Wednesday, May 27

Dear Nova Family,

As the Nova Board met (virtually) this past week, we decided that it would be a good idea to get a letter out to the church to provide status on a few topics. In this letter, we will cover an update on Nova’s ministry, financial health, and discuss the planning process on when we begin gathering again, what those gatherings may look like, and some events that we can look forward to soon after re-gathering.

CHURCH LIFE UPDATE

First off, we want to commend you, our staff and servant leaders for the outstanding job they have done and continue to do during this time of online worship. “Nova at Home” has been tremendously successful and a true ministry to the body of believers that is Nova Community Church and beyond. The numbers associated with the Nova at Home worship service as available through online monitoring software indicate that we are seeing large attendance from a broad spectrum of attendees from a variety of locations including many from outside the state of California. This ministry during these days has broadened the outreach of Nova and served as a resource for many more than those who attended gatherings on our campus. We are pleased that God has used these circumstances to make us of greater impact to the Church. The staff, worship team, children’s ministry leaders, and media ministry team have made use of their gifts and abilities in a tremendously effective way.

Also, the life of the church has continued to flourish and grow during this pandemic in response to the needs and concerns of both Nova and our surrounding community. We have continued to support our Feeding the Hungry and Laundry Love ministries and have expanded our service and outreach to include food bank distributions, grocery delivery to those unable to go to the store, and the inclusion of other local churches in our Nova At Home ministry. Additionally, Nova small groups have continued to meet regularly using available computer technology and we have added groups recently as people seek the engagement and interaction combined with the closeness and accountability that only small groups can provide. A significant number of regular Nova attenders are currently participating in small group ministry online.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Several people have expressed questions or concerns regarding Nova’s financial status and the impact on our finances of not having campus gatherings. Giving all glory to God and commending you for your faithful obedience, we are pleased to report that Nova’s finances are in good shape. Our income according to your continued giving continues to exceed our expenses, and we have been able to build on a general fund balance through the first month (April) of the new church fiscal year. This is – as mentioned in our last letter – relative to last year’s budget as the Board agreed to continue with that budget in lieu of an approved church fiscal year 2021 budget (which would have happened by now under usual circumstances). 

LOOKING AHEAD

As you may have heard, the California Department of Public Health announced on Memorial Day that churches have permission to open statewide pending approval by each county. Los Angeles County announced on Tuesday that it will align with the State’s latest guidelines which include limitations on gathering size and density. The staff is well into planning for our future meetings and is currently assessing those guidelines and limitations relative to our plan. Our predominant concern is that we meet as soon as possible but with wisdom and foresight regarding church safety. This dictates that we are careful, thoughtful and deliberate with a keen eye on the details of our re-gathering plan both to adhere to authorized guidelines and limit the number of issues and surprises that might accompany a rush to meet. Please be patient with this process and trust the staff to do the requisite work as efficiently and quickly as possible. We know most people are excited to see each other in-person again. We need to make sure we do so in a safe and well-organized way.

To provide some initial insight, the staff is studying having our first meetings outside using our remarkable grass area to bring us together while remaining acceptably apart (socially distanced). We are also looking into having some aspect of the outdoor gathering which allows people to remain in their cars should they be unable or unwilling to join a lawn gathering for whatever reason. In any case, as soon as state and local authorities allow, we plan to follow their guidance and gather for worship. These gatherings will be videoed and later posted so that our Nova At Home services may continue. We are working the logistical and practical planning now and will have more information as it becomes available. 

Shortly after our first gathering and in a similar format it is our intent to hold our delayed Annual Meeting. During this meeting we will approve and adopt a new budget and elect our new officers and leaders. 

In a separate meeting soon thereafter, we plan to gather for the purpose of re-engaging on our Open Campaign. God has again provided for and blessed Nova through member faithfulness as we have seen solid and consistent giving to the campaign both in pledged and unpledged gifts. We continue to feel God’s guidance and provision for the goals and objectives of this campaign and need to meet soon to discuss the next steps.

