Amos Leister of EHT went home to be with the Lord at age 96 on Sunday. Pre-deceased by wife Betty he leaves behind his daughter Sandi, grandchildren Thom(Missy)and Shanna, 5 great grandchildren- Laura, Emily, Matthew, Adriana, Selah and faithful Companion Jane. Leister, a Northfield native was WW II Navy veteran aboard the USS Vulcan and successful businessman. He started Leister Electric Motors around 1955 and later erected a storefront which was also home to

two other local business. He had a great love for music and enjoyed playing organ, guitar, accordion. He took great pride in keeping a meticulous lawn and garden. He was one of the founding members of Linwood Community Church and served there for many years as a deacon. Among his many other roles he served as youth group leader in his younger years and led in the song ministry. He was loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed. Viewing will be held at Adams and Perfect on Wednesday from 1-2pm followed by memorial service at 2pm. He will be laid to rest at Veterans cemetery in Estelle Manor.

2020 has been a year full of turmoil, unexpected changes, and anxiety all reminding us of the broken fallen world we live in that needs a rescuer. Christmas is the reminder that God's rescuer has come in the redeemer and rescuer, Jesus the Christ.

Although different, these are the opportunities to celebrate and serve at LCC this Christmas.

Christmas Around the World

Sunday, December 13th at 6 PM we'll be celebrating the diversity in the Body of Christ and the unity of the Gospel by celebrating the diversity of Christmas music and backgrounds in our local church. We'll have readings and songs from several different countries.

A desert fellowship will be held afterward.

Piercing Word Drama

A musical remembrance of Christ's Birth presented by The Piercing Word Drama, Christmas Through The Ages. Experience the story of Christ's birth told by performing the Scripture. Sunday, December 20th at 6:00 pm

Christmas Eve Service

Join us on December 24th at 7 pm for a time of singing, scripture, prayers, and reflection in a family-friendly Christmas Eve Service.

We're excited to be back to inside services.

Guidelines and Procedures for resuming indoor services

We are so excited to be getting back to the pattern of Jesus followers from the time of Christ onward of gathering on the first day of the week, Sunday, for corporate worship and fellowship. 

As we said in closing announcements in March, we pray that our guiding priorities are love for God and love for neighbor while submitting to the God-given civil authorities over us. We’re so grateful for the many hours of work and added stresses involved in supplying video services and drive-in services. 

Gathering Instructions

Please know that many details and factors have been discussed and many steps have been taken to be prepared for worship. The following is our plan based on recommendations from health, legal, and church leaders. We look forward to regathering in a safe, sanitized, and socially distanced way. 

Attendance & Capacity 

• All are invited, welcomed, and encouraged to gather. However, attendance capacity will be limited to the Governor’s temporary guidelines. 
• So that we are able to be compliant with capacity limitations we are asking everyone to register for a service or call the church office. Knowing approximately how many to expect will help prepare for capacity and add services as needed. 

Register Here

• If you are in any of the categories listed high risk, have a weakened immune system, or live with someone in these categories we encourage you to participate in an alternative way and feel no social pressure or guilt for doing so in this temporary season. 
• We will have a VIP Room:  The overflow rooms behind the auditorium will be reserved as a separate venue for those in the VP (Vulnerable Population). This is behind the glass, but still able to see and hear the service. 
• If you are sick in any way or showing symptoms please do not attend. Your duty is love for neighbor. Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 may be asked to have their temperature taken and/or asked to leave. 
• If you do not attend we encourage you to participate by watching via Livestream. 

Distancing Guidelines

1. We encourage following the recommended guidelines for physical distancing. Avoid handshaking and hugs temporarily. Smiles, words of encouragement, Wakanda Salutes, and Vulcan signs ;-), etc. are still encouraged. Bows & courtesies are permissible for those more formal types. :-) 
2. We encourage you to follow the Governor’s Executive Order in regard to Face Masks. 
3. Restrooms should be used in a limited and distanced way. 
4. Wash hands regularly. 
5. Use the added hand sanitizer stations often. 
6. Follow the posted instructions. 

Instructions & Expectations

Entering & Exiting  the Building

• Parking: Follow distancing guidelines in the parking lot and when entering the building. 
• Touchless Entrances: Doors will be propped open or opened by an attendant for a touchless entry. 

