Blog Posts

Jayson Byrd • June 11, 2020

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

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. :-)
We encourage you to follow the Governor’s Executive Order in regard to Face Masks.
Restrooms should be used in a limited and distanced way.
Wash hands regularly.
Use the added hand sanitizer stations often.
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.

LCC Drive-in Service

Jayson Byrd • May 15, 2020

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 to Watch Livestream

Linwood Community Church • April 12, 2020

How should you watch the livestream?

On a laptop or desktop computer. = The website is the ideal way. www.linwoodcommunity.church/live
If your'e using a Smart TV. = The Boxcast or Faithlife TV App (available on all platforms)
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

iPhone or Ipad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faithlife-tv/id1025325721?ls=1
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

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

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

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

It's Friday...But Sunday's Comin'

Jayson Byrd • April 10, 2020

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’

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’!

LCC Live Streaming

Jayson Byrd • March 20, 2020

A simple guide to watching our services live when you’re not able to attend in person.

Plan:

Out of love for God and love for neighbor, we plan to still “Be the Church” and comply with recommendations and guidelines for social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. Our desire was to offer online options “someday” anyway, but in God’s providence, this event has sped that up.

Worship Services:

will be streamed live at 9:30 and 11:00 AM on Sundays. You can access the stream in multiple ways, as we want to give many options depending on how you access online media.

Meetings & Small Group Gatherings:

Small meetings and interactive prayer gatherings will be conducted via Zoom. A “how-to” info sheet will be coming soon.

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

Immediate Purpose:

To allow our church and community to remain connected and continue to be the church while following social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ongoing Purpose:

To extend the “front porch” of our church. Allow shut-ins and sick to stay connected as well as those traveling or on military deployment.

How to Connect to Live Stream

We Livestream via Boxcast, which allows us to stream to many locations to give you several options to watch. Just pick which one works best for you.

Via a Web browser:

Simply go to https://linwoodcommunity.church/live on any browser. This is the most simple and direct way.

On Social Media

Youtube: Go to our LCC Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjbJx57PTnKbuRSw1BVni4A/discussion?view_as=subscriber
Facebook Live: Follow our Facebook Page. The service will go live there. https://www.facebook.com/Linwoodcommunity.church

Mobile App

Faithlife TV Follow our Livestream in the mobile app. https://faithlifetv.com/items/737616

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

Smart TV

Use the Boxcast App and search for Linwood Community Church Channel. https://www.boxcast.com/tv-apps-appletv-roku
Apple TV https://apps.apple.com/us/app/boxcast/id1113645192
Ruku https://channelstore.roku.com/details/90448/boxcast
Amazon Fire TV https://www.amazon.com/BoxCast/dp/B07M7WNFM2
Faithlife TV App search for the Linwood Community Church channel

https://faithlifetv.com/watch-anywhere

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

Special Message

Please note that this is new to us and we are learning. So, please be patient with us. We appreciate the feedback and helpful suggestions. “Until the whole world knows”

LCC Weekend Update

Jayson Byrd • March 13, 2020

Beloved LCC Family,

With the growing concern and cancelations regarding (COVID0-19) Coronavirus, I wanted to send a note about our plans at LCC for this weekend.

We will still be holding our regularly scheduled services, groups, and classes with the following precautions and adjustments. We are attempting to be discerning as to the best course of action, listening to national and state leaders while holding to our convictions regarding fundamental aspects of the Christian life, namely the corporate worship of God’s people. We should not be motivated by fear but by love for God and love for neighbor.

If you are sick, we encourage you to stay home out of love for neighbor and Christian brother.
If you are in a high-risk group, etc. feel free to stay home without feeling any undue guilt or shame for doing so. It’s okay, really :-).
We’re encouraging you to avoid handshaking temporarily. Smiles, words of encouragement, elbow bumps, Vulcan signs ;-), etc. are still encouraged.
We’ve made sure hand sanitizer is in plentiful supply and the facilities are sanitized.
Sermon Change: In light of the growing concern nationally, I’m changing the sermon to a topical message on “Trusting God in the face of Coronavirus.” We will resume our expository series through Luke next week.
Online Messages: We’ll be posting sermons on the website and sending them to those requesting a copy by CD who are unable to attend in person.

In the message, we will consider God's sovereign control, his goodness, and wisdom to which we can respond in trust. 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. We are making safe and secure online giving available here.

Here are a couple of articles for you to consider.