This Sunday, Church Anywhere

Dear Granite Church Family,
​
Psalm 145A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.
 (If you get a chance read the whole Psalm, it’s beautiful)
 
While we are still unable to meet together in person in ‘The Paddock’ we will continue to meet online via ZOOM.
Last Sunday we had 19 devices and at least 50 people on ZOOM for our service. We received some great feed back and we are excited to try some new things and have more of us online this Sunday for our Granite Church Anywhere service. (Please note that there is a phone in option if you don’t have internet access or would prefer just to listen in)

We will also be connecting on ZOOM for both Good Friday and Easter Sunday, details below.

If you have any challenges with the technology side of things please give me a call so that I can help you out.
This Sunday we will be having one or two songs (do you miss singing together as much as I do?)

We will also be joining together in communion. This will be a bit different and we don’t want it to be stressful. Communion is a remembrance time for us to reflect on what Jesus did when he died on the cross. It’s a powerful time for us personally and as a community and in doing this together we honour Jesus command for us to partake in it until he comes again. So this Sunday, you provide your own elements, (that is the bread and the juice) but I understand that we don’t all have the things we usually use at church, so find something in your pantry to represent the bread and the juice and let’s do communion together. I’m looking forward to it.

I’m also looking forward to getting into Matthew 14. I’m really trying to have short sermons while we are meeting in this way because I know it’s quite different for us all. So, we’ll try to look at smaller sections as we move through the book. This week Matthew 14:1-12 is all about John the Baptist, and there are a few really good things to consider in this passage as we reflect on the life and death of this man of God. I’m interested in your thoughts about John and if there’s anything new you learn from re reading this passage. Especially given our current situation.
 
The details for the ZOOM are below… You’ll need the link to the meeting and the meeting ID. However, if you would like to try ZOOM out between now and Sunday please give me a buzz and we can get you connected before then.
 
Join Zoom Services
This Sunday 5th April 10:30am
Good Friday 10th April 9:30am
Easter Sunday 12th April 10:30am
(same zoom details for all meetings)

Click the following link:
 
https://zoom.us/j/474053157
Meeting ID: 474 053 157
 
If you do not have internet access you can also phone in using the following phone number:
PH: 7018 2005
You will then be prompted to enter the Meeting ID: 474 053 157
 
Please don’t forget that we can still directly deposit tithes and offerings into the Church bank account during this time. Donations for the building maintenance works can also be deposited into this account with the reference to ‘Building’ so that it goes towards that fund. The details are below…
Granite Community Church        BSB: 633 000        Acc: 16 086 8402
 
I’ve really encouraged as I talk to people over the phone and through the different technologies that we have access to. At a time like this, when we can’t meet in person it really is so important to keep the connections up. This will become more even more significant in the weeks ahead as we all start to feel the isolation more and more. So, I want to encourage you; don’t wait for someone to contact you. You contact them. Even if it feels uncomfortable or awkward, contact people over the next week. Maybe try for one person a day. Just ask them how they’re doing, talk about what’s going on in the world, and what’s going on in their world. Share what’s happening in yours. I’d also encourage you to contact someone you know but haven’t spoken to in this way before. Pick up the phone and call them today.
 
As always remain strong in your faith. Trust God. Be there for each other and others in the community. Pray for each other and those who are making the big decisions. Be a positive voice and presence in the world and follow Jesus in everything.

Blessings,

Ash Buchanan
Senior Pastor
Granite Community Church
www.granite.church
0408 942 145