Seating

• Follow ushers and greeters’ instructions for distanced seating.
• To reduce congestion and added contact we’re asking many to plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early. We’re planning some extra “Gathering Music” during this time. This same pattern will be followed for exiting after the closing. 
• Seating will be distanced by the family unit. 

Service Expectations

Elements: Expect the regular elements of worship, scripture reading, congregational singing, ministry of the Word, prayer, giving, and fellowship. 

Offering: We will not be passing offering plates but will have a box available in the lobby. Online giving will be available as well. 

Family Integrated: At this phase our services are Family Integrated, meaning that children worship with their parents or guardians. You can all help this by: 

• Help: parents, grandparents, and siblings can help little ones pay attention.
• Accept it as a good thing: Baby’s and children making some noise during the service is normal and should be expected. Don’t worry about it. We actually think it’s awesome to have the sound of children at LCC, it’s a sign of life and health. 
• Be courteous: We do, however, want to make sure the message of Christ is heard and clear. So, if the sound gets to a distracting level, it’s quite appropriate and even courteous to get up during the service and take the little one to another room or space. 

Please do not Socially Distance or Quarantine the following

While there is a time for physical quarantine, please remember that there are a few things that never should be quarantined.

• Don't quarantine disciple-making and the great commission. Use this opportunity to initiate Gospel relationships and conversations online and in person. Times of crisis give us incredible opportunities to display trust in God and share the hope of the Gospel.
• Don't quarantine prayer. Please keep our church family and ministries in prayer.
• Don't quarantine giving. The work, ministry, and expenses of LCC and our supported missionaries are continuing and in many ways busier now than ever. 

Beginning May 17th, 2020

What is it? 

Worshiping “together” while physically “distant” in vehicles.

Cars Parked spaced apart for an outdoor service organized facing temporary platform or trailer from which music and preaching. Audio transmitted via speakers FM Transmitter. (this also allows us to do this rain or shine) 

A greater sense of fellowship and togetherness more attuned to corporate worship than passively watching separately on a screen at home.

Note: At the service you'll want to go to THIS LINK to follow the service.

Social Distancing

• Windows closed unless the cars is parked 6 feet from others.
• Stay in YOUR vehicle - nothing exchanged between vehicles, remain in your vehicle, no sharing vehicles - single-family/group.
• Restrooms are only available for emergencies. We encourage all to “go” before coming.
• Offering: We will not pass plates, but encourage donations, offerings, and tithes via mail and online giving. A basket/bin at the exit for offering envelope drop-off when leaving the lot. 

Logistics

• Service Starts at 10:45 AM
• Enter through Seaview Ave. entrance. We encourage you to arrive early. 
• Follow parking attendant instructions. 
• Tune your radio to FM 88.5
• Look up the song lyrics or use the Digital Bulletin

Details/FAQ

• Will there still be a Livestream video? Yes. We know some will not be able to attend in a car for a variety of reasons, so we will still have the video Livestream available on the website. However, the Livestream will be “low tech” in terms of sound and video quality. 

Kids Ministry

Family Integrated

• When families worship together, children receive an amazing intergenerational experience and thus have the opportunity to be influenced by the example of their parents and the congregation.
• We encourage kids to participate in the service as a family. We are seeking to include the kids in our song selection and Pastor’s new series has the kids in mind as well. 
• 8 Tips For Helping Your Child Worship--this is a free printable PDF that gives helpful ways to engage your kids in worship.
• Several options are available for kids’ church notebooks that encourage listening and understanding. Here are a couple we recommend:
• “My Church Notebook” by Truth78 (John Piper’s ministry)
• “Busy Books: Sermon Notebooks For Kids” (recommended for ages 8-12)

Youth Ministry

We encourage our youth to “own” the fact that this is their church. We need you now more than ever. You are digital natives, we are digital immigrants. Some areas that you can serve are:

Greeting 

Idea: holding signs lining the parking lot entrance with happy joyful greetings. 

Technology

Helping with Livestream and slides during the service. Taking pics for Instagram, etc. Helping our church on social media. 

