Live Streaming this Sunday

This week has been ground shaking in so many ways across our nation and world. The Coronavirus has brought enormous changes and challenges to our lives, in addition to concerns for the health of loved ones and ourselves. Schools and workplaces are closing, and many of the ways we have operated as a church have needed to change overnight. All of this means that we can feel very unsettled.

As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

Luke 6:47-49

Although the world may be very unsettling at this time, our lives as followers of Jesus are built on a firm foundation. Although many things are shifting in our lives, God’s love for us does not change. Church, as we have known it, will be different for a period of time, but we do not cease to be a family built on the Rock.

As I wrote earlier in the week… “in the past we have sought ways to, as best as we can, reflect God’s passionate love for us. That is what, as a church family, we will continue to do – just differently for the time being. So for a season we will find new ways to Gather, new ways to Grow and new ways to Go Love Mersea”.

With that in mind, this Sunday we will have our first ever internet streamed service. You will be able to see it here on our website, or on our Facebook page.

Please note: although we are using the Facebook system for broadcasting, you do not need a Facebook account to watch it. There will also be an opportunity to catch up later if you miss it ‘live’. For our church family members without an internet connection we will creating DVDs of the services so they don’t miss out.

As part of the live stream on Sunday we are aiming to have communion together.  We realise not everyone may have bread and wine (or juice) available, so please use whatever food and drink you have available for it.

Over the coming week we aim to start being able to implement some of the pastoral plans we have been working on, and introducing new ways that we can keep in touch with each other.

As I said last Sunday, in a constantly changing situation, some things we may get right and some we might get wrong; and somethings we may need to change things further, so please be patient with us as do our best to serve you in the current climate.

May you know the peace that comes from building your lives on the Rock this week.

Rob, Jen & all the Leadership Team