Finally, if you or someone you know needs assistance of any kind, please call or email a Nova leader so we can utilize Nova resources to support you.

We continue to constantly and earnestly pray for an end to this pandemic and a return to in-person gatherings. Even so, we continue to be amazed at God’s goodness and love during it. We see God’s hand in all our adjustments and accomplishments, many of which would not have happened without COVID-19. Please join with us in reading Chapter 8 of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Perhaps the greatest section of the greatest letter ever written, it is a clear reminder that God has this and all circumstances well controlled in his mighty hand and has our best purpose, now and forever well-established.  

Walking alongside you,

Andrew Pitman and the Nova Board

Pastor Dean Mayeda and the Nova Staff

Get Ready for Nova Online!

March 27, 2020

Friday, March 27

Friends,

Throughout this letter I want to communicate a simple theme to all of you, urgency. Please note that urgency is not synonymous with words such as panic, fear, or anxiety. I want to communicate this specific theme to you because it is necessary during these chaotic times. The church, perhaps now more than ever in recent history, needs to fulfill its mission.

In the early 4th century, a plague broke out in the Roman Empire and ravaged the area, especially the city of Caesarea. Most of the residents of Caesarea fled the city and took refuge in the countryside while leaving the sick and outcasts behind. However, there was one group who stayed behind, the Christians. Eusebius, a church historian at this time, recorded that the Christians cared for the sick and fed those who did not have food, among many other Christ-like actions. He stated that the Christians’ “deeds were on everyone’s lips, and they glorified the God of the Christians.” I don’t know about you, but this brief story moves me greatly and inspires me to do the same today.

I should say, we are obviously not in a plague. However, that does not diminish the seriousness of the situation we are currently in. All indications are this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better. I only say this because it is the reality of the situation, and coming to terms with this reality will help to better prepare us for what we need to do and be as the church in the immediate future.

Friends, now, perhaps more than ever in recent history, is the time for the church to fulfill its calling of caring for our neighbor with Christ-like love. When this pandemic eventually passes, how will Nova Community Church look back at itself? Will we have simply sat on the sideline and waited for things to go back to “normal,” or will we have reached out to our neighbor in love and met their needs where we were able? We cherish teachings such as “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and my hope is that the people of Nova would truly do so during these times.

You may be wondering what you can even be doing in this period of self-quarantine and social distancing. Granted, these are fairly significant obstacles, but they are not insurmountable. If you are able-bodied and not at-risk of serious complications if you should contract COVID-19, you can run errands or go grocery shopping for those who cannot. Byron Jung, church-planter of Momentum Christian Fellowship, shared with the Nova staff something that one of his former students is currently doing in his neighborhood. If you cannot read the text in this photo, it is a flyer offering to run errands for anyone who cannot leave their home during this time. This flyer was dropped off at every house in their neighborhood with the volunteers’ phone numbers listed. I encourage those in our church family who are able to do the same, or something similar.

There are also an incredible amount of social needs not being met at this time. Humans are created to be in community with one another and when community is stripped away it can lead to depression and diminished mental health. Obviously, we cannot interact face-to-face with our neighbors at this time, but we have many technology-based resources at our fingertips. Give one of your neighbors a call or try FaceTiming an old friend just to see how they are doing. I know it can feel weird to call someone “out of the blue,” but just keep in mind that some of your neighbors have potentially been without any sort of social interaction for a significant amount of time. Imagine what something as simple as a phone call could do for their spirits.

But don’t limit yourself to the ideas provided in this letter. Get creative! Think of inventive ways you can be loving and serving those in your neighborhood and sphere of influence.

And so, we return to the theme of this letter, urgency. Why does any of this have to be urgent? By all indications, the virus is going to spread greatly throughout the next few weeks. Many high-ranking officials including Surgeon General Jerome Adams have all said the same thing. Therefore, now is the time to reach out to your neighbor and make that connection. Now is the time to offer aid to someone who needs it. Now is the time to check in on your friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Of course, all while responsibly practicing social distancing and taking necessary precautions.

