A loving church
Back in February 2020 we preached through a mini-series based on the book of Acts before COVID-19 arrived on our shores. During the talk in the first week (Acts 2:37-42), I had noted that we should be ‘a loving church’, and I wondered ‘what could this look like in our current context?’ We’re so far removed in many ways from the 1st century church in Palestine!
Within a month of this our preconceived methods of ‘a loving church’ became redundant (for now). This quote from Warren Weirsbe* struck me however;
“Methods are many, principles are few, methods may change, principles never do”
Where there was a practical need in the early church, there it was met by fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. The grace of God was so powerfully at work within these early believers, that there was a deep desire to meet the needs of others. This wasn’t a renunciation of possessions, but rather a renunciation of possessiveness.
While for large periods of this year we’ve been unable to meet together and enjoy fellowship in person as a local expression of the body of Christ, we can still find creative ways to support and bless one another. One of these ways is through a simple care pack. We were able to distribute more than 60 of these during our Weekend Stay-Cay which were simple but deeply appreciated.
As we approach Christmas we understand this season may be like no other, with limitations on travel, household visitors and social contacts. Due to this we’ve recently been considering what it looks like to care well during a season of pandemic and how our outward expressions may reflect our inward desire to follow Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34-35).
What are we doing?
In light of this we’ve opened a form at the bottom of this page to allow you to sign up to receive a care pack from CCC, consisting of a snack, some words of encouragement and a short book. For the most part these will be hand delivered in a socially distanced manner, giving opportunity to connect safely. Additionally there is the opportunity to be ‘buddied up’ with someone else in CCC so you can share cards and a small gift (we suggest a budget of €5-10 for the gift or whatever your means are over this season).
What can you do?
Please sign up below! This is an opt in approach with two options available to you:
- Sign up to receive a care pack from us.
- Sign up to be ‘buddied up’ so you can bless someone else and receive a blessing in return.
To coordinate this we need to have responses by Sunday 13th December or before. Unfortunately if you sign up after this then we will not be able to facilitate either option.
Our bottom line
So while our methods may have changed this year and for this Christmas season, the principle of loving one another well remains the same.
Sign ups have now closed.
*Wiersbe, W. (1993) On being a servant of God.