Following the roadmap laid out by the UK government in February here is a summary of our plan for returning to in-person services and activities.
Here is a short summary of what is happening in the next few months across the life of our church family…
Sunday Services – Our aim is to return to the building as soon as it is safe and the timing is right. Our technical team have been working hard for us to be able to continue live streaming when we return to in-person services. We are aiming to make Good Friday (Friday 2nd April) our first in-person service, where we will be able to offer multiple services to cater for as many people as would like to attend. We will then return to a live streamed Easter Morning to allow us to be ‘all together’ on Easter morning. Our plan is to then return to the building for services in April.
For more information speak to Tim Barton – timb@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
Church Family Meetings – we believe these meetings have been a real gift from God in this season. We want to continue these meetings as a central place for our church family to connect, to share key communications, pray and take communion together. From March these meetings will run monthly, this will allow us to keep these meetings as a priority in our diaries as we return to normal activities and commitments. Here are the next few meeting dates; Thursday 22nd April, Thursday 20th May, Thursday 17th June.
For more information speak to Tim Barton – timb@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
Community Care Hubs – Our community care hubs will continue as a place for communication and contact. As part of our church family you are invited to remain apart of, or join, your local area hub. Through the hub you will receive key communications, be able to ask questions and reach out if you are in need of more support.
For more information speak to Tim Murray – timmurray@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
Whole Church Teaching – as our online Sundays continue to be shorter and more accessible our core and directional teaching will continue to be delivered through our whole church teaching. This, we believe, is a gift from God in this season. Taking our core teaching out of our Sunday services allows us to be more flexible in the way we teach, helping us learn as a church family through sermons, articles, videos and discussion groups. We continue to encourage everyone who considers themselves to be part of ACC to make this a priority.
For more information speak to Tim Murray or Tim Barton (email addresses above)
Youth – our youth groups have been meeting online for the last few months but we are eager to get them together in-person as soon as government guidance allows. Our aim is to begin meeting in our Lads/Girls groups outdoors in April. If things continue to progress as they are now, we will be able to relaunch groups back in the building in the middle of May and there is even the possibility of a residential such as Mission Week or Weekend Away in July/August (we will see! 😊). Remember, we continue to offer one to one meet ups for any young person who is struggling, so please get in touch if you know someone who needs support.
For more information speak to Natalie Start – natalie@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
Children – we are aiming to launch provision for our children at our services a few weeks after our Sunday services return to the building. We are also planning to run an Easter family service in April and will continue to run our online events until restrictions allow us to meet more in person.
For more information speak to Roxanna Tether – roxy@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
New Life – our weekly lunch club for the over 70s remains closed due to the high risk to those who attend. We have regular phone contact with everyone and seek to support any needs as and when they arise.
For more information speak to Phil Cook – philc@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
Small Groups – small groups will continue to meet online in March. In April small groups will be allowed to meet in groups of six or two households outdoors. They can also contact ACC office to discuss meeting at ACC as an ‘Act of Worship’. From 17th May small groups will be able to meet indoors in groups of six or two households.
For more information speak to Tim Murray – timmurray@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk
As a staff team and director team we are keeping up to date with any changes in guidance from the government or Public Health. Whilst we feel the time is right to begin meeting again we also want to continue to protect the most vulnerable and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of this communication please get in touch with the office at office@amblecotechristiancentre.org.uk, 01384 375 111 or speak to a member of the staff team.