1. Overall response to current crisis

Session advises the congregation that in order to fulfil the requirements of the Government and to avoid contributing to the spread of the Coronavirus, Session has cancelled all physical meetings until further notice. All members of the congregation are encouraged to maintain their social connectedness by using technology, i.e. making phone calls to each other, using Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and other technologies to hold meetings such as Prayer meetings etc.

Session exhorts all our people to respect the decisions of our governments in light of the Bible’s teaching that Christians are to obey secular authorities as placed over us by God. 1 Timothy 6:13, Titus 3:1 & 1 Peter 2:13-17. We need to find creative ways to keep connecting together without flouting the physical distancing requirements that have been established to protect people from illness and death.

2. Sunday Worship

Through our partnership with St. Andrew’s in Clayton we are preparing a recorded video, condensed worship service, to be uploaded to our website so that you can join in worship each Sunday in your own home to worship God in song, prayer and hearing God’s word.
The order of service will generally take the following form:

Welcome [2-3 minutes]

Song of Praise [4-5 minutes]

Bible Reading [4-5 minutes]

Children’s memory verse [7-8 minutes]

Children’s Song of Praise [4-5 minutes]

Prayers [4-5 minutes]

Message [25-30 minutes]

Song of Praise [4-5 minutes]

Close with Notices [4-5 minutes]

3. Devotional Life

Session encourages all members of the congregation to maintain or to develop strong daily Bible reading and prayer times at home and to hold times of family/household worship especially on Sundays using the recorded video service which will be available on our website.

The teaching of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:1-18 is helpful in responding to the current crisis. God is giving us time to draw near to Him by shutting down many other activities that often take His place in our lives. We are encouraged to embrace the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 6 which contains a wonderful promise: “…..your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

We will seek to provide more material to assist with daily devotions and family worship through our website in the coming weeks. Session extends its prayer for God to richly bless each member of our congregation and through these difficult times teach us to love God and one another in deeper and richer ways.

4. Giving

If you are wanting to make offerings for the ongoing ministry of our church these can be made through direct debit to the St. Cuthbert’s Bank Account:

BSB No. 033-095

Account No. 201358