Dear Discipleship Group Leaders of Christ Church,
Holy Week has begun! The discussion guide for today’s message A Rockstar Entrance on Luke 19:28-42 is attached for your personal reflection or for use in an online meeting with your group.
If your group has not already done so, you may wish to try a video conference call this week, if not for a regular meeting, then perhaps just for a time of friendly face to face visitation. In this time of physical distancing, it is really encouraging to see familiar friendly faces!
We have been using the “zoom” online platform for our video conferencing meetings at church and it seems to have a fairly easy and intuitive user interface. Getting a free user name and password will enable you to respond to conference call invitation hyperlinks sent to you and to initiate your own video conference calls as well for up to 40 minutes at a time. Beyond 40 minutes requires a paid subscription, but you can always just do 2 calls in a row if you would like to chat longer.
Speaking of zoom, the Maundy Thursday livestream service will be broadcast on the website as usual at 7pm, but will also be broadcast on a very large Zoom video conference call so that the people can see one another taking communion together. Yes, there is an option to disable your camera on your own computer if you do not want to be seen, but hopefully most will want to see and be seen by others in this special service. More details about this will be coming in the regular Wednesday morning mid-week church email. But you may want to try out zoom for yourself now- see https://zoom.us/.
Other Church Announcements:
- If you missed the sermon this morning, you can view it at www.christchurchsl.org/sermons. Also, if you would like to see the return of Daniel the Tiger from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood to Christ Church in today’s children’s lesson, you can see the whole worship service by clicking here and scrolling down to the April 5th service- http://christchurch.yourstreamlive.com/.
- The livestream services of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are both at 7pm this week, and Easter Sunday services are at 7am (pre-recorded) and 10:30am at www.christchurchsl.org/livestream
- Pastor Temple’s daily online mid-week devotions of encouragement are continuing throughout this time of Stay Home- Stay Safe. You can view them on the church Facebook page or see his blog directly at www.chappelltemple.com
- Easter lilies are on sale for $10 each, pick up is Saturday on the patio in front of the sanctuary 10am-5pm. You can purchase them online by clickinghere.
- Here is the list of studies and meetings happening online at Christ Church while the building is closed – https://www.christchurchsl.org/meetings-during-building-closure/. Please email me if you would like to have your group added to the list!
- Missions opportunities updates at Christ Church-
- Here is the link to make an appointment for the Blood Drive on April 15- www.christchurch.houstonmethodistbloodcenter.org
- Letters for Inmates – The inmates at the Carol Vance Prison can no longer receive any visits from family or hear the reinforcing Good Word from volunteers. If you are interested in communicating with an inmate, just email Betty at bbw1m@aol.com and she will send you the name and instructions for letters or digital encouragement.
- Meals on Wheels will distribute only on Wednesdays, but will deliver an entire week’s worth of meals.
- Email reneet@christchurchsl.org with any other questions you have about missions
- Have a prayer request? Our prayer team can receive your requests at https://www.christchurchsl.org/prayer-care/.
Please reply to this email if you would like some help getting your group connected online or if there are members in your group that have concerns you feel the pastors should be aware of. You can also reach me at 281-690-4776. I am praying for you in this ministry of teaching and encouragement that we share in together.
The Lord is with us and is mighty to save. I find comfort in the words of Christ he shared in John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This is the week in which He fought and won the victory for us. Hang on and press on through the shadows friends, the dawn of Easter is coming!
Still in One Peace,
Dan Conway
Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach
Christ Church