March 12, 2020

Dear Vine Family,

The peace of the Lord be with you.

I want to update you regarding our response to the latest recommendations from our government and healthcare leaders.  Today, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing Californians to follow California Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines prohibiting large gatherings where people can't remain at least 6 feet apart from one another.

Our prayer and desire is to cooperate with our government and healthcare leaders to limit the impact of coronavirus, and to care for those most vulnerable. In light of this, we have chosen to temporarily cease gathering for Sunday worship through the end of March. In place of our in-person gatherings, we will stream our regular worship service online, with live worship, prayers of intercession, readings, and preaching as usual. Although we won’t be meeting in-person, that doesn’t mean worship will cease. We hope you will gather around a SmartTV, computer, or mobile device and join us for worship at our regular time of Sunday at 10am. Here is the link to our YouTube Live channel, which will have content once we start streaming on Sunday. The link will also be posted on our website, www.thevineoc.com.

Other Updates

  • In light of these developments, the Night of Worship & Prayer that was scheduled for March 13th has been postponed.

  • At present, small groups will continue to meet. But if you have any symptoms of illness, please stay at home.

  • Need Prayer? Please email us and we’d love to share your prayer request with our email intercessors prayer group. We are committed to continuing to support and love our community well in the midst of this crisis.

As our Pastoral Team gathered today to discuss these matters and pray, we had a deep sense that although these are difficult times, there is also tremendous opportunity before us. Our sense is that the Lord is inviting us to actually draw closer to him in this time, and to be mindful of the opportunities he will give us to be salt and light and in a dark time. In coming weeks, we want to equip you to engage deeply with the Lord and to join him in his kingdom work in this moment. We believe that what the enemy meant for evil, God can turn for good.

Let’s remember that although we won’t be able to gather together, the things we are called to don’t change. We might not be able to come to church, but we can still be the church. The church is not a building or a worship service, it is the people of God. May we press into the Lord in this time.

With confidence in Jesus,

Pastor Michael