COVID-19 Policies and Announcement for Christ Community Church

Dear Christ Community,

“According to God’s will Christendom is a scattered people, scattered like seed into all the kingdoms of the earth.  This is its curse and its promise. God’s people must dwell in far countries among the unbelievers, but it will be the seed of the Kingdom of God in all the world.”  With these words, Dietrich Bonhoeffer begins his classic book, Life Together.

God never desired to take up residence in a building made with human hands.  He has always been a God who is on the move.  Bonhoeffer wrote his book for young seminarians who were preparing for Christian ministry during the World War 2 generation.  Yet, his words still speak today, when he writes, “It is not simply to be taken for granted that the Christian has the privilege of living among other Christians.”

Today, we find ourselves no longer taking for granted the opportunities to gather together at Christ Community. So, let me begin by declaring the obvious: For the safety of all, especially the most vulnerable among us, and by order of Governor Reynolds, Christ Community is cancelling all public gatherings at its main campus until further notice.

Please, read on for important information and please refer to this email as necessary

Church Office Hours

As of today, all pastors will be available by appointment only.  To contact a pastor please, email them (Pastor Randy ccc@mtcnet.net; Pastor Carlos pastorcarlos337@gmail.com; Pastor Brandon cccyouth@mtcnet.net;  You may also call Pastor Randy (712) 441-2864 or Pastor Carlos at (712) 449-7512.  Talitha Landegent, as our Church Financial Administrator and Church Secretary will be working very limited hours in the church office.  She can be reached at office@mtcnet.net.  In sum, do not casually “stop in” to see someone, you will likely not find the church offices open, however; we are all available through the ways highlighted above.

Because of the closing of the church building, we would ask you to use the United States mail service, and not our church mailboxes, during this period of time.

Live Stream Worship

We will be able to worship via LiveStream.  English services will continue at 9:30 A.M. on Sundays and Spanish services will continue at 3:00 P.M. on Sundays.  Please, let’s continue to worship together. Here is how you find us:  Go to YouTube app on your phone or video device and search for Christ Community Church Sioux Center.  Tap on the Live picture that you see from the front of the worship area at Christ Community.  Each Sunday we will sing together, pray for one another and hear from God’s Word what He has to say to us.  The same thing will happen in Spanish at 3:00 P.M.

Christ Community Student Ministry

Student Ministry will be taking place tonight at 6:30 P.M. and each Wednesday evening at this time.  While we are an online church, parents of students and everyone else at Christ Community for that matter, are invited.  (Here is your chance to relive your teenage years!)  Information has been sent to students and their parents yesterday, but if you would like to join with them—subscribe to the channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ_n4cgUdETTft6kjTyoi_w/    For BIC students (11:00-11:45 A.M. on Sundays) and for Bible Study  (3:00-4:00 P.M. on Sundays), these educational times will be on Zoom.  All you need to do is make sure you have downloaded Zoom on your phone or device.

Giving and Benevolence

The challenges and opportunities facing us in the coming weeks will be great.  God is going to open up many opportunities for us to live the eternal hope that we have through Jesus.  Some of you have begun to ask about benevolence opportunities and have even already begun to respond.  God is going to use us in many ways, family.  The Board of Deacons would ask us to keep these things in mind as we continue to give, and even consider increasing our giving to help meet the needs that are arising. 

First, there are two ways to give to Christ Community: First, you may continue to give through the traditional way by mailing your check to Christ Community Church; 945 7th Ave SE; Sioux Center, IA 51250.  You may also give online on our “Church Center” App.  Our Deacons will move aggressively to meet the financial needs in our body—as benevolent money comes in; it will go out!  As you encounter a need, either your own or someone else, consider contacting one of our Deacons.  More information will be coming to you from our Board of Deacons shortly.

Other Items

You will encounter many opportunities to minister to people during this time.  Remember our Meet Locker!  It is currently stocked with approximately 30 lbs. of ground meat, excellent for hamburgers or spaghetti etc.  It’s there to bless others.  Our E&D Committee oversees this ministry and they will continue to try and keep it stocked.

