Resources for COVID-19

During uncertain times, the church should stand together as community and move forward confidently in faith. This collection of resources should help you with many stressors related to the self-isolation we are practicing. If you need other assistance or prayer, email us or use our online prayer form and we will do what we can to help!

HEALTH

View this post on Instagram

What are the rules for social distancing? Learn more about what the World Health Organization suggests about our recent measures for the health and safety of ourselves and others. . . . #AllInThisTogether #ThisIsHowIChamber #SocialDistancing #SupportLocal

A post shared by Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (@vanchamberusa) on Mar 19, 2020 at 11:37am PDT

A Parent’s Checklist for Preventing Injuries During PandemicDownload

• Vancouver Clinic COVID-19 information
• Clark County Public Health
• WA Department of Health questions line: 1 800 525 0127
• CDC FAQs
• How to talk to your kids about coronavirus
• How to talk to your teen about coronavirus
• Mental health support for parents and children
• PsyberGuide: how to find the best mental health app for you

FOOD

If you are low-risk and find yourself in a good place during this time, consider volunteering at one of the organizations listed here. Many of them rely on older, retired volunteers who are considered high risk, so these organizations could use your help!

• Clark County Food Bank
• Share Summer Meals Program (late June-early August)
• Evergreen School District meal schedule (available at select schools)
• FISH Vancouver
• Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities meal sites

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

• Paid Family & Medical Leave in Washington
• Layoff assistance
• Unemployment benefits
• Clark Public Utilities is suspending disconnects and expanding criteria for payment assistance programs – call 360-992-3000
• WA Department of Financial Institutions resources for residents affected by COVID-19
• Small Business Association guidance and loan resources
• Department of Revenue Business Relief

EDUCATION

• The Dougy Center: back to school with grief and the pandemic
• Daily learning through Scholastic
• Independent learning and activities for teens
• Educational apps
• FVRL resources for learning at home

ENTERTAINMENT

• At-home exercise programs
• Free opera!
• Musicals and plays available on streaming services
• Have a movie night with friends using Hulu Watch Party or Google Chrome and Netflix Party
• Board games for the kids
• 125 things to do with your kids

Ownership: Finding Your Role in the Church Body

Are you a member somewhere? Maybe you have a Costco membership, or you’re a member at a gym. Maybe you grew up in a church where all the members were listed in a directory. Membership at Real Life Church is pretty different from that kind of membership, and not just because we’re not going to put everybody’s info in a directory. We follow a model that encourages leadership, taking responsibility, and getting involved in a deeper way: Ownership.

Next Sunday, February 9th, we’re inviting the church body to attend Vision & Ownership Sunday, a special event where we enjoy lunch together and then talk about Real Life’s vision for the coming year and how you can play a role in it. Attending Vision & Ownership Sunday is a fantastic way to learn more about the concept of Ownership! You can also get a head start by reviewing the Next Steps page about it on our website, here.

2020 is going to be a big year for us. This will be our first full calendar year in our new building. Each week, we’re learning more about what Real Life could be capable of in this new building we’ve been blessed with. Do you want to be part of that movement? Whatever your skill set, interests, or time commitment, we promise there’s a way for you to serve at Real Life and help spread the love of Christ throughout Vancouver. Come to Vision & Ownership Sunday and find out how!

Winter Life Groups Start Sunday

This is the time of year when I tend to want to withdraw. The mad rush of Thanksgiving and Christmas are past. The decorations are packed up again. The weather is cold and unpleasant. All I really want to do is curl up on the couch with a dog and/or cat, a blanket, some tea, and the TV – maybe a book if I’m feeling energetic.

Sometimes that alone time is nice, even valuable, but being part of community is also valuable. Sometimes when we have the instinct to shut the world out, the healthier thing to do is actually invite the world to share in our lives.

That’s what makes the winter session of Life Groups so nice. They’re a great opportunity to make new friends or reconnect with old ones. They offer a safe place to share things that are troubling or challenging us, and get prayer for them. Usually there’s snacks! All in all, Life Groups are an essential part of your faith journey, so we encourage you to try one out – or reconnect with your usual – starting Sunday!

–Laura

Giving Relationally This Christmas

We’re looking forward to celebrating Christmas in community in lots of different ways this year. Kidz ADVENTure is going to meet every Sunday evening, with a special family night on the 22nd. The Christmas choir is going to make Sundays special by helping lead worship and caroling in the foyer in between services. There’s even a way to make giving back to your community part of your holiday celebrations!

What makes a holiday special isn’t how much money you poured into it – it’s the memories you create while celebrating together. There are so many ways to give the gift of presence this Christmas! Here are just a few:

• Do a puzzle or play a board game together.
• Volunteer: serve at church, donate a date night to a couple with kids, or look for a way to serve with a local organization.
• Have a technology-free night and be present without the distraction of screens.
• Bake cookies or make a meal together.
• Take a class: cooking, painting, yoga, etc.
• Check local theaters for special screenings of favorite holiday movies, or create your own movie night at home.
• Get out and explore creation by going on a hike or visiting a local park you’ve never been to before.

Plus, we’re celebrating the gift of presence all December at Real Life! Gather around the Christmas tree in the Commons between services and enjoy cookies and caroling.

Get some more ideas for relational giving here. What are some other fun ways to create special memories with your family this Christmas?

5 Types Of Prayer You Might Not Have Tried

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2 (ESV)

The Bible tells us to be in prayer constantly, to bring all our requests to God, and to lift up others in prayer. Prayer, simply put, is communication with God. Sometimes, however, the concept of praying can be intimidating, or we can get hung up on the “right” way to pray. Whether you are still figuring out prayer, have a hard time remembering to pray daily, or just want to try something new, one of these methods of praying might reveal something for you.

1. Moments of gratitude, also known as practicing the presence of God, challenges us to pay attention to the small daily joys we experience. If you notice something making you feel happy or peaceful or appreciative during your day, let that sensation grow into a prayer of thanksgiving. Take time at the end of the day to reflect on those moments and express that gratitude to God.
2. The Examen prayer is great for people who enjoy keeping a planner or journaling because it utilizes skills you use to evaluate how you spend your time. It’s a way to review your day, your week, or your month, asking God for clarity on how the Holy Spirit was at work in your life. It’s a bit more structured than some styles of prayer, and you can read how it’s done here.
3. Prayers of creative expression can range from journaling or painting to photography or singing. This type of prayer can help creative people express their gifts for worship and not for the pressure of productivity or profit. It can help less-creative people express their emotions unselfconsciously, with only their loving Father to see what they make or write. It can transform abstract desires or hurts into tangible, intimate, creative communication with the One who created us.
4. Wandering prayer is an invitation to get out of the house or away from your workplace and just take a walk, inviting the presence of God to come with you and the Holy Spirit to speak to you. You don’t need a destination; you only need a time of quiet to meander through Creation and listen.
5. Centering prayer is great for people whose minds wander when they pray silently, but who have trouble coming up with words to speak. Pick a short Bible verse (like Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”) and repeat it aloud until you feel God bringing up something else in your heart to pray on.

What’s your favorite way to pray? Have you tried any of these prayers before? Share in the comments!