Engaging

• Resources for engaging during services:
• “Busy Books: Sermon Notes For Young Ladies” (Teen Girls)
• “Sermon Notes Journal” (Teens & Adults)
• “52-Week Sermon Notes Journal” (Teens & Adults)

How should you watch the livestream?

1. On a laptop or desktop computer. = The website is the ideal way. www.linwoodcommunity.church/live
2. If your'e using a Smart TV. = The Boxcast or Faithlife TV App (available on all platforms)
3. If you want to interact with others while watching. - Facebook or Youtube livestream both have interactive chat boxes. We also recommend trying the livestream chat on our Faithlife group https://faithlife.com/lccnj/livestream

Website:

Go to https://linwoodcommunity.church/live on any browser.

• Click the video player. It will start when the feed goes live.
• Under related videos you can see previous services.

Facebook:

• Go to our Facebook Page (Give us "like" btw:-)
• The video will go live at the scheduled time.
• You can interact with others during the service.

Youtube:

• Find our channel on whatever youtube app you're on.
• The service video will go live at the scheduled time.
• You can interact with others in the chat.
• Other videos are available to watch as well.

Faithlife TV APP (available on your mobile device or Smart TV

Faithlife TV Follow our Livestream in the mobile app.

https://faithlifetv.com/items/737616

1. iPhone or Ipad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faithlife-tv/id1025325721?ls=1
2. Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faithlife.tvapp.android

For you youngsters with fancy TV's :-)

Smart TV - Use the Faithlife TV or Boxcast App. Find LCC's channel & watch on your big screen.

Faithlife TV App search for the Linwood Community Church channel

https://faithlifetv.com/watch-anywhere

1. Apple TV https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faithlife-tv/id1025325721
2. Amazon Fire TV https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072NCJQMX
3. Roku https://channelstore.roku.com/details/35394/faithlife-tv
4. Chromecast https://faithlifetv.com/watch-anywhere

Boxcast App and search for Linwood Community Church Channel. https://www.boxcast.com/tv-apps-appletv-roku

1. Apple TV https://apps.apple.com/us/app/boxcast/id1113645192
2. Ruku https://channelstore.roku.com/details/90448/boxcast
3. Amazon Fire TV https://www.amazon.com/BoxCast/dp/B07M7WNFM2

I find myself going back to this clip almost every year on Good Friday.

I love this meditation on Good Friday and can’t listen/watch it enough. S.M. (Shadrach Meshack) Lockridge, a pastor in San Deigo from 1953-1993 at Calvary Baptist Church.

Here are two videos with the audio of S.M. Lockridge’s famous sermon “Sunday’s Coming.” The first is powerfully illustrated with footage from “The Passion of the Christ” and the second supplies the text in the screen.

Enjoy and meditate this Good Friday!

It's Friday But Sunday's Coming Passion Video

It's Friday But Sunday's Coming with lyrics

It’s Friday

Jesus is praying

Peter’s a sleeping

Judas is betraying

But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday

Pilate’s struggling

The council is conspiring

The crowd is vilifying

They don’t even know

That Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday

The disciples are running

Like sheep without a shepherd

Mary’s crying

Peter is denying

But they don’t know

That Sunday’s a comin’

It’s Friday

The Romans beat my Jesus

They robe him in scarlet

They crown him with thorns

But they don’t know

That Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday

See Jesus walking to Calvary

His blood dripping

His body stumbling

And his spirit’s burdened

But you see, it’s only Friday

Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday

The world’s winning

People are sinning

And evil’s grinning

It’s Friday

The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands

To the cross

They nail my Savior’s feet

To the cross

And then they raise him up

Next to criminals

It’s Friday

But let me tell you something

Sunday’s comin’

I

t’s Friday

The disciples are questioning

What has happened to their King

And the Pharisees are celebrating

That their scheming

Has been achieved

But they don’t know

It’s only Friday

Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday

He’s hanging on the cross

Feeling forsaken by his Father

Left alone and dying

Can nobody save him?

Ooooh

It’s Friday

But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday

The earth trembles

The sky grows dark

My King yields his spirit

It’s Friday

Hope is lost

Death has won

Sin has conquered

and Satan’s just a laughin’

It’s Friday

Jesus is buried

A soldier stands guard

And a rock is rolled into place

But it’s Friday

It is only Friday

Sunday is a comin’!