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Events

Dear Medway family

We applaud the President’s recent announcement that religious gatherings will be permitted under Level 3 and that churches are seen as part of essential services. This means that pastoral work can be done more freely and more people can be reached which we have been constrained from doing over the last few weeks.

The immediate question posed is whether or not we should commence group church meetings. In this unprecedented time in world history, we have learnt that a good deal of wisdom, resourcefulness and resilience is required.

God intended that as church shepherds/leaders we look after the well-being of each church member – both spiritually and physically.

We as an Eldership feel it would be wise to continue in the current way of having online Sunday services, together with those who are able to have online Bible studies and multiple versions of one-to-one calls and messages. In light of the fact that the Western Cape at this time is the province having the highest infection rate and the most Corona deaths in the country, it is still too much of a risk for us to meet physically for regular services even though we would really like to. The risk is too high for many of our congregants and we do not wish for anyone to contract the Corona virus.

The decision to continue unchanged for now with the current level of stability attained will be reviewed as the situation improves. We will continue to monitor matters in the province and make further decisions over time as to the way forward and we will keep you updated and we will review the above decision in the last week of June.

The Bible encourages Christians to meet together regularly (as Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching"). Medway has made all efforts to live out this biblical principle, even in the current challenging time. There have even been opportunities to draw in more folks, for example with the online Bible studies. We thank you for being flexible during this time.

We therefore encourage everyone to continue taking part in the Sunday online services, as well as to join groups who are having regular Bible studies during the week. Contact Maurice in this regard. We will continue to be reaching out to each other on a one-to-one basis.

The President has called for a National day of prayer on Sunday 31 May. Use this time to pray as a family for our President and leaders and for our country as well as for a vaccine to be developed. It has been a difficult time for the President and we need to be praying much for him.

Please continue to be in prayer for God’s work at Medway and for much wisdom for the Elders as they make decisions on the way forward.

Pray also that the Lord will grow His church as He gives us opportunities to reach out to others.

Much love and blessings from the Medway Eldership

Dear believers at Medway Community Church, our heart during this time of uncertainty is to ensure you are cared for and encouraged to continue to grow in your faith and love for God and His people. Last night [19 March 2020] we met as elders and deacons to prayerfully work through how we should respond to the latest developments and the directives from our government to reduce the impact of this virus in our country.

Matthew 10:28-31 reminds us “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

While as Christians we shouldn’t panic, we do want to be responsible and take suitable precautions to protect those most vulnerable in our church while still meeting the needs for fellowship, spiritual growth, worship and encouragement. We also believe this provides an incredible opportunity for us to enhance our spiritual time together as families and small groups, where appropriate, and to serve each other as the occasion arises.

In considering the needs of the most vulnerable and in following guidelines set out by our government; increased hygiene measures, no meetings of over 100 people, we have decided the following:

We will have NO Sunday services for (at least) the duration of the newly revised school holidays so that is at least up to and including Sunday 12 April. We will assess the situation regularly and keep everyone updated.

But, like many churches, we’ll be preparing content and sermon audios for each Sunday. This will be uploaded onto the Sermons section on the Medway webpage www.medway.org.za by 9:30 each Sunday morning along with a few worship songs so that we can still enjoy being in the Worship service setting. The link to this will be made available via WhatsApp, Facebook each week.

Practical measures:

  • We would also remind the church of the Lord’s command that we love one another (John 15:12-17). This means that we continue in fellowship & contact, as far as we are able, through other means and especially remembering to be supportive of those who are in need, and assist the elderly who are more vulnerable to the virus. The Elders are most certainly not calling for total isolation and withdrawal. We encourage all members to be in regular prayer & contact with one another; and to let others see our love, that they might know we are Christ’s disciples (even as we take necessary precautions).
  • As a family, you may like to share communion together and for those who can, to listen to the sermon which was posted online and discuss it afterwards.
  • Very young children may battle to understand the risks around hygiene and the need to adhere to physical distancing so this is an amazing time for your family to come around the Word of God together and to spend time in prayer as a family.

Cell groups:

  • Cell groups normally break for holiday and so will break from this week. Going forward, each cell group leader will engage with their group to discuss the best approach and encourage one another. Continue to pray for each other, cell group leaders will send out requests for prayer and these will be shared. We ask you to set this time aside to pray together, as you would if you were meeting physically and to encourage each other with personal messages

Elders support:

  • Each week we will endeavour to share some encouragement with you over our WhatsApp/email broadcast. We are also available to chat over the phone and to visit, where necessary and sensible to do so.
  • We also need to identify who at Medway is having to self-isolate themselves because they are showing symptoms of having contracted the virus. Please let us know if you start to feel ill. We would love to be able to provide extra care and support to you and your family.

At this time, there will be many with new and different needs. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve the church. As followers of Jesus we are called to serve, and we can demonstrate that service through refusing to submit to fear and panic (Colossians 3:23-24).

The Elders and Deacons remain committed to caring for you, so please speak to us if you would like to be involved in some way and we will help guide you to the need and best approach.

Be assured of our love for you, God’s people, at this time!

Please know that we will be regularly reviewing & assessing matters, with a view to adapting to the situation as it develops.

Contact Maurice at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 084 561 2030 at the church office or at home on 021 797 6677 if you have any shopping needs or just want to chat to someone.

Your servants: Stuart: 073 206 7977; Ray: 083 679 4646; Grant: 084 364 2784; David: 079 593 6862; Maurice: 084 561 2030

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:2-6)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

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