Dear friends,
It has been quite a week. The need to connect with one another and with God continues in our difficult current circumstances, even as we aren’t able to meet physically. The truth is, right now we need each other more than ever.
For this season (at least through June 2020) we are moving all of our regular gatherings and community groups to online platforms and have made plans to meet MORE frequently, using both Facebook Live and Zoom (both of which are as simple as clicking a link).
WEEKLY PRAYER AND WORSHIP GATHERINGS ONLINE
We will be meeting for an Online Community Worship Gathering EACH Sunday at 4pm (starting this Sunday 22nd March on Facebook Live) and ALSO a Weekly Online Prayer Gathering EACH Wednesday at 7:30pm via Zoom (starting this evening!).
There is more detailed information about both of these recurring gatherings on our Facebook page and at HERE on our website.
COMMUNITY GROUPS VIA ZOOM – SPACE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO JOIN
We are also running our weekly Community Groups (small groups) via Zoom and have added several new ones so that there is plenty of space for you to join, if you haven’t been part of one before. We’ll also be using these groups for talking through discussion questions after this Sunday’s Facebook Live gathering (which gives you a chance to try it out without committing to anything!). Read more at HERE and email newchurchbirmingham@gmail.com to sign up. (There will be an explanation of how to sign up on Sunday too.)
PRAY & CONNECT ANY TIME
We’ve also just launched a new Pray & Connect Facebook Group to share prayer requests and check in with others any time. We’d love you to join the conversation, to pray and take the initiative to encourage each other.
If you have any questions about ANY of this, need help navigating technology or would appreciate someone from NIC connecting with you directly to pray or chat in the coming weeks, send an email to newchurchbirmingham@gmail.com. (If you are worried about using Zoom, we can help you or give you a phone-in option.)
On behalf of Inclusive Gathering’s Leadership Community (previously known as Launch Team), I want to say that we are praying for you and for God to be present with you whatever your circumstance, whatever your fears, this week. The activities we’re initiating are not just about ‘keeping church going’ – they are about finding new ways to serve, love and care for one another and for the people around us.
It feels right to close this post with the ‘blessing’ we’ve been sharing at our regular Worship Gatherings. Somehow, this week, these words present a different kind of challenge to us:
“May we live fully, love wastefully and have the courage to be all that God has created us to be.”
Yours in Christ,
Danielle Wilson
Pioneer Leader, Inclusive Gathering Birmingham
