Welcome to our updates page during this season we find ourselves in! Below is our latest update. Also join our monthly newsletter so you can stay up to date with everything going on here with New City Church.

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Update 7/9/2020

New City Family - As of right now we are prayerfully weighing our options in regards to when and where we can return to our larger, corporate Sunday Gatherings. Right now Roosevelt Middle School is not an option for us due to the school district being closed and they cancelled all civic rentals. The school district will not allow or consider new rentals for us until school is fully in session and open. In the interim, we are encouraging Sunday Watch Parties and we hope to plan more outside gatherings like we did this past Sunday or even finding a parking lot to meet. Again, we are prayerfully weighing our options and hope you will join us in that. Here is a video from Pastor Vince with encouraging words for us and helping us understand who we are as a church and how that can look in this season we find ourselves in. We hope it encourages you!

Update 6/19/2020

Hello New City Family-

We’ve missed you so much! If there is one thing we have learned in these unprecedented times it’s that we need one another more than we thought we did. As of right now we are prayerfully weighing our options in regards to when and where we can return to our larger, corporate Sunday Gatherings. In the interim, we wanted to encourage you all to begin meeting together in smaller, intimate groups called Sunday Watch Parties.  We would love for New City members to host Sunday Watch Parties, inviting friends and family, to the level you’re comfortable with. God forbid “the church” be relegated to only being a meeting in a building with a PA system, projector, and a coffee station. We are spread out throughout our city as our spiritual ancestors were in the early days of Christianity. In some ways this is a return to our roots!

Jesus stayed in and taught from the homes of friends. Jesus had breakfast with his disciples on the beach! Jesus prayed in ‘parks’! We believe this is a practical but realistic step towards meeting together for corporate worship in the future. Just as your spiritual health is important, so is your physical health! That’s why we’ve also put together some basic Health Guidelines for gathering together in smaller groups during COVID-19.

If you host a Sunday Watch Party, please check out both the Sunday Watch Party Guide and the Health Guidelines for Gathering (click to view/download). Also, check out a brief ‘testimonial’ from one of our deacons, Joanna Gray, on hosting a group at her place in recent weeks. 

We love you, and will see you sooner than you think. God bless! 

We've been gathering in my front yard in Hillcrest for a couple weeks now. It's been great to sing together, drink an extra cup of coffee, and share some human contact (even if it's just eye contact) not through a screen. We used a laptop and a speaker and we chased the shade across the yard as the sun rose. Gathering in small groups like this is a great way to keep a sense of rhythm and begin to rebuild a new normal. May we all remember we are sharing our lives together -- no matter how we gather on a Sunday. I love you and I miss you all! And I have a couple more chairs, head on over!" -Joanna

Watch Party Document Links:
Sunday Watch Party Guide
Health Guidelines for Gathering

 

Update 5/23/2020

Hey New City Family!

There was big news announced yesterday. The President has called all governors to open churches, and our governor says that guidelines will be provided on Monday.

Pastor Kenny & I on one hand are of course tempted to fling the doors open this Sunday because we miss worshiping with you all in person in the same room! However, there are pastoral care and logistical issues that need to be sorted out that require a bit more time than a day and a half. Plus, there is more information that we still need before a thoughtful plan can be completed. The School District is still not opening to rentals and our locations at the Bayfront are still not open to Public Gatherings.

The Elders & Deacons of New City will be sorting new options, weighing them, and charting out next steps based on the new information as it comes out, including the guidelines once they are made available to us on Monday. Please pray for us as leaders to have wisdom as we plan the logistics, as we systematically execute them, and as we also try to be both courageous and caring every step of the way.

Since most people aren’t aware of the pastoral implications involved with what is required to get back to worshiping in person, some may be frustrated that we will not be meeting together immediately this Sunday. I certainly understand. I am glad they are just as eager to worship in person together as I am! Please pray for patience and understanding for all of us. Please pray for unity and grace. Please pray for wisdom as we implement each step. We will be moving forward!

You can expect more updates from us next week regarding what the next steps are. Some things will become more obvious to us after each step is taken, and whatever plan we have could possibly be tweaked along the way. We will be sure to keep you informed!

