Need a House Group?

This Fall we’re encouraging everyone to participate in a House Group. Following Jesus is never a lone-ranger deal. We need each other. The care, companionship, support, encouragement, challenge and joy that comes in life-on-life situations is key to becoming more Christlike.

A short survey of the New Testament indicates the priority the early church had on meeting together in homes. Here’s a quick summary: Acts 2:46, 5:42 and 20:20 they went “house to house”. In Acts 8:3, “house after house”. They met in Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:2), Mary’s house (Acts 12:12), the Jailor’s house (Acts 16:32), Lydia’s house (Acts 16:40) and Titius Justus’ house (Acts 18:7). Elsewhere in the New Testament they met in Priscila & Aquila’s home (Rom 16:5), Nympha’s house (Col 4:15), and Philemon’s house (Phil 1:2).

In a time when many of us have been more isolated than we would like, now is a time to press in to House Groups. There will be some old ones continuing on, some will rearrange, and a few new groups will be starting as well!

Also, one of the House Groups this year will be running the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course. If you missed it last Fall, this is an opportunity for you. It is a commitment, but well worth it. You can find out more about it here.

If you are currently in a group, please reach out to your House Group leader / facilitator and see if there are plans for this Fall.

If you are not currently part of a House Group, or if you want to mix up your current group and meet new people, please let us know. We are collecting names and a few details that will help us create new groups for this Fall – including the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality group. We are asking new House Groups to commit to a 3-month Fall schedule. Some will meet weekly, others bi-weekly. Some will meet in person, others online.

For those groups that will be meeting in person, Covid-19 protocols will be in place. Those experiencing any symptoms should stay home. Those gathering in person will practice physical distancing and hand sanitization. Of course we will update requirements if and when restrictions change.

If you want to be in a Regular House Group this Fall, or if you would like to participate in the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Group, please fill out this form:

Create your own user feedback survey

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Gatherings this Fall – Sundays and more

Fall is almost upon us and there are a few items that we’d like to put on your radar…

In-Person Distanced Sunday Gatherings

We are excited to be providing the option to gather in-person again starting September 13! It has been a long season of meeting online, and while our online gatherings will continue we will also be meeting in person again for those who are able to do so. We are currently working on all the logistics to make the in-person gatherings safe for whomever participates. We will be taking all necessary precautions mandated by the government and health officials, and taking some extra measures to ensure a safe environment for all.

More details will be forthcoming, but everyone will be encouraged to stay home if they display any of the symptoms or are in a vulnerable category. Additionally, hand sanitization stations and masks will be utilized, seating will be set up seating in a physically distanced manner, the space will be sanitized before and after each gathering, and we will be limiting the number of people and the activities that take place in the sanctuary.

Mark your calendars – September 13.

Also, there will be a meeting for parents and guardians of kids and youth to discuss options for moving forward. This will be Sept 13 at 7pm at the church. If you are unable to attend there will be questions circulated in advance for your input.

House Groups

House Groups will be important in the next season of church life. We need to be together. Some of us may not be able to gather physically, others may choose only to have a few people in their “bubble”, but wherever you are at, if you want to be in a House Group, we’d like to make that happen. Watch for more info on how to sign up in the coming weeks.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course

One of the groups that will be meeting throughout the Fall will be using the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality material that we piloted last year. The material is designed to become a regular part of the rhythm of discipleship in churches. We won’t be running a concurrent sermon series on it this year, but if you missed it last year, this is your chance. Let Andrew in the office know if you are interested.

You can find out more info about Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course here.

Image credits:

Photo by Inside Weather on Unsplash

Community Input for Fall Planning

Dear WCV Community,

At a recent Elder’s meeting there was a keen sense that WCV is about to turn a corner out of the turbulent waters of the past few years. “A new thing springing up” (Isaiah43:19) is a word for us in this season. This is super encouraging, but we still need to lead well, especially given the current Covid realities. So we need to know where you are at and how you are feeling regarding a few of the key elements of our regular community rhythms: specifically House Groups and Sunday Gatherings. 

The writer of Hebrews encourages “don’t give up gathering together.” (Hebrews 10:25). How do we not give up gathering given the corporate restrictions in place? What should we do given the broad spectrum of needs, requirements and experiences in our community? What should we do with our kids? These are all questions we’re wrestling with. This season requires us to be nimble, flexible and creative as we seek to follow Jesus as best we can. 

Would you take a moment to answer 5 survey questions (they can be as simple as yes or no answers)? Your responses will inform plans for the Fall. One thing we know for sure is that House Groups will be vital in order to continue to grow and pursue what Jesus has for us. Also, we are looking at starting up physical in-person gatherings again soon while both adhering to all the current protocols as well as continuing our online live-feed broadcasts. 

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

>>Complete the survey here (opens in a new tab)

“I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.”

Isaiah 43:19 (CEV)

Photos by Alexandre Grégoire on Unsplash, Jon Tyson on Unsplash