March 31 Church Update
Thank you for continuing to give your Sunday mornings and Friday evenings to your church family. We had previously communicated that all in-person gatherings would be cancelled at least through the end of March. Now that the end of March is here, we’re now announcing that this pattern will continue at least through the end of April.
GATHERINGS CANCELLED THROUGH THE END OF APRIL - BUT DON’T WASTE YOUR QUARANTINE
This includes Sunday gatherings, small groups, men’s and women’s meetings, picnics in the promenades and informal times together. That also means that our services will be live-streamed at least until the end of April. This is difficult for us. We love you. We miss you. Nevertheless, we highboy encourage you to make the best of this quarantine. This is a unique opportunity for us as Christians in many ways.
We encourage you to continue doing the following:
1. SHARE YOUR NEEDS WITH ONE ANOTHER
You’ve already heard the instruction to send your prayer requests in to prayers@sovgracesantaana.org. Thank you to those who have done so. Go ahead and continue to send them. We’ll pray (anonymously) every Sunday for the specific needs of our members. Don’t limit it to just sending a weekly prayer request email, though. We have text messaging and Slack. Share your needs with your small group. Seek one another’s counsel on decisions you’re facing. Continue to live in the community in the absence of physical community.
Join in on our weekly Zoom Prayer meetings on Friday Nights at 7pm.
2. CARRY YOUR NEIGHBORS’ NEEDS WITH THEM - SHARE THE NEIGHBOR RELIEF PROGRAM
Your neighbors are scared. They might be afraid of running out of food. They might feel vulnerable to the virus. They might be anxious about the economy. They might have been laid off from work. Their kids’ school may have been cancelled and now they’re lacking childcare. This is a uniquely wonderful time to carry the burdens of our neighbors with them. Ask them how you can pray for them. Ask them if there are any tangible ways you can help them. Love them fiercely during this season.
If you come across Santa Ana neighbors who are suffering financially with few other resources to turn to, please send them the Neighbor Relief Fund application.
3. READ AT LEAST ONE “BOOK OF THE MONTH”
For the last 9 months, we have recommended one book every month for your spiritual growth and reading enjoyment. You may or may not be a reader, but reading an instructive book is a great way to spend some of the extra downtime you might find yourself with over the next few weeks.
4. REVIVE YOUR DEVOTIONAL LIFE
One of the wonders of the Gospel is that through the blood of Christ, we’ve been reconciled to God. We have a relationship with Him that’s so close that His Spirit is living within us. In other words, though we can’t be together with one another, you cannot be separated from God’s presence. Press into your relationship with Him through prayer. Pick up your Bible and renew your discipline of daily Bible reading. Memorize Scripture. Use this time well to strengthen your fellowship with Christ in the absence of in-person fellowship with one another.
5. SHARE LIFE WITH ONE ANOTHER VIRTUALLY
Use social media well. Take pictures of how you’re “living quietly” as a follower of Christ in these days. Catalogue your “rebellion of peace”. Send pictures to photos@sovgracesantaana.org or post them to social media.
Consider having “Zoom dinners” with your brothers and sisters. Do “drive by greetings” to one another in the church.
This is going to turn out well, friends. We’ll experience God’s grace in fresh new ways. We can’t wait to be back together with you. Until then, enjoy your rebellion of peace.