Now, here is something you can do right away:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

I am excited about the progress. Keep praying.

I love you all, Pastor Vince

 

Update 4/23/2020

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

How are you doing? We know we can’t physically be with each other on a consistent basis but we hope we can still help cover needs, help you feel connected and pray for one another during this very different season of life as a family. There are always ways to reach out and we want you to know we are here for you however we possibly can. Below are a few ways we hope to continue to care for one another.

STAYING CONNECTED

We are continuing to meet in our GCMs (Gospel Communities on Mission) through digital video platforms such as Zoom for the most part. GCMs are the heartbeat of New City and are one of the best ways to stay connected, be family and share each other's needs. If you’re not currently in a GCM but want to connect, please send an email to and we will get you connected with people. Do not hesitate to reach out! We are here for you. We love you. You can also stay connected with us online where we can update everyone, encourage each other, share prayer requests and hear from each other.

ONLINE SERVICES

We miss you guys and are thankful this is just a season! We will continue to stream online at 10am PST through Facebook and at www.newcitysd.com for a time of worship & hearing from God’s word. We hope you will join us!  GOSPEL OPPORTUNITY: Invite your friends to join by sharing online!

WAYS TO SERVE & GIVE DURING COVID-19

You or your GCM may be wondering if there are ways to reach out, serve, give of your resources during this season. Here are just a few ways we have found to love & care for our city.

CITY KIDS RESOURCES 



The City Kids team wants to help you minister to your kids at home. We can use this shelter-in-place time as an excuse to develop habits and spiritual disciplines with our families!

 We’ve got worship ideas, devotionals, LOTS of songs and coloring pages. Applicable for a variety of ages. You're never too old for a good, calming coloring page, right? Go to our new resource page at www.newcitysd.com/citykids for all the goods!

 

Update 4/10/2020

Come join us for a time of reflection & communion on GOOD FRIDAY at 8PM. Pastor Kenny will lead us through the stations of the cross. Bring your bread & wine/juice and the downloadable resource of the stations of the cross so you can follow along. 

Click Here to Download Stations of the Cross Resource

Encouraging word about Communion
It is good for us to remember that Jesus instituted this meal in the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, around a family table. For three centuries, during times of persecution and pandemic when public gatherings were not possible, this family meal continued to nourish and strengthen the faith of Jesus’ followers in the face of challenges much greater than our own. We want to encourage you to find ways to share this holy meal together in a time when we need faith and courage most of all.

Join us on Facebook Tonight at 8pm www.facebook.com/newcitysd

And then come celebrate the GOOD NEWS of the resurrection with us on Easter Sunday online at 10AM! We have some special things planned for you this Sunday to help us feel like we are together celebrating so we hope you won’t miss it! This Easter season is a great gospel opportunity as well. Share & post about New City’s Easter service online! We have an opportunity to give people the best news in the world! 

Download this lyric sheet for songs we will be singing on Easter.

Easter service will go live on our Facebook page at 10am! Don’t be late ;)

www.facebook.com/newcitysd

Update 4/1/2020

STAY CONNECTED

We are continuing to meet in our GCMS through digital video platforms such as Zoom for the most part. We are also continuing to meet needs, pray for one another, and find ways to serve together! If you’re not currently in a GCM but want to connect, please send an email to and we will get you connected with people. Do not hesitate to reach out! We are here for you. We love you. You can also stay connected with us online where we can update everyone, encourage others, share prayer requests and hear from each other.

CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULING

LADIES RETREAT - We are announcing new dates for our ladies retreat - November 6th-8th! We want all who registered for our April dates to have some options to pick from due to this change. We know that Covid-19 has definitely disrupted your lives in one way or another so just let us know how we can assist you.

  1. Keep your money toward the retreat for our new dates Nov 6th-8th.
  2. Refund your payment but keep your name on the list and you can pay at another time.
  3. Refund your money completely if you cannot attend Nov 6th-8th.

Email to let us know what your decision is and we will go from there. We are open to whatever God is leading you to do in light of this and ultimately want to support you.

