Ever since returning to 'in person' worship at AFC at the beginning of July, we have tried to emphasise that we are still 'one congregation, now worshipping in three different ways'. For us that means we access 'coporate' worship through the Audio Service, the Video Service or the '10.30' Service. We know we are not unique in this and that many churches have taken this approach of providing a variety of worship opportunities seeking to encourage folk to 'attend' the service which is 'right' for them.
Just maybe, some of the lessons we have had to learn quickly in these days of Pandemic, will stay with us in the future. For example, live streaming the service might one day be a natural successor to the rather 'makeshift' video recording we currently provide. It will require significant financial investment but might be one way we show commitment to 'housebound' members who are becoming increasingly 'computer literate' - we'll see!
I thought Blog readers might be interested in seeing our viewing/listening'attendance figures for September. It's good to read them in the context that before the crisis our average number at morning worship was 90. Here are the stats....
Date Audio Service Video Service 10.30 Service Total
6th Sep 55 37 47 139
13th Sep 45 65 46 156
20th Sep 45 40 47 132
27th Sep 48 51 51 150
We are so grateful to everyone at AFC who works hard behind the scenes to make these services possible.
None of us imagined this would be the way our worshipping life would develop in 2020 and it's quite a thought that this Sunday's Audio Service will be our 30th!!!
Church Life Focus
Our Elders were able to meet in person, socially disatnced, in The Sanctuary on Tuesday and it was good to be together and talk about church life.
After lots of debate we have decided to plan for a Church Meeting to be held on Zoom on Tuesday 24th November 2020 at 7.30pm. We'll ensure the Agenda and Briefing Notes are available a fortnight before, thus giving people without internet an opportunity to look through the issues and write to us with their thoughts if they wish. The Charity Commission and our two denominations have told us that Zoom Church Meetings are an 'acceptable' way forward in the current circumstances. At that meeting our Treasurer will give a full update on the financial position of AFC.
This week the ministers of the Central Baptist Association will be holding their annual conference on Zoom instead of gather at High Leigh in Hoddesdon.
This month our Mission Focus is WorkAid. There will be a specific basket at church in which you can put your pink mission envelopes or a cash gift for WorkAid, and that will be available every Sunday. Or you can send your gifts direct to Bob, our Treasurer. Whatever way we choose to give, thank you for your support.
And finally, Churches on The Hill, Amersham, known among us as COTHA, will hold its AGM on Zoom this Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. This meeting is open to everyone in our three churches and you can access it using this code:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84338473946?pwd=RFM4TDV1ZXZmUi90WFU4UHh4cXBVQT09
Meeting ID: 843 3847 3946
Passcode: cotha
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