COVID-19 Self-Assessment
All Sunday guests, mid-week programming participants and staff will be asked to perform a self-assessment before coming into the Orangeville site. A copy of the recommended self-assessment can be found at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/. A copy of the assessment questions are also attached below for review.
If you find yourself unfit to be in the building, you must decide whether or not you should be tested for COVID-19.
Update NO. 16 - March 10, 2022
Following public health guidelines, Compass will no longer require masking in our Sunday services and mid-week ministries, beginning March 21, 2022. You are welcome to come as you are comfortable. We will continue our cleaning protocols throughout our building, with emphasis on our nursery and Compass Kids ministry rooms. Let’s continue to extend grace to one another in this season of transition.
Update NO. 15 - January 5, 2022
On Monday, January 3 the Ontario government issued a COVID-19 update and announced that the province was moving back to a modified Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen. We want to clarify how Compass plans to continue to offer ministry during this time. We serve a God without limits, and we believe he is calling us to creativity and faithfully trust that he will build the church as we pursue the mission of the gospel in our community.
Compass is open and ready for you! During this season, we will continue to offer Sunday morning services online (10am), live in-person at our Orangeville site (9am & 11am) and starting January 23 video watch parties in Grand Valley at In Memoriam (10am, 28 Main St N. Grand Valley). Our in-person gatherings will operate at 50% capacity in all our rooms. You do not need to pre-register or reserve a seat. We will be monitoring attendance numbers at our doors and have multiple viewing rooms for you to choose from. During our Sunday services we offer programming for Compass Kids (Nursery-Grade 5) and Compass Jr. High Students (Grades 6-8). We prioritize each other’s health and safety and ask those attending to maintain physical distancing, properly wear face masks, use hand sanitizer, and follow public health guidelines. If you have any signs and symptoms of illness please stay home and join us online.
Mid-week ministries continue at our Orangeville Site for Compass Students, Young Adults, Compass Women, Compass Seniors, and Freedom Session. Each gathering will follow the same health protocols and room capacity limits as our Sunday Services. Office hours at our Orangeville site remain as Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-4pm. Home Groups are a unique ministry at Compass as they don’t happen at our physical sites. We suggest you follow the governmental guidelines for social gatherings, meet online or consider a creative alternative for meeting. As you think through how and when to connect, allow God to spark some creative ideas on how to remain safe and still encourage one another, study, pray and have some fun!
We understand what a challenging time this continues to be for our congregation, staff and church leaders as they seek to make decisions that demonstrate love for God and others. As a church family we have clear direction and encouragement from God’s Word on how we are to conduct ourselves as God’s children. Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” and Ephesians 4:2-3 echoes this exhortation, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” As the church, we have a unique calling in this season. Let’s stand together and pray for each other as we continue to navigate these ongoing challenges trusting in God’s grace and wisdom to guide us.
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
2021 Updates
Update NO. 14 - July 21, 2021
Compass is open and ready for you! Over the past few weeks, we have been gathering in-person for worship on Sundays at 10am at our Orangeville Site and have successfully welcomed hundreds of children to experience Compass Camps. Now, as Ontario enters Step 3 of reopening, we are expanding our capacity for in-person gatherings, and we invite you to join us.
Why Come?
Come because there is an ache and a need to CONNECT in-person.
Come because we can grow and THRIVE in faith as we provide a place for witness and worship in our community.
Come because we have the opportunity to COMMIT to rebuild as we pursue our mission of spiritual transformation in our community.
Come because we miss you and WE NEED YOU. We really are better together.
What to Expect
We are currently able to accommodate children in Grades 1-5 in our Compass Kids program. This is in addition to our Family Viewing Room, Compass Café and availability of our unsupervised Nursery for those with younger ones. Starting this Sunday, reservations are no longer required, but we do encourage you to come early. We still require you to wear a mask inside and maintain physical distancing.
