March 27, 2020 3:30PM
Dear Calvary Church Family,
We are certainly living in unprecedented times. Who would have thought a month ago that we would be where we are today? Our Canadian borders are closed, travel has stopped, restaurants, theatres and schools are all closed for business; the whole nation seems to be shut down at the moment. As social distancing continuines for the safety of our city and we are feeling more and more isolated, the feeling of lonliness can quickly creep up on us. We think, "We can handle this for a few days or even a week or two, and then it gets extended longer than we thought would be possible. Truthfully, we still don't know exactly how long it will last? But the good news is, you will never be alone. Even though we may feel that way from time to time when we are limited from the freedoms we've grown accustomed to and are seperated from our friends and family, God encourages each of us to be strong and courageous. He has promised to never leave us or abandon us, He will always be there with us and I want you to know that we are here for you too, praying for you and your families, always at the ready to walk with you through these difficult times. You are not alone! “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic... For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
I want to invite you you all again this Sunday to Calvary Church Online at calvary.ca/live Our Main Campus online service starts at 10:30AM and our Mandarin Campus online service starts at 9AM. Join the online live chat during the service with other Calvary members as well as Pastor Vince and our Connections Team; they would love to connect and pray for you. Last Sunday we launched Calvary Kids and Students Online with new OnDemand content available each Sunday morning at calvary.ca/events so that the entire family is engaged online. We're also excited to announce that starting Monday, all of our Calvary Small Groups will be moving Online and will run 7 days a week every night at 7PM. Just because we're practicing social distancing doesn't mean we have to be disconnected; we are so much better together. There will be groups for men, women, students, couples, parents, and even kids. Please contact [email protected] for a listing of the groups that are available and the necessary login information to particiapte.
BC Health officials have confirmed that the current ban on gatherings of more than 50 or more people will continue until the end of April at a minimum, so all of our weekend servcies will continue to meet online each Sunday until that time. As we work together as a community to help flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19, our church facilities will remain closed except to a limited office staff during the week. Please contact our office if you need event or ministry information, prayer, or pastoral support. We will also be adjusting our office hours moving forward in light of the current circumstances and the new times will be posted here on our website. Our Fraser Glen Preschool will not re-open after spring break in line with area pre-schools and K-12 classes and will remain closed until further notice. Our playground will also be closed until further notice. Please watch our website for the latest updates moving forward as we continue to monitor the situation in our city closely.
We would also like to thank each of you for you ongoing generosity and financial support of Calvary Church, especially during this time. This is not the time to put our giving on pause while our building isn't open. We're asking you to stay faithful with your giving. The ministry of Calvary Church continues to you and your family, to our community, to our nation, and to our missionaries who serve globally. Let's believe together that we would have more than enough, so that we can continue to be a blessing to others. Let's be the church, and help bring stability to peoples lives during unstable times. We've made the giving process simple and safe. Give Online at calvary.ca/give or Text To Give on your mobile device the word "calvaryca" to 73256. Help make a way for the church to effectively minister to others. Thank you again for your faithfulness!
Easter is right around the corner and we are looking forward to bringing the celebrations to your house this year. We look forward to you and your family joining us and don't forget to invite a friend through social media, text, or by calling them directly. Our Good Friday Onlne Family Communion Service will be at 9AM for our Mandarin Campus and at 10:30AM for our Main Campus. Our Easter Sunday Celebrations Services Online will be at 9AM for our Mandarin Campus and at 10:30AM and 12PM for our Main Campus. Visit calvary.ca/events for more details.
We love you, we miss you, and we are praying for you daily. Have a great weekend and we look forward to being with you this Sunday for Calvary Church Online.
God’s best,
Pastors Steve & Susan MacDonald