Dear CCSM Family,
We are so thankful for the faithfulness and care we have seen in the encouragements within our body during this tenuous time in our nation. Last Sunday we were thankful to see those healthy attend and worship, and those feeling unwell watching and worshipping alongside us at home. One of the privileges of these difficult days is to affirm once again that the church is not a building but a body of believers, assembled together or away at home.
We promised in our last update that we will plan to act prayerfully and appropriately as we monitor local, state, and federal government and health agencies. We realize much has changed since last Sunday and we want to respond with wisdom and care for the whole of our congregation. Since Sunday, both the government through the words of President Trump, and new suggested measures from the CDC have advised groups of no more than 10 people should assemble together for the next 15 days. As we watched the news and saw those numbers begin at 250, drop to 50, and now are at 10 we know that ultimately there is no magic number to guarantee the spread of this virus among us, and we now must make the appropriate decision to best serve our fellowship. With this in mind we are now taking on these new measures to love our neighbor and take care of our church family:
1. LIVESTREAMING: The Leadership has decided that for the next two Sundays (March 22nd and 29th) we will be making our church available only through Live-streaming our service on website, instagram page, and facebook page. Soon you will see on our website, how to find these livestream pages, and also how you can continue to give through our digital giving pathway. This Livestream is going to be made available at 10:30am (Our normal second service time)
2. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Our children’s ministry is providing a prerecorded video that will be found on our YouTube page of the Sunday’s lesson for you to watch alongside your children at home. We also are going to email everyone who has checked into our Kidcheck account and send the curriculum with activity pages for you and your children to engage with.
3. YOUTH: The Youth Group will be live-streaming a message at 9:30am on Instagram live on the CRSSVR instagram profile. Jeff will be addressing the kids with more details today.
4. COMMUNITY GROUPS: Our Community Group Leaders are encouraging each of their groups to continue in our 16 week schedule of our IMMERSE: Messiah season. This is a great opportunity for you to engage in family worship in your home each day as you read, pray, worship, and discuss the Scriptures together.
5. DAILY DEVOTIONS: To continue to encourage our body throughout the week, our media team has put together a livestream daily devotions that will air Tuesday through Friday each week. Each day one of the pastors will be sharing God’s Word and praying for you through Instagram and Facebook Live. We see this as a great future tool to engage with hundreds with the Gospel and encouragement that we desperately need.
6. PRAYER: We as a staff are committed to and truly love to pray for our people. No prayer is unwarranted or thought of as unnecessary. Here are a few ways you can get your prayer requests to us: 1) Comment on our facebook page or send us a direct message. 2) Comment on our livestream with any of our pastors during the daily devotion and we will pray for you as soon as we see it, even during the livestream. 3) Give us a call at our church office and we would love to pray for you.
In Peter’s first letter he says, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake or your prayers. Above all, KEEP LOVING ONE ANOTHER EARNESTLY, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (I Peter 4:7-10) This is the cause and attitude Jesus has called us to in these days. More than any other time do we have the opportunity to be Christ to those around us, and to be light in dark places. We may be physically isolated, but the Bride of Christ has never been pinned down. This virus is the simple evidence that we live in a sin stained world, and this revelatory thought is on the hearts and minds of everyone we know. So what an opportunity to share that Jesus has overcome the world, and His death and resurrection gives us eternal life!
Please continue checking our website and facebook page for the latest updates concerning CCSM, as we continue to keep our church family informed.