One of the goals for the Open Campaign has been that Nova would be known by its surrounding community for its love, care, and openness to others. While we never in our wildest dreams could have expected the situation we are currently in, this goal does not change for Nova. My hope is that when this pandemic has passed us by, the results of the church’s actions would resemble that of the 4th century church in Caesarea. The church’s “deeds were on everyone’s lips, and they glorified the God of the Christians.”

Amen.

Blessings,

Garrett Koch

Director of Local Missions

Thursday, March 19, 3:00pm

Dear Nova Family,

It’s incredible how quickly things can change! Two weeks ago, the Nova Board met to determine the path ahead on our Open Campaign and Project. With excitement and anticipation, we looked forward to our Annual Meeting on March 29th where together our Nova congregation would decide how to proceed towards completing our Open vision. We had it all planned out! But then…

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this past Sunday delivered a new experience. For the first time ever, Nova met online for worship. And while it wasn’t the same as gathering together in person, what a wonderful experience it was joining with other Nova people in worship from the comfort of our own “socially-distanced” homes. A huge thanks to our Nova Staff for putting together our first online worship experience on short notice.

Following guidance from all levels of government and health officials, Nova will not hold in-person gatherings through the end of March, and then will re-evaluate on a week-to-week basis as more information comes to light. In the meantime, we will continue to worship together on Sundays through our new online format (www.novachurch.org/online), and seek out new opportunities throughout each week to be the church in love and service. As Pastor Dean reminded us on Sunday, “church” is not the place where we worship. The church is the body of Christ united together in action.

BE THE CHURCH

An old hymn echoes the words of John 13:35 with the lyrics “…they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Brothers and sisters, this is our time! When the world seems to be crumbling, followers of Jesus throughout the centuries have responded with grace and love, often at great cost. As many of the comforts and security of our modern living are chipped away, may the world see in us a strong foundation built on our faith and hope in Christ. It is our mission – it has always been our mission – to share the hope of the gospel through our words and through acts of love.

In this new season, look for ways to actively love a neighbor or co-worker, especially if you find yourself with some extra free time these days! Use whatever resources you have at your disposal to be a blessing. Most of all, provide hope to those who are hurting or are feeling lost. For this reason, as long as we are able, Nova will continue to serve our community through Feeding the Hungry, Laundry Love, and through our relationships with local assisted living homes.

GIVING & RECEIVING

We know that this season will be challenging for many Nova people. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call or email a Nova leader or friend so we can utilize Nova resources to support you. Likewise, if you are in a position to provide help, consider:

1) Giving to Nova’s Benevolence Fund, providing financial assistance to Nova people in need during this time (mail a check to the church office, or give at www.novachurch.org/giving)

2) Joining a team of Nova Servants, volunteering your time to assist those who need help with shopping, delivering meals, or other tasks. (Sign up by sending an email to mail@novachurch.org)

CHURCH BUSINESS

Since we are unable to gather together for the next several weeks, the Annual Meeting must be postponed to an undetermined later date. To keep the business of the Church moving forward in the interim, the Nova Board has voted to continue operating to the current fiscal year budget on a month-to-month basis, and to extend the terms of elected church officers until the Annual Meeting is held.

LOOKING AHEAD

Nova leadership will continue to provide various updates via email and at www.novachurch.org. If you would like to be added to the email list, send a message to mail@novachurch.org.

We pray you are encouraged this week! While our own plans may be delayed or cancelled, God’s plan for His people and His world have not been thwarted. God is in control and we rest in Him and in His love for us. We know the end of the story. Let’s pray together that God will give us faith and boldness along this journey.

Walking alongside you,

Andrew Pitman and the Nova Board

Pastor Dean Mayeda and the Nova Staff

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