Other important dates that are cancelled:

  • Our Ecuador team unfortunately was not able to go on their mission trip. They do hope to reschedule their trip to a future date so please keep them in prayer for those plans.
  • Our Story of God event was cancelled but keep an eye out for our plans on the next one. Hoping for the end of summer for potential dates.
  • Our Good Friday contemplation art installation event is cancelled at Roosevelt but we hope to have something online that day to guide us through reflecting on the stations of the cross. Stay tuned!
  • The Easter gathering at Roosevelt on April 12th and Beach Day on April 19th is cancelled as we plan to continue our online gatherings during the stay-at-home season.

ONLINE SERVICES CONTINUE FOR ALL OF APRIL 

We miss you guys and are thankful this is just a season! We will continue to stream online at 10am PST through Facebook and at www.newcitysd.com for a time of worship, hearing from God’s word and communion. We hope you will join us! GOSPEL OPPORTUNITY: Invite your friends to join by sharing online!

CITY KIDS RESOURCES 



The City Kids team wants to help you minister to your kids at home. We can use this shelter-in-place time as an excuse to develop habits and spiritual disciplines with our families!

 We’ve got worship ideas, devotionals, LOTS of songs and coloring pages. Applicable for a variety of ages. You're never too old for a good, calming coloring page, right? Go to our new resource page at www.newcitysd.com/citykids for all the goods!

 

Update 3/20/2020

Hello New City Family,

We are praying for you family and thank God for you guys every day! Will you join us in praying for our church family, city, nation, and beyond. We look forward to streaming online this Sunday at 10am PST through Facebook and at www.newcitysd.com for a time of worship and hearing from God’s word. We will also lead a time of communion if you are able to get bread & wine/juice. 

Here are some of the ways New City will be currently structured during this season.

Sunday Gatherings

We will continue to stream online at 10am PST through Facebook and at www.newcitysd.com for a time of worship, hearing from God’s word and communion. 

Gospel Communities

We are thankful that our church is not a building but a family of God. We are fortunate enough to have our Gospel Communities as the heartbeat of New City which helps us stay connected and serve our city well even during this time. We encourage you to stay connected to your Gospel Communities. With the new “Stay at Home” order, you can plan to meet through digital video platforms such as FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, Zoom. And phone calls are back in style! :) If someone needs an errand done or you need to check on someone, you are still allowed to go take care of family & friends during this time. We would love to hear how your GC’s are connecting with each other? Tell us how God is moving you guys to love one another and your neighborhood! **If you’re not currently in a GCM but want to connect online for prayer, CBR and fellowship, please send an email to letting us know. We will get you connected.

Online Community

Stay connected with us online. Online is where we can update everyone, encourage others, share prayer requests and maybe even hear from each other during live video chats. Be on the lookout for spontaneous times of worship, prayer & encouragement with live videos throughout the week. Kenny just shared a live video today so go take a listen now for some encouragement! If you are not signed up on our newsletter yet, sign up here so you can get updates emailed directly to you. 

Financial Support

Continue to financially support the work of New City by giving online. In a time like this, there are greater needs and more ministerial work than ever. We want to continue to see God’s love poured out through our church here in San Diego and beyond. We want to have the financial flexibility to help those in need. We know that many may struggle financially in the coming weeks, but through your generosity, even in tumultuous times, we will have the capacity to help when it is needed. This generosity flows from a faith coming alive in times of adversity, much like the early church, of whom it was said “And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy people among them.” (Acts 4:32-34)

Prayer Requests

If you have prayer requests, please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can be praying for you by going to this link www.newcitysd.com/prayer or share on our Facebook community page. We cannot be together in person but we can hold each other in prayer!

We will see you live online this Sunday at 10am!

New City Leadership Team

 

Update 3/17/2020

Dear New City Church Family,

We are honored that so many of you joined us this past Sunday at the beach and online; even with technical difficulties at the beginning, we had several people tune into our beach service, where Pastor Kenny shared an inspiring message, Trevor led us in worship, and we also heard from City Kids Leaders, who honored the volunteers who love our kids so well, week in and week out. 

