Dear Congregation,
After receiving the news from our Premier Doug Ford that Ontario is now in a state of emergency, prohibiting gatherings larger than 50 people, we have decided to cancel Sunday morning services at the church for the next two Sundays. In addition, the Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services also requested the closure of all recreational programs, private schools, daycares, churches, and restaurants without a takeout or delivery system. As a result, we have decided to cancel all regularly scheduled ministries that would normally meet at Glencairn during the week. This has also affected our Bridges program, as the Food Bank is directing all its food to Salvation Army and House of Friendship, until further notice. Please pray for our Bridges families as they tend to be the most vulnerable at a time such as this.
As Craig Groeschel challenged us to think about our faith as a daily faith and not a weekly faith, we recognize that meeting at 725 Erinbrook Drive on a Sunday morning isn’t the only way to express our faith. We need to think differently in the coming weeks, and so much of our programming will be going online.
Starting this Sunday, you’ll be able to login to glencairnmb.online.church and watch an entire Sunday morning service as if you were at the building. You’ll be able to participate in worship through singing, hear a testimony, receive prayer and listen to the message. A Bible app is built-in, so you can following along while listening.
We are hoping that some individuals would volunteer to host a small gathering at their home so that there can be a home church experience. If you are willing, please contact the church office. At the same time, we wish to proceed with caution and recommend that those who are sick, or at risk, to please stay home. Social distancing is a big part of what the health officials are recommending, so please practice the regular hygiene protocols suggested.
Let’s see this as an opportunity to help others. Some people are doing prayer walks around their neighbourhood. Others are connected to their neighbours through “Next Door”, a platform to connect with your real next-door neighbours. Some Life Groups have offered to help with groceries for those that are isolated. We’ve created a Facebook group for our church family where we can share needs and offer help (it’s still under construction)
Soak in these words from the Apostle Paul: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death [and we can add – the threat of the coronovirus] ? 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
Romans 8:35, 37
Take this opportunity to listen to the Spirit, what is God speaking to you about during this time? Look at the world through His eyes, and be ready to respond to the opportunities He lays at your feet.
See you on Sunday – same time 10:15 am online at glencairnmb.online.church
Peace,
Pastor Richard