In a time like this, especially with the realization that the Covid-19 reality may last for some time I want to urge you to keep on keeping on.  Here are some “keeps” to keep in mind:

Keep faith — this includes gathering for worship with our online services (see our website), but it also includes maintaining or starting ways to stay spiritually healthy (the spiritual disciplines we have been talking about in our current message series). 

Keep your schedule – so many things are up in the air, or discontinued, and your own daily routines are probably quite different; try to keep a schedule, including bedtimes, wake times, meal times; and don’t overdue your screen time, stay creative with your activities.

Keep your distance – please observe all public health recommendations; that’s part of loving your neighbour!  There are no physical gatherings at New Life Church, the facility is essentially closed to the public.

Keep praying – we have initiated a virtual prayer wall on the New Life App (go to the menu at the bottom of the screen), we’ll keep reminding you to be in prayer and we’ll keep praying for you and your loved ones, just send us your prayer requests. 

Keep reaching out – we have to stay connected by whatever means; we have redesigned our website for this purpose, check it out; the deacons are ready to help if you need any kind of physical or financial assistance; the elders of the church are making contact with members in the congregation just to reach out, enjoy the conversation when they call; and make sure that your Life Group stays in touch with each other.

Here at New Life we remain diligent in following guidelines and stipulations for dealing with the outbreak of the novel virus. At this point the church remains open, though we have cancelled all gatherings and meetings at church for the rest of the month. Some of the staff are working at the church. Because of recent travels Pastor Nathan will remain in isolation until March 31, as will Pastor Mike. Pastor Koen will remain in isolation until April 2. All staff are healthy at this point and are eager to stay in contact with you and assist where ever it is needed.  Thanks to everyone for their cooperation and patience, please continue to exercise social distancing and hand washing. Keep encouraging each other and helping each other. There are opportunities for community engagement. The Abbotsford Food Bank is in need of volunteers to help with food distribution. The New Life deacons have initiated a donation from our Benevolence fund for the Food Bank. The staff and worship teams are working hard to produce a weekly virtual worship service. We also keep working at developing our online format to be engaging for everyone. I want to encourage you to continue to participate in these services, even though it might at times seem inadequate or awkward. Don’t give up worshipping together, even if we can’t physically meet together.

Ephesians 3
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

This week the world health organization declared the covid-19 a pandemic and just yesterday the province of BC asks that larger gatherings of people no longer meet.

What that means for us is that we are suspending our Sunday worship services and mid week on campus ministries until further notice.  We want to be a part of flattening the growth of this pandemic.

Our prayer is that you will keep connected one another. We will be changing and adapting as we are called to changed lives, to be a diverse community and to have a radical impact.

This Sunday, March 15 we will have a very timely message that will be available on our website at 10am.  We invite all of the New Life family to gather and hear God’s word for us during this time.

Live stream and discipleship content such as the New Life Link will be available midweek. We continue to encourage our life groups to meet as Christ center communities as you are able.

Thank you for your understanding in this, and let me leave you with a question. What does it look like for us as members of the body of Christ to reflect Jesus in these times? Let’s continue to serve and worship Him.

Psalm 91:1-2 says:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Click here for New Life’s Covid-19 response video. 

We value the time we have on Sunday mornings at 10am to worship Jesus.  It’s an important time for us to connect with one another and experience life change. Due to the recent outbreaks worldwide of the coronavirus we want to be diligent.

We care about the safety and well-being of each person and we are taking appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone that comes to New Life. We are taking extra precautions so starting this Sunday, things might look a little different.

We are actively monitoring the advisories from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as well as the BC Centre for Disease Control.

WHILE WORSHIPING AT NEW LIFE

New Life has made some minor changes to our Sunday worship service for the safety of all.

1. We are working towards live streaming our services.
2. We are exercising extra diligence by wiping down and cleaning surfaces regularly.
3. We will be discontinuing our coffee and tea service until further notice.
4. Greeters will open doors but will not make physical contact when you enter the building.
5. Offering basket will not be passed around the church but you will still be able to give in an offering basket that will be placed at the auditorium exits.
6. No handshakes or hugs will be encouraged during fellowship time.
7. All sermon audios will be uploaded Monday at 10am for those unable to attend.
8. We are maintaining inventory of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and soap.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.