We will also hold our committee and board meetings, and even other ministry opportunities  (things like Pathways Workshops, A.M. Theologians, etc), online at Zoom.  (It’s not a bad idea to just download Zoom now, so you’ll be ready  for both your child’s BIC class and any other need that you will have.)

As much information as there is in this email, it is still not exhaustive.  We plan to be communicating often.

May God bless us as we “be the church on Mission at Home”,

Pastor Randy

The CCC Coronavirus Update

Greetings, CCC!

First off, let me say for those of you who have a difficult time reading emails, this email is mostly, if not exclusively, an attempt to answer some questions that some of you have brought to my attention since my original email yesterday morning.  So, here it goes:

What about support ministries on Sunday morning, like nursery?  For now, the nursery remains open.  I spoke with the adult who will be ministering in the Nursery tomorrow and Laura is feeling healthy and ready to serve.  She also requests that if you are planning on using the nursery for your littles that you present them to the nursery room without entering and lingering.  Again, we are attempting to restrict physical contact between us as we practice the social distancing that we have been asked to practice.

Given the implementation of “no food; no refreshments”, can I bring my own snacks and/or water, etc.?  Yes, please feel free to bring your own.  All we are attempting to do with “no food; no refreshments” is keep us from making bodily contact with each other.  You may even bring your own coffee; all we ask is that you abide by our “lid” policy so that we don’t have spills on the floor.

Given the implementation of “no food; no refreshments”, what is the status of our Hidden Acres Sub Sandwich fund raiser?  The sub fundraiser is suspended, not canceled, which means campers can continue to sell sandwiches, but the making of them will be suspended until it is safe to make them.  If this policy remains in force and we don’t have time to make the subs, we will have to cancel the fundraiser.  But for now, Campers!  Sell those subs!!!!

I’ve heard that some churches are live streaming.  What about CCC?  If Iowa is put under “a state of emergency” or some other adjustment is made to our policy, this is an option that is “on the table” for consideration.  In fact, we hope to “test it” tomorrow.  If you are staying home, join us on YouTube.  Search for “Dale Landegent” and select “Live”.  ( I did it about a half an hour ago and as long as you can tell the difference between Dale Landegent and Dale Earnhardt, you should be fine.)

What about other ways to stay in touch with the people at CCC?  Don’t forget our website (www.christccevfree.org) where you can listen to sermons and you can also give online through the “Church Center” App.  You can also access our website through that app as well.

I’m sure that we all have other questions and we can address them as you ask.  Also, thank you for reaching out with the love and presence of Christ.  From sharing toilet paper and running errands for others to reminding each other and others of the eternal hope that we have in the gospel, you are “being the Church”.

God bless you as serve Him,

Pastor Randy

IMPORTANT CORONAVIRUS PLAN FOR CCC

Dear CCC,

As we are all aware, we are encountering an unprecedented situation in most of our lives with the outbreak nationally and within the state of Iowa of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  While the virus is not life-threatening for many, it is very dangerous to “older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes”. (from Center for Disease Control and Prevention website)  Because of these realities, our board of Elders met, last evening, to help us address this national and community-wide situation.  Please, know that we are attempting as Elders of Christ Community to lead with godly wisdom, not out of fear, but out of love for our church body and for our larger community.  Because this situation is developing day-by-day, we plan to revisit our plan on a daily basis, so please watch for further updates.

Currently, this is our plan as a church body:

*all services will remain open at their regular times  (If you are in a highly susceptible category of our population, please, please, please, consider staying home.  If you have ministry responsibilities, please call your ministry leader so that they are aware of your plan to remain home.)

*All food and refreshment ministries are suspended until further notice beginning on Sunday morning.

*We ask that you restrict all bodily contact with others (no hand shaking, no hugging, etc.)  Extra hand-washing and good hygiene practiced, please!!!

*Know that the Elder Board will revisit our church plan on a daily basis as more information becomes known.

Remember, that it is easy to overlook others, especially the most vulnerable, during times like these.  This is a great opportunity to bear gospel witness to a world that is very anxious and uneasy now as many of the places that we look for stability is being threatened.  We who are living, looking for a better city, whose builder and maker is God, will have many great opportunities to testify of an enduring hope in Jesus Christ.

Together, with the gospel, in these tough times,

Pastor Randy