MARCH 2020
We have created this page to keep you updated on decisions made by the leadership team regarding our meetings and events. This page will be regularly updated along with our social media pages (if you don't have Facebook but would like to set up a profile, click here to follow our guide).
In light of the government's guidance, we have made the difficult decision to suspend all our meetings at New Life in their current format. This includes our Sunday gatherings, prayer meetings, and group activities. This decision has been taken after much prayer and discussion and we feel it a necessary step to keep our community safe. We are a people who always have and always will love Jesus and our community.
We want to make it really clear that this decision is motivated by love and not fear. Love for the church, love for our community and a desire to be good witnesses and good citizens. To continue the very thing that our government is asking us to stop, feels at best, irresponsible.
This unpredictable situation has presented us with some incredible opportunities to not just ‘do church’, but to ‘be church’. We all know that the church is not the building it’s the people, and for now, we need to demonstrate that the church is so much more than a place we gather to on a Sunday morning.
This situation has by no means taken God by surprise and does not put the church on the back foot. On the contrary, it gives us an opportunity to engage with being the church in a way we have not done so for a generation.
So, what’s next?
First and foremost, we pray. It is our best weapon and we can all start immediately! We believe in the strength of praying together and are currently working out the technology to ‘be together’ without ‘being together’ in the same room. Furthermore, we are working on bringing you Bible teaching, encouragement and worship to the comfort of your own home.
One thing that is fixed is dedicating this coming Friday (20th March 2020) to 24 hours of prayer and fasting specifically for the situation which has driven us to this point. So please join us as we fast and pray. We will be sending out some pointers to fuel your prayers in the next day or two!
We are also pulling together some Love Your Neighbour resources for you to use as a household to get into the word together and engage well with your neighbours.
We realise that not everybody has access to the internet or social media so please pick up the phone and share this information widely. In an age where so much of our communication is written through emails, texts, and updates we are encouraging everyone to use their voices! If someone’s name or face pops in your mind, call them immediately! Offer help and if you are unable, call the church office on 01959 571667 and we’ll do our best!
Let’s be outstanding in our caring for each other and those in our community who are particularly vulnerable or lonely.
Please continue to pray for all who are affected by this virus and those involved in healthcare and government.
Please also pray for wisdom for church leaders, both here at New Life, across this Nation and the World.
Many of you receive text updates from Rob, if you don’t but would like to, please call the church office or email admin@newlifebh.org.uk
May God bless you and keep you and give you his peace.
Simon
On behalf of the New Life Team