Over the coming weeks we hope this page can be a resource to everyone, helping you keep connected and living out the Better Life Jesus calls us to.
Why not investigate how you might meet as a Cell group online? Click to see a Zoom How to Guide which will help you set up a Zoom call. Any problems try this Zoom Troubleshooting guide. Do let us know how you get on and send us any pictures!
Reading the Bible together: The Bible App is a great way to read the Bible, and if friends sign up to read the same Reading Plan together they can then discuss it afterwards via the App or other Messaging Apps. There is also a Bible App for Kids to help children connect with the Bible.
Or check out the Bible Project for creative content to help you read and engage with the Bible at this time.
Lots of our Clusters and Cell Groups already have Message Groups – can we encourage you to keep connected! Send an encouragement, suggest good ideas, let people know if you need help, or can offer help. Now is the time for our communities to do what they’re best at!
Most families are now figuring out what it looks like to have the kids at home! Rich & Bryony Wells (part of STC Families Church) have put together a fabulous website (Honey I’m Stuck with the Kids) with lots of ideas for keeping the kids entertained and helping your family have fun and thrive.
Looking for a new way to read the bible every day? Lectio 365 App is from 24-7 Prayer and Pete Grieg their founder. It’s a daily bible and devotional app that helps you read the bible and pray everyday. In this season why not use this along with the STC Daily Podcast? You can download the app from the App Store or Google play.
Do you know someone who is not online and so can’t access the Sunday gatherings? The Church of England have created a dial in Daily Prayer and Worship service that people can access through their phone. Call 0800 804 8044 to access daily prayers, worship and services. The line is open 24 hours a day 7 days per week.
If you want to keep worshipping with the songs we sing on Sundays at STC we have made a Spotify playlist with lots to the songs we’ve been singing recently. New Songs have been added and check out the STC Reflections playlist with quieter more reflective songs to use in quite times.
Worship for Everyone is led by Nick & Becky Drake, part of Gas Street Church, Birmingham. They are passionate about seeing the whole family of God unite in worship together. You may recognise a few of their songs that we sing at STC. Each week they are recording a resource including family worship songs, Bible story and they get their kids involved too. Lots of fun… check it out here!
This year Spring Harvest (Christian festival) had to move their Easter festival online. They had a full programme each day, including teaching, worship, kids and youth resources all of which is still available via their YouTube channel. Click here to look at the programme and how to get connected.
At STC we will be showing our Sunday Gatherings at 10:30am on our Facebook page and afterwards on our YouTube channel. We’d love you to Join us!
We can also recommend these other great churches that are also showing gatherings online.
HTB, London They make their online gathering available from 9:30am till 9:30pm.
Gas Street, Birmingham They are showing their gathering at 11am & 6pm each Sunday.
Prayer is so key at this time and we’d love to encourage everyone to pray daily for an end to this pandemic and for all those serving us on the front line at this time. We are sending out a weekly prayer email to the church so do sign up via this link if you’re not already receiving this.
If you have a prayer request and would like others to support you in prayer, please contact your cell or cluster leader. They will then be able to pass this on to your church leader.
Together in Prayer (Sheffield) is a group of Christians who are looking to help facilitate online prayer times across the city at this time. Why not join one of their evening prayer times and check out other events they are doing in the coming weeks.
At the moment we are still hosting Foodbank at STC and they are in need of donations – so please do drop off donations at Tesco Infirmary Rd or any other S6 Foodbank donation point. Alternatively if you feel you can donate financially then do follow this link.
A number of groups are being set up around the city, helping to connect those in need with people who can help. You may already had some information from one operating in your area, we’d love to encourage you if you feel able to get involved in serving our neighbours in whatever way you can. Below are a few links to Mutual Aid groups running in Sheffield.
Baby Basics is a volunteer-led project aiming to support new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby. They started in Sheffield in the spring of 2009, and works with a wide range of frontline health and social care professionals. Baby Basics provides much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families who are unable to provide these items for themselves; including but not limited to teenage mums, people seeking asylum and women fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking.
Many women in our church were planning to go to Colour Conference this year before it had to be cancelled. Colour Conference is all about meeting with God and seeing Him transform the lives of 1000s of women, and one of their core values is having a postive local impact. Therefore, a number of women from the group have committed to supporting Baby Basics, and donating some of what they would have spent on meals, accommodation and train travel during the conference to support women in need in our city - to show God's love by buying practical gifts that could transform the lives of many women and children in our city.
The group are crowd-funding on Just Giving to afford to buy some of the higher ticket price items, such as pushchairs and slings, that Baby Basics regularly need, and purchasing items from their Amazon Wishlist for them. If you are able to give this is a fantastic cause and we would be so grateful for any contributions!
In this time of change we really feel that there is an opportunity for us to explore new and creative ways of living a life of discipleship and mission. Meeting with Jesus in the everyday, and sharing him with those around us.
If you haven’t signed up to our This Week at STC mailing list, now is a good time to do so as we will be using this to keep the church family updated – email [email protected].
Love and prayers from the STC Staff Team