Permits
08/02/21 17:27
With the new laws taking effect we had to jump through some hoops to get a permit to have more than 10 people at our church services. That was a lot of stress for me and a lot of going back and forth with the bureaucrats in the civil law office of the county. Thank God we got the permit last Friday.
We had to measure how many single people we can have in the building with a distance of 1.5 meters (5 ft) between the chairs and 2 meters (6+ ft) from the pulpit. We can have 16 people. When couples or families come they can sit together and thru that we could have up to 22 and still have the distance but the law is no more than the singles number. We can have one person playing an instrument and maximum of one person singing. Masks should be worn all the time except the preacher and service leader. So we hum with the music. We can have no coffee or tea afterwards and we are not to socialize afterwards.
We are thankful that we can still meet and with technology those who have decided not to be bodily present can also be part of the service.
We had to measure how many single people we can have in the building with a distance of 1.5 meters (5 ft) between the chairs and 2 meters (6+ ft) from the pulpit. We can have 16 people. When couples or families come they can sit together and thru that we could have up to 22 and still have the distance but the law is no more than the singles number. We can have one person playing an instrument and maximum of one person singing. Masks should be worn all the time except the preacher and service leader. So we hum with the music. We can have no coffee or tea afterwards and we are not to socialize afterwards.
We are thankful that we can still meet and with technology those who have decided not to be bodily present can also be part of the service.
Feburary
07/02/21 15:38
I thought you might like to know what else is up in the church.
One man, Lutz, who came out of the cult: New Apostolic Church, has a webpage to help with people who are in that cult and searching. The NAC started in Germany in 1853 and has 330,000 members in Germany (the Baptist have 80,000). He has articles about the Bible and apologetical issues. Some people contact him as to how to get out and help. The webpage has been hacked several times but he has been able to stop the hacks. Our co-worker, David, has been helping with the English translation correction. And an elder in the church, Uwe, offers life coaching on the webpage (he is trained in this area).
Uwe also works as a call center prayer/life coach on Monday evenings for a Christian TV program. People who need to talk someone are routed to him and he talks with them and prays with them on the telephone. Pray for him as he helping/comforting/strengthening people who are struggling.
One man, Lutz, who came out of the cult: New Apostolic Church, has a webpage to help with people who are in that cult and searching. The NAC started in Germany in 1853 and has 330,000 members in Germany (the Baptist have 80,000). He has articles about the Bible and apologetical issues. Some people contact him as to how to get out and help. The webpage has been hacked several times but he has been able to stop the hacks. Our co-worker, David, has been helping with the English translation correction. And an elder in the church, Uwe, offers life coaching on the webpage (he is trained in this area).
Uwe also works as a call center prayer/life coach on Monday evenings for a Christian TV program. People who need to talk someone are routed to him and he talks with them and prays with them on the telephone. Pray for him as he helping/comforting/strengthening people who are struggling.
January 2021
06/01/21 12:39
A tent was set up and I gave a devotional from 2.Cor.5 in which Paul wants to leave this tent and go to be with the Lord. We are not the tent but what is inside the tent. Max, our co-workers son and our “grandson” helped by going into the tent. We could not see him but he was still there. He was more important than the tent. The application was God came to earth and took on a tent which did not change his God-ness but he looked like all the other tents until he taught and acted. And the German saying: “Main thing is good health,” is not true. We can repair the tent but the main thing is our relationship to God.
One man from the church came reluctantly and was glad he did; he even complimented me on the devo. We had 8 outsiders (including the woman and daughters and a woman who was depressed and we had had over several times).
We also heard from two neighbours that they were with us. They could either hear us or one could see the projections and the music.
It rained until 2 pm and then stopped; we started at 4 pm. Although it was cold it was dry.
December
08/12/20 12:37
Church services are still allowed but a few more people have opted for Zoom instead of the live service. Our attendance has been about the same if you count the people in the building and the people coming over Zoom. The church is upgrading the DSL speed so that we have fewer jerks and jitters in the service. I have started a sermon series on Waiting, how people in the Bible waited and how they lived in that time of waiting.
We are trying to figure out about a Christmas Eve service outside in the back yard this. It would be shorter than usual because everyone would be standing and it will be cold. We cannot have hot drinks and cookies afterwards like usual. It will also be by invitation and RSVP. We have to keep a record of who attends all church services. Please pray for wisdom, that there is interest and we invite the right people. One woman said she will come with at least one daughter for sure.
We are trying to figure out about a Christmas Eve service outside in the back yard this. It would be shorter than usual because everyone would be standing and it will be cold. We cannot have hot drinks and cookies afterwards like usual. It will also be by invitation and RSVP. We have to keep a record of who attends all church services. Please pray for wisdom, that there is interest and we invite the right people. One woman said she will come with at least one daughter for sure.
October End
25/10/20 12:35
While we were in the States, Burkhard Holzner was to preach for me one Sunday but he did not show up for church. Two of the men went looking for him and found him dead at the kitchen table. It was quite a shock for the church even though we knew he had several health problems.
The church was to take care of everything for him in this case. So in our absence they prepared the funeral service and carried it out. Zach Murphy, who with his wife had lived and worked with Burkhard hoping to start a church in Celle, came back from Cologne where they now work to lead the service. Most who attended were from the Peine church or churches where Burkhard had been.
While I was a single missionary, green behind the ears, I taught with Burkhard a home Bible study that later became the Hildesheim church. Burkhard was the first one we told that we had got engaged and he read 1.Cor. 13 in German at our wedding. He also graduated from Ozark Christian College after seeing the need for more Bible knowledge; He left his good job as an engineer to do that.
We and the church will miss him.
