Summer at King's - Let's Gather, Prepare and Pray
It’s been fifteen weeks since lockdown started in this nation, and it was great to see some of the restrictions lifted on Saturday. While many of us have been enjoying the freedom to see more family and friends, the new guidelines also have implications for us as a church. I thought it would be helpful for all of you at King’s to hear how we plan to operate over the summer.
Having looked at the new government guidelines for churches, we have decided not to open our buildings for meetings over the summer, other than for weddings or funerals (and The Feast delivery service). The new guidance means that any gathering held in our buildings would feel very different to what we have been used to. For example, singing is not permitted, social distancing must be strictly adhered to, start times would need to be staggered and a register of everyone attending would need to be taken. In short, it would not be King’s as we know it.
Let’s Gather
However, the lifting of some restrictions on 4 July means that we can now begin to see more people face-to-face. Therefore, over the summer we want to encourage all of you at King’s to continue to gather online on Sundays, online in groups, and also now to meet up with others, in groups of up to six people from different households (or two households of any size – see government guidelines).
This summer at King's:
• We will continue to gather online on Sundays, with kids and youth resources available
• Groups will be encouraged to meet online once a month during July and August
• We will encourage groups and ministry teams to meet outside in parks, with no more than 6 people at a time, in line with the new guidelines
• We will hold online site prayer meetings in July and August
• Youth ministry online will restart in August
• We will launch new online Alpha and New Life courses in August
Let’s Prepare
Many of our staff have been on furlough during June. To prepare for this next season at King’s, we will draw staff back over the next few months, though many of them will be working part-time for now. We will also be getting things in place so that when it does become possible to open our buildings, we’ll be ready.
Let’s Pray
It was fantastic to see so many of you joining us online for our day of prayer and fasting last month. The Coronavirus crisis is no obstacle to God’s people praying! King’s, let’s keep praying – online in our Sunday services, in site prayer meetings and groups, and in our personal devotions.
This summer at King’s, let’s gather, prepare and pray.