In August, in addition to live teaching, we are excited to have increased capacity and we are building towards live worship teams in our Sunday services at 10am.
Starting August 22, we will be launching full programing and care for children from Nursery to Grade 5, with Jr. High programming as well. Also, during the month of August, we are planning outdoor events and gatherings in both Grand Valley and Shelburne as we anticipate the relaunch of those sites in the fall.
Starting September 12, we will be doubling our capacity at our Orangeville Site and offering two Sunday services at 9am and 11am. As well, programing for Compass Kids and Compass Jr. High Students will be resuming in their upstairs classrooms. All children will continue to check-in on our iPad system when they arrive for their program. We are also making plans for the re-launch of mid-week ministries for Groups, Students, Women and Seniors. To ensure we are able to expand our in-person ministries while maintaining our online presence we must rebuild our volunteer teams. This will require many people, hopefully including you, to serve together for the sake of the gospel.
To stay up to date, be sure you and your friends are connected through Compass News! You can sign up on the front page of our website.
So, whether you will be gathering in-person or joining us online next Sunday, our purpose as a Church will be to worship God, speak His truth and show His love. We can’t wait to see you!
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update NO. 13 - June 29, 2021
With the coming of summer and the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions we are able to plan for the return to in-person services! Beginning Sunday, July 4 we will be gathering in-person for worship at our Orangeville Site starting at 10 am. Our staff and volunteers are working hard to put together a safe, worshipful in-person experience for those who wish to join us on Sunday mornings. We will also continue to deliver a consistent online worship experience on Sundays at 10am or on-demand through our website.
For our in-person worship services you will be required to maintain physical distancing, and wear face coverings while inside the church building. Our seating is currently limited by COVID-19 restrictions. We will be offering a modified children’s program and a class for Jr. High students and the service will be livestreamed to the Café and Family Viewing Room.
If you plan to come, please make a reservation through our website or by using the links in our weekly Compass News emails. For the first few weeks, as we rebuild our volunteer teams some elements of our services will be pre-recorded, but the preaching will be live. This is the best time to step up and get involved. We appreciate your prayers and patience as we try to serve as many as we can in-person and continue to care for our greater church family online.
We will be providing weekly Talking Points for groups and families who wish to gather throughout the summer for study, prayer and connection. Our hope is to return to services at full capacity at all sites, including Shelburne and Grand Valley as soon as we are able, and restrictions allow. Our church office will be open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Our staff team and elders are available to support you in this season. As a church, our methods and models will change but our mission remains the same: The Great Commission and the Great Commandment, all pursued for the glory of God. So whether you will be gathering in-person or joining us online next Sunday, our purpose as a Church will be to worship God, speak his truth and show his love. We can’t wait to see you!
Update No. 12 - April 7, 2021
The provincial government announced a province-wide declaration of emergency and a stay-at-home order for the next 4 weeks. Effective April 8 at 12:01 am our Sunday services will be online only. There will be no in-person services.
Mid-week ministries will be shifting to online programming only during the stay-at-home order. However, our senior adult ministry will be suspended until COVID-19 restrictions have lifted and we are able to host our Wednesday Bible study in-person at the Orangeville site.
Our office will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, April 8 throughout the stay-at-home order. Our admin team will regularly check phone messages, our exterior drop box at our Orangeville site and they will be answering emails between 8:30-4:30pm on weekdays. Our admin team and pastoral staff are available to support you in this season.
Update No. 11 - April 1, 2021
The provincial government announced today that we are in a province-wide shutdown for the next 4 weeks. What does that mean for Compass?
In-Person Services - Compass will remain open for in-person Sunday services at the newly reduced 15% capacity. If we are at capacity and you are unable to reserve a seat, please join us online at 10am. Compass Kids programming and family viewing rooms continue to be available also at the 15% reduced capacity. Please continue to reserve your seats online.
Mid-Week Ministries - All our mid-week ministries will continue at 15% capacity, with our student ministry shifting to our larger auditorium venue to ensure physical distancing.
Update No. 10 - February 23, 2021
“Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Although not an actual beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount, this is a piece of wisdom that could easily apply to this past year. As a church, Compass has had to be flexible and creative in pursuing ministry while navigating public health shutdowns and restrictions due to COVID-19. We are thankful that the mission of the church continues as Jesus fulfils his promise to build his Church (Mt. 16:8). Once again, we are pivoting to in-person gatherings for our services and ministries. It is exciting to know that we can gather together both at our Orangeville site and online as one church. As Jesus reminds us in John 4:23, the location of our worship is not as important as the content and our attitude. So, as we gather for worship in various ways over the next few months let us do so with joy, love, humility, and expectation.
Important Updates
Sunday Services
We are excited to be meeting once again in-person and will resume our in-person gatherings beginning this Sunday, February 28 at 10am. Our Compass Kids and Jr. High students will resume their Sunday morning classes. We are also offering a Family Viewing Room for those will smaller children. All of those reservation details and options are online. Reserve your spot today!
Our online service will continue Sundays at 10am. You can access Sunday services through our website. All past services and messages can also be found online to watch on-demand. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or connect with us on our Facebook page. Sunday program resources for kids and weekly Talking Point questions for groups and families are also online.
Mid-Week Ministry Programs
Throughout the month of March, all of our mid-week ministries will be offering in-person programming at the Orangeville site, along with online programming options, while our area is in the Red Zone. All the details can be found on our ministry website pages.
Office Hours
Our office will be open to the public beginning Tuesday, February 23. Our office hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Our admin team will regularly check phone messages, our exterior drop box at our Orangeville site and will be answering emails weekdays between 8:30-4:30pm. Our admin team and pastoral staff are available to support you in this season.
For Your Safety
For your safety and the safety of others, all COVID-19 protocols are in place.
Personal Protection Equipment: In accordance with government standards, masks are required for all Sunday services and mid-week ministry programs. The only exception is for children under 2 years of age, or those with respiratory or other medical issues for whom it would be problematic to wear a mask. We recommend you come with your own face mask; however, disposable face masks will be available.
Physical Contact: We encourage you to greet each other with a friendly wave or smile with your eyes! You will be asked to maintain appropriate physical distance (6ft/2m or more) at all times. We have eliminated the intentional passing of objects such as the offering boxes, communion plates, etc. from the service.
Entry/Exit Flow: The building will open 30 minutes prior to all services and ministry programs. For Sunday services we recommend you arrive early to allow for entry in an orderly fashion following the directional signs. Entry will be through the front doors of the building only for all Sunday services and mid-week programs.
Podcast Relaunch
We are relaunching the Compass Community Church Podcast, so you can listen to our Sunday service on the go or share it with a friend! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
2020 Updates
Update No. 9 – December 22, 2020
This past year has presented significant challenges for our church, community and world. Yet despite these trials we know that God the Father is in control of our days and our eternity. Christmas reminds us that Jesus the Son is with us and has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). As we look forward to a new year, the Holy Spirit is on the move, and this all gives us reason to hope. Romans 5:5 reassures us that, “Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”. As we creatively respond to the opportunities for ministry and continue to face the uncertainties of these days, we hold fast to the one who never changes, God himself, and we commit ourselves to each other and our mission as a church.
Important Updates
Sundays Online at 10am
All Sunday services will now be online beginning Sunday, December 27 at 10am. You can access Sunday services on our website. All past services and messages can also be found online to watch on-demand. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or connect with us on our Facebook page. Sunday program resources for kids and weekly Talking Point questions for groups and families are also online.
Mid-Week Ministry Programs
In January, most of our mid-week ministries will be shifting to online programming only during the COVID-19 province wide lockdown. Our students and women’s ministries will offer online options and all the details will updated on our website and communicated in early January. Our senior adult ministry will be suspended until COVID-19 restrictions have lifted and we are