St. Giles News
Sunday, January 24, 2021

10:30 AM Livestreaming from the Sanctuary


Our Sunday Morning Worship Plan
Virginia’s current Covid disciplines allow for us to gather for in-house worship. But we are doing so with particular plans that enable us to partner with the larger community to slow the spread of the virus, and to keep our St. Giles folks safe. Each service is livestreamed too. So whether you are in the church house or at home, we hope you’ll join in!

If you join us at the church, here’s what to expect:

1. Our service is at 10:30 in the sanctuary.

2. We ask anyone with Covid-19 symptoms or recent exposure not to come (but do let us know so that we can pray for you).

3. The nursery is open for the littlest ones; children up to 2nd grade can sit with their parents until dismissed for Kids’ Own Worship.

4. We sit only in every other pew, those marked by ribbons.

5. We wear masks. (We have some masks for those without their own.)

6. Whenever weather allows, outdoors is the preferred place for visiting after worship.
Covid Brings an Opportunity to
Know Our Larger Church!
Each year since we joined our new denomination, the ECO, we have sent our Pastors and Elders to the National Gathering. It is a rich time of worship, fellowship, and teaching.

However, with Covid restrictions, the ECO has decided to adapt its usual plans to make the gathering virtual. The bad news is, the face-to-face fellowship for a few of our own is gone this year. But the good news is that anyone – church officer, member, or friend – can join in – and all for free!

The Gathering this year is January 29-30. There are exciting speakers, both for the plenary and breakout groups. You can register for the Gathering at: https://econationalgathering.org. Be sure to note that the times listed are Pacific Time. So you’ll need to do the math to watch live.

But the whole Gathering will be recorded, and can be watched at any time.

This is a great chance to check out the resources of our larger church family, and to sense what God is doing in us in 2021.
Sunday Pre-Service Prayer Zoom Meeting
You can join John and Jane Harler in a Zoom prayer meeting every Sunday before the service at 9:45 AM. The Zoom meeting link will be the same as that for the 9 AM Sunday school. If you are not currently attending Sunday school and wish to attend the Zoom prayer meeting, please email John Harler at j.harler@verizon.net. 
Adult Discipleship
Our Adult Education Team is offering two classes as the new year begins:

Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

Tommy Nance is leading a class on Discipleship on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The connection if via ZOOM link. So if you’d like to join in, contact Tommy at twjrnance@gmail.com. The focus is on discipleship and evangelism.

Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Keith Hill is teaching on the prophet Samuel on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The class will be livestreamed via St. Giles’ usual YouTube channel (you can hit the link on the church website). Because we can have up to ten in our meetings, Keith is lining up nine (he being the tenth) who would enjoy coming in person. Just send him an email to let him know of your interest so that he can keep count of this “reserved seat” engagement!

Class Description: We talk a lot about God’s truth coming to us through scripture. Often what we have in mind are theological propositions, and the scripture brings plenty of those. But it also brings God’s truth through stories. So we’ll discover with the stories of Samuel, now 3000 years old, but just as current as today’s news – and a whole lot more profound!
Church Life
Pushing the Pause Button on Inside Meetings
(Other than Sunday Worship)
Given the current Covid spike, the Governor has asked that groups larger than ten not to meet in person.  His plan does exempt churches’ worship services, for which we are grateful.  We have had good experience for many months now with our socially distanced, masked, worship patterns, and these will continue.

But we are pausing all other gatherings with more than ten people.  We have sent notice to all of the leaders of our various in the building gatherings, such as Tuesday morning women’s study, Wednesday evening student and children’s meetings, etc.

As you can see in the accompanying article on adult education classes, we will have Zoom and livestreamed options.  But for now we will be pausing all in person gatherings larger than ten people.  

We will review the situation every month, and hopefully be back to
in-person gatherings soon.
Livestreaming Bible Study and Worship

We are now live-streaming many of our events, including Sunday worship and some of our classes on our YouTube channel. These can also be viewed later at the same YouTube channel. Take advantage of the opportunity to catch up on anything you’ve missed, or to share these ministries with friends who might benefit from them.