While I was a single missionary, green behind the ears, I taught with Burkhard a home Bible study that later became the Hildesheim church. Burkhard was the first one we told that we had got engaged and he read 1.Cor. 13 in German at our wedding. He also graduated from Ozark Christian College after seeing the need for more Bible knowledge; He left his good job as an engineer to do that.
We and the church will miss him.
October
06/10/20 12:31
To help with community the men of the church went for a hike in the Harz Mountains. One man has been struggling with depression and God all year came. It was good just to be with him even if it did start a little distant and tense. We men had a great time just being in the nature, safe with social distancing, and a sense of community.
September
14/09/20 12:19
Technology You can’t live without it and you can’t live with it.
On Sundays we have services in the building but also use Zoom. Name a problem and we have had it, computer died, internet is instable, feedback, mic and camera won’t work with back up computer, things go out. Slowly we are solving every problem. One week everything worked perfectly – but no one joined us on Zoom.
On Sundays we have services in the building but also use Zoom. Name a problem and we have had it, computer died, internet is instable, feedback, mic and camera won’t work with back up computer, things go out. Slowly we are solving every problem. One week everything worked perfectly – but no one joined us on Zoom.
July
29/07/20 12:18
We are still having dual services with Live and Zoom audiences. Slowly, we are getting used to it. Humming not singing can also sound good. Attendance has been good with near capacity the last two weeks.
June
06/06/20 12:14
After the songs others can log in with Zoom and they can see us and we can see them (using a projector). We have a sharing and prayer time and communion all together as a church. I have now started preaching again and so sometimes the Zoom people can watch the sermon but it has not always worked.
Afterwards we used to have coffee, tea and cookies but now we are supposed to leave the building and break up the party. Even without the coffee and tea people stand around in the front court yard and talk. You can see what an important role the church plays for healthy and needed social contact.
So what do our services look like? People come in with masks. When they get to their seats they can take their masks off. We have the doors propped open so no one has to touch the handles. We also have a disinfectant dispenser at the door.
We have chairs grouped for singles, couples, or families. The groups are 1.5 meter (5 feet) apart. With the distancing we can have a maximum of 22 in the building.
Each group has a little stand/table with the communion for that group. That way no one has to move to pass communion or to stand up to receive it. Communion is prepared in advance by someone with mask.
There is Sunday School during the sermon but right now only one family is attending at the building so that is not a problem. The mother is doing the teaching.
We continue to take turns leading the service, communion meditation, and sermon. When someone moves from his/her seat the mask is put on. At the pulpit no mask is worn but the pulpit is more than 2 meters (over 6 feet) from the first seating.
We leave all the windows open for the entire service. When it rains or gets colder we will have to start airing with all windows open every 30-45 minutes. The windows will then have to open for at least 10 minutes.
Another requirement for us to open back up was to have a hygiene plan printed out and hung for all to see.
May
15/05/20 12:13
We are hoping to start Sunday services tomorrow. Some people would prefer to continue using Zoom to meet. So we have that to consider along with all the regulations that we have to meet. Things seem to change every week or day.
The Adult Education Center had been renting our room for German classes but the room is not big enough now for the new regulations so that will change for us. For the church that means less income and a financial set back.
The Adult Education Center had been renting our room for German classes but the room is not big enough now for the new regulations so that will change for us. For the church that means less income and a financial set back.
April End
20/04/20 12:09
Technology has become vitally important for the church. Every week it seems like a new problem arises with it. It seems to be faltering just when we need it for church or Bible study. One woman gave up Wednesday in frustration and she really needed the community.
No word as of yet when churches will be allowed to meet. The scuttlebutt is that with Ramadan starting they want to keep the celebrations, meetings, mosques closed so they will keep the churches closed as well.
No word as of yet when churches will be allowed to meet. The scuttlebutt is that with Ramadan starting they want to keep the celebrations, meetings, mosques closed so they will keep the churches closed as well.
April
02/04/20 12:05
Dagmar, a woman in the church, called yesterday and said she has started sewing masked and asked we wanted some. They do not keep us safe but keeps others safe from us (or someone else if they have it and are wearing a mask.)
Kirstin, another woman in the church, has also started sewing masks and sharing them with whomever might need them.
Toilet paper is gone off the shelves. People in the church have started giving rolls to those in need.
Kirstin, another woman in the church, has also started sewing masks and sharing them with whomever might need them.
Toilet paper is gone off the shelves. People in the church have started giving rolls to those in need.
March
30/03/20 11:58
It is forbidden for churches to have services. All church activities are cancelled.
The church is doing fine in spite of Corona. We are meeting on Sundays at the normal time using Zoom. It is a type of conference call in which we can see and hear all present.
The elders decided what was missing in this crisis is a sense of community. So our time together is not with singing and a sermon but interactive. We spend time sharing how we are doing, prayer requests, open prayer time and communion. Tonight we will start meeting also for Bible study.
Our understanding of “Church” is not passively sitting next to strangers while a show is taking place on the stage but according to Hebrews 10:24-25 we should be interacting with each other and everyone should be involved in building the church up.
Thus, the emphasis on community. We figure a sermon or music is something everyone can find on the internet but community is not.
The church is doing fine in spite of Corona. We are meeting on Sundays at the normal time using Zoom. It is a type of conference call in which we can see and hear all present.
The elders decided what was missing in this crisis is a sense of community. So our time together is not with singing and a sermon but interactive. We spend time sharing how we are doing, prayer requests, open prayer time and communion. Tonight we will start meeting also for Bible study.
Our understanding of “Church” is not passively sitting next to strangers while a show is taking place on the stage but according to Hebrews 10:24-25 we should be interacting with each other and everyone should be involved in building the church up.
Pict: Zoom Bible study and prayer.
Please, do not use any pictures unless with permission from Randy and Katy. Thanks!
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