Next Sunday we will continue to only stream online at 10am PST through Facebook and at www.newcitysd.com

Some of you will choose to meet together to tune into the Live Gathering as families or in GCM's. Others will tune-in individually, and then connect with community afterward to discuss either online or in person. However you connect with the sermon and community, we urge you to remember in trying times, it always takes INTENTIONALITY to create community. This is why the Author of Hebrews urged the early persecuted church, isolated and in hiding to...

"not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

GOSPEL COMMUNITIES ON MISSION

For GCM's, if you choose to continue to meet, know that “smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Outdoor Gatherings are ideal in this case whenever possible. Any Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines (View most updated local guidelines). 

Other great tools to use during this time of social distancing for your GCMs & DNA groups are Zoom, FaceTime for Apple Users, and Google Hangouts. These are great ways to get that face-to-face time with people that love you. We highly encourage connecting!

If you are not part of a GCM and need to connect with one, check out this site (GCM SITE) to see which one you can connect with or email Heidi at to get connected with a community. We also want to make sure to know of any needs as they come up so please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here for you!

Please stay home if you are sick, have any respiratory symptoms (cough or runny nose), or fever regardless of the presumed cause, need to care for sick household members, or are at high risk for complications from COVID-19 or severe illness (except to get medical care). Please read through CDC's Steps to Prevent Illness, so you and your family can make informed decisions and take preventative measures to protect yourselves and others around you. 

New City Family, we are praying for you and ask that you join us in prayer for our church family, city, nation, and beyond. To stay up to date on what our New City Church and Pastors Kenny & Vince are doing in this season, follow:

New City on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @newcitysd and our Update Page on our website. Sign up for our Newsletter to get updates emailed to you. Please tag us and show us how you are staying encouraged and expressing the peace, hope, and love of God.

In His grip,

New City Leadership Team

 

Update 3/13/2020

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Dear New City Family,

We care for you, your well-being, and the well-being of our community. We want to call you, along with our entire church, to pray for one another, our city, and the global church as we step into uncharted territory in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. This is a time for the church to shine as the light this fear-struck world so desperately needs. 

The leadership of New City Church is aware of the confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our area this week. Although the cases yielded “presumptive positive” test results until confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we recognize the significance of this development and what it may mean for our community. San Diego County & the California Governor Gavin Newsom announced restrictions & guidelines for us to currently follow to help provide safety and health measures (See guidelines here). We also have been made aware that San Diego Unified School District will be closed beginning Monday at least until April 6th. 

Due to these changes & guidelines, we want to inform you on our current plans to move forward as a church. See also Pastor Kenny’s video message to us above.

We still plan to meet this coming Sunday March 15th at 10am on Vacation Isle. This bayside gathering will become more of a time to encourage one another, worship together and pray as a family in the outdoors, as we move into a season of not meeting on Sundays in person. We still plan to provide the food truck & ample hand sanitizer. We will notify you immediately if there are any further developments or cancellations (due to rain or the like). We ask that if you are sick or your family members are sick, please stay home for your safety and the safety of others.

For our Sunday gathering time, we plan to host Online Services for the rest of the month & Palm Sunday (3/22, 3/29,  4/5). This could change as developments come in and we will keep you informed. Our online services will bring an opportunity to worship together through music, to hear a sermon from our current series in Luke, to give online, and to interact with each other through the comment section. We will be streaming live on our New City Facebook Page at 10:00 am. If you want to meet as a GCM to watch the service or to meet up to reflect on the sermon, we will leave that up to each group to decide. We recommend outdoor meetings as much as possible. We hope that you stay connected through your GCMs in some way so we can continue in community even if we cannot meet in person. Again, this is a time for the church to shine and be the light to our world and to each other. We are not a building but a people who God has called to be family. Again, take a moment to watch our video from Pastor Kenny too.

Here are ways we will be communicating with you:

Website Page for most current updates from us www.newcitysd.com/updates

Facebook www.facebook.com/newcitysd

Newsletter https://www.newcitysd.com/connect/newsletter/

Twitter https://twitter.com/newcitysd

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/newcitysd

For Online Services: CLICK HERE

For Online Giving: CLICK HERE

Please read through CDC's Steps to Prevent Illness, so you and your family can make informed decisions and take preventative measures to protect yourselves and others around you.

In His Grip,

New City Leadership Team