A letter to our church family.

This letter should arrive shortly in your postbox and will have contact details for your elder and minister. You can also find contact details on the website. http://www.firstmagherafelt.com/contact-us.html 

19th March 2020
Dear Friends
 
As we enter a time of social distancing, more than ever as members of our church family we will need to keep in touch with one another to provide both spiritual and practical help. It is a time for hope and love and good deeds.
 
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Heb 10:23-24
 
The challenges seem great as we face the threat from COVID-19. New developments each day remind us how serious the situation is and we are rightly concerned for our family, friends and our community. Even so, we are convinced that our God is in control and so we look to Him. I have recently been blessed by this verse which points us to the wonderful love and saving power of our heavenly Father who delights in his people.
 
“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."  Zep 3:17 
 
As the situation develops quickly we received instructions on Wednesday from the Moderator’s office that all ‘congregational organisations and activities’ and ‘all Sunday gatherings for worship should cease until further notice.’ However, the Kirk Session are keen to put in place some measures to support you through this difficult time.
 
Keeping you informed
Some years ago you may have completed a card providing contact details. If you are not sure that we already have your current contact phone number then we would ask you to pass these on to your elder in the first place (or to Rev Curry).  This will enable us to keep in touch in the coming days.
It will be helpful if we could have your landline number,  mobile number and email address where these are available.
Please also indicate if you would like someone from the congregation to keep in touch regularly by phone.
 
Giving and receiving Practical help
We are aware that many in the congregation may need to ‘self-isolate’ for a prolonged period. Please let us know if you are self-isolating. The Kirk Session will put in place plans to help with emergency support. We are offering to arrange for someone to collect emergency supplies or indeed help in any other way we can.
If you find yourself in need of emergency help, please contact us. Your district elder is your first line of contact. They may then ask others to help provide the necessary support.
Also, if you are in a position to assist with this kind of practical help, or you are willing to keep in ‘phone contact’ with others in the congregation, please let Rev Curry know.
 
Spiritual help
We know that many are already encouraging one another by phone and group chats and we commend you in that.
Given that all worship services have been suspended for the time being, we are planning to broadcast a service each Sunday morning. This will allow you to join with other members of the church family, via the internet, for Sunday worship. It is still tremendously important for us to ‘gather’, even over the internet, to pray and study the Bible together (Heb 10:25). You will be able to connect via a link on our website and the broadcast will also be available to listen to later. This will begin on Sunday 22nd March @11am. If you do not have Internet access, then we can offer a CD recording of the service which would be delivered to your home. Please contact your district elder or Rev Curry if you would like to be added to the list of those who will receive these. We will place updates on First Magherafelt website and Facebook page and will deliver updates to those receiving CD recordings of our services.
We also encourage you to continue to take time to pray with others. Technology enables us to arrange a prayer time by phone, WhatsApp, Messenger or zoom. We plan to continue our weekly prayer meeting in Zoom, contact us for details.
 
Pastoral visiting
While social distancing is in place regular visitation will not be possible. However, please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of pastoral assistance. The clear advice is that members who have influenza-type symptoms should not seek visitation from the elders or minister and pastoral support should be provided by telephone or online.
Please be assured that we are here to support you at this time and we will be continuing to pray for you, your family and the community. May each of us in these days, turn our hearts towards our loving saviour Jesus Christ (John 3v16)
 
Yours in Christ’s service
 
Jonathan Curry  (First Magherafelt Kirk Session)