A trial run (and a thought!)

Here's the first attempt at a video (and the script I was working to!), so that we can test the concept before we have to shut the building in line with government advice.

Hi
We never though that this was something that we'd be needing to look at, but these are strange times we're in.
The Trustees this week have made the difficult decision to suspend all activities at the church after the Morning Service on the 22nd March.

Whilst we would love to see as many people there as possible, please only do so in line with the government advice.  If like me you've shown any of the symptoms, please stay away from the service to protect those who attend.
This doesn't mean that you won't be able to contact us and we won't try to help where we're able. Please contact us via the prayer chain or email and we'll try to help our wherever we can.  Also remember that we're all part of a church family and I'm sure we'd all appreciate a conversation over the phone if we can't get out.

When we made the decision to suspend the activities, we also made the decision to look at how to maintain some form of teaching during the closure.  So we're going to try to put a video up onto here at least once a week.  Hopefully if we can get it to work you'll be able to contribute through the comments by adding thoughts or suggestions of hymns etc that we could have sung, maybe by adding in youtube links to your comments for us to sing along to.  We'll also try to put a transcript of what is said in case you can't see the video or the sound isn't as good as we'd like.  It is all trial and error at the moment whilst we find out what works.

Whilst trying to find something to talk to you about I thought about our verse for the year that has certainly taken on a different meaning to what I would have expected when it was chosen in October / November time last year.  John 15:12 (NIV) says: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  

What we have seen in the last couple of weeks has shown why we need to adopt this verse.  When Jesus said 'as I have loved you' He knew that He was going to die for us and make that ultimate sacrifice.  What we've seen in the last couple of weeks with people hoarding is the exact opposite of what Jesus would have wanted.  But also we need to ensure that we're sacrificing our 'freedom' to move around as we choose to protect those who are more vulnerable than us to show that we love them as God does.  I know this will be a challenge, and that's where I want to emphasise that whilst the building will be closed, the church as a family definitely isn't.  If you find that you need a chat, or you've run out of something please let us know and we'll try to help.  We don't want anyone to feel abandoned during this difficult time, but you will need to ask as we can't necessarily visit fact to face.

I pray that God will grant us all peace and wisdom to face the challenge posed to us by the corona virus, that we'll grow closer together event thought physically separated and that we'll all stay safe to be able to collectively worship physically together once the virus has passed.