It’s that time again – join your fellow north east churches for the Taking Ground Celebration Service!
On Sunday 11th April at 11am, you can:
- Watch the live stream on the Taking Ground Facebook page or the Taking Ground YouTube channel;
- or attend the Oakwood Centre in person, following our guidelines further down this page.
Our Facebook Page
Our YouTube Channel
The ‘Meanwhile’ of God
As well as worship and regional updates from our north east family, Martin Dunkley, leader of Taking Ground, will be speaking to us on this intriguing topic based on the following scripture:
Genesis 37:34–36
[34] Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. [35] All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
[36] Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.
In the midst of situations that present and feel a certain way, God can be working something very different.
It’s an opportunity to review the unexpected things God has being doing behind the scenes over the last 12 months.
What to Expect: Attending in Person
The Celebration will have many of the familiar elements – worship, prayer and preaching, etc. – but will look quite different to our Celebrations pre-lockdown.
Arrival
Those attending will need to arrive between 10:35-10:50 in order to get everyone safely into their seats before 11am. Face masks must be worn at all times.
Everyone arriving will go through the following process:
Show Ticket
Everyone attending will need to have pre-booked via the link below.
Check Temperature
Using infrared thermometers we will check to ensure that no-one has a high temperature.
Sanitise Hands
Hand sanitiser will be available in the foyer and throughout all accessible areas of the building.
Find a Seat
Stewards will help direct you to seats so that households can sit together, socially distanced from others.
During the service
During the service, you need to remain seated or standing by your chair, unless you need to use the toilets. Services will be approximately one hour long.
Government guidance means that we are not allowed to sing together, but the band will lead worship from the stage.
After the service
After the service, please leave the building promptly and do not hang around for a chat, even in the car park! We will not be able to serve any refreshments.
Book your seat!
Everyone attending must pre-book a ticket via our Churchsuite database. Please click the link below and fill in your details:
Note: If you are on a service team (eg in the worship band, tech team, stewarding, leading or preaching) a ticket will be reserved for you as part of our rota management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Oakwood Centre?
You’ll find us at: The Oakwood Centre, Cleasby Way, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, TS16 0RD.
There is a free car park on-site.
Will I be safe attending the service?
We have taken time to study the government guidelines, as well as learning best practice from the Evangelical Alliance and other churches. With the involvement of healthcare professionals, we have developed comprehensive procedures to ensure our services at the Oakwood Centre will be as safe as possible.
I am considered vulnerable. Should I attend?
In line with government guidance, we advise anyone who is vulnerable to Covid-19 to consider staying away from our services. You can still join us online.
What if I have symptoms?
Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell) or who has been asked to self-isolate (due to being a contact of a case, because of their recent travel history, or at the request of a medical professional for any other reason) should not attend the Oakwood Centre due to the risk that they pose to others; they should self-isolate at home immediately with other members of their household.
Can we sing?
Unfortunately there will be no congregational singing for now, because of the high risk of ‘aerosol transmission’. Apparently, masks don’t help with that either. We are only allowed a small group of singers on the stage, leading everyone else.