This is shared with kind permission
In response to the growing concern around the outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus), the lead team at TLC have been prayerfully considering our best way to move things forward in accordance with guidelines provided by the UK government. As such, there will be no organised activity in the church building for the foreseeable future until directed otherwise.
Whilst there is much uncertainty we remain certain of God’s steadfast presence and careful attention to all that is happening. As Pastor Philip recently reminded us when asked if church was stopping, the answer is ‘NO’, because you can’t stop the church. Beyond medical advice regarding our personal responsibilities, such as washing hands and self isolating where appropriate, we feel there are 3 keys areas we would like to draw your attention to that will help strengthen us through this time:
1) LOVE YOUR FAMILY: This obviously encompasses your immediate family but we would encourage you to think of the wider church family as well. It has been said recently it’s not about social distancing but distant socialising. Please live connected!
CONNECT: For many over the next while there will be restrictions on leaving homes and even potential lock down on a wider scale. It is therefore so important to find ways to remotely stay connected with one another, and we are so blessed in these times to have the technology and means to do so. We recommend an app called ZOOM that allows multiple people to connect visibly at one time, so why not check that out here. https://zoom.us/ *If you are not in a Connect Group at present we understand that staying connected may feel difficult at this time. We’d therefore encourage you to seek out spiritual community where possible and to follow the ‘church at home’ content online and through our social media platforms. Your needs matter, and so we’d also encourage you to let us know if there is anything you may need help with over the next while. You can contact us through care@thrivinglifechurch.co.uk.
ERRANDS/MESSAGES: On another practical note, shopping for essential supplies over the next while may become difficult for some so let’s do our best to help others without being careless with our health or those around us.
FOODBANK: If you find yourself in difficulty regarding food over the coming months or are aware of others in that situation please contact the foodbank on 07902933297
PRAY & ASK: We are to be a people of faith and we are also clearly instructed in scripture to ask when it comes to all our needs. Let’s pray in faith for one another and ask if we are in difficulty.
2) LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY: As with ourselves, we can all do our part for those we are around, and what better way to demonstrate the love of God than being present in a time where there is great need and fear. Again, please avail of the
FOODBANK if necessary, as well as running ERRANDS / MESSAGES if safe and able to do so. We have attached a link for a HELP postcard, that you can either print yourself or request some and we will do our best to get you a few. These are a great tool for you to drop by vulnerable or elderly neighbours you may be aware of. We are also building a response team of healthy people who wish to be available to others, whether by checking in by phone, praying for people or able to do shopping etc for those who are unable. If you would be interested in signing up please contact Richard Porter at richard@thrivinglifechurch.co.uk
3) CHURCH AT HOME: Finally, for now, we know how important it is to gather together and be strengthened by the teaching and encouragement of the wider church body. Obviously we are unable to do that at present so from this weekend we will begin we will be going ONLINE!!! An email with further information and a link on how to get set up will be sent and you simply have to follow the instructions. In Psalm 46, we are reminded that it is God who is our refuge and strength, and our ever-present help in trouble. God has not called us to live in fear but in faith. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind” That is all for now. We love you, we are praying for you and we fully believe God has his hand on us as a church in these times. Let’s hold firmly to him and his promises and shine for the world around us.
God Bless -Lead Team
Ards & North Down Christian Community Hub 
‘THE ONLY CURE FOR SIN AND DEATH, SICKNESS DISEASE AND PLAGUES’
‘The blood prevails, the blood of the risen Lamb, power to save just like in olden days. The blood prevails no matter what doubter’s say, praise God the blood prevails’
An old chorus well worth rehearsing every day for it is a truth that seems to be forgotten in this time of fear.
Child of God the Passover Lamb of God Jesus Christ still prevails, he that was dead still lives still heals and still delivers from the power of broken sin, sickness and death all who believe in Him’
He is alive, he that was ‘Smitten of God and afflicted, wounded, bruised, chastised and striped’ Isaiah 53:4-5 until his ‘back was like a ploughed field’ Psalm 109:3 still lives to ‘destroy the works of the devil’ 1st John 3:8 He remains the Lord who heals you, Exodus 15:26 the sin destroyer, the ‘Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world’ John 1:29
The Lamb of God was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep, before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth’ Isaiah 53:7 Not one word in his own defence, the innocent for the guilty, the sinless for the sinful.
By his shed blood, he prevailed over sin and death and hell for all who would simply believe on Him.
His blood prevailed over sickness, disease and death when the people of God were down in Egypt as long as they stayed under its power, and it still prevails over every enemy, every sickness, disease, plague and death.
In 1st Corinthians 11, we read about the Lord’s Supper, the table of communion…
Remember this was His supper and his invitation not mans and it was on the same night that he was to be betrayed that he shared this meal with His beloved disciples.
Firstly he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’ 1st Corinthians 11:23-24
He broke the bread, his own body, not the Roman soldiers, not the screaming abusive crowd, ‘He was smitten stricken of God and afflicted’ Isaiah 53:4 ‘it pleased the Lord to bruise him and put him to grief’ Isaiah 53:10
He said; ‘do this in REMEMBRANCE OF ME’ 1st Corinthians 11:24 remember that by my stripes you are healed! Not going to be healed but ARE HEALED’ Isaiah 53:5 Not just healed of a cold or the flu but of every hell bred sickness and disease and every plague, stripe by stripe, broken that you could be whole.
‘After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped, saying; ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me’ 1st Corinthians 11:25
Jesus said; ‘do this in remembrance of me’ remember that the blood of the Passover lamb saved the children of God when there were in captivity down in Egypt as long as they stayed behind blood-stained doors. Death could not touch them because of the blood of an innocent lamb it had to pass over, and still passes over those who believe in my once for all sacrifice for sin forever’
Oh Child of God in Christ, the Blood of Christ the Passover Lamb is the only safe place in the universe and it is yours from the moment you repented of your sins, surrendered your life and received Christ as your Saviour and Lord.
The Children of Israel even though they were in slavery remained safe while 10 plagues came across the land of Egypt, not one animal died, not one person was touched by the plagues that devoured Egypt. Why? They remained separated unto the Lord in the Land of Goshen,
Today we dwell in Goshen, separated from diseases and plagues, sin and death and hell; for Christ is our Goshen, our hiding place, our strong tower and fortress. He is ‘the health of our countenance’… our place of safety, our protection, our security, our provision and the one who makes us whole’
So today while the plague stretches across the nations of the world, take communion with him and remember this; because of the Blood of ‘Calvary’s atoning victim’ we are safe, while we remain in his presence and separate for the world; he truly is our Goshen!
Ah you say; my church is closed down because of the current plague; my priest, my mister or Pastor cannot come to give me the bread and wine; Oh Child of God in Christ have you not read; ‘you are a priest of the royal priesthood’ 1st Peter 2:9
So break bread and drink from the cup and remember that Christ died to make you whole and give thanks with your family or even on your own.
Do this not just on the Sabbath day, remember Christ daily and you will find that the blood still prevails, the blood of the risen Lamb of God’ still protects heals and resurrects the dead in Christ.
Let the world hear this promise, tell them of Christ the mighty to save and let the harvest of lost souls begin in earnest as the lost see the only cure for sin, death, sickness and plagues… Christ Jesus.
David Robinson
On Fri, 20 Mar 2020 at 13:40, Ards & North Down Christian Community Hub wrote:
> ardsnorthdownchristiancommunityhub posted: ” This is shared with kind > permission In response to the growing concern around the outbreak of > Covid-19 (coronavirus), the lead team at TLC have been prayerfully > considering our best way to move things forward in accordance with > guidelines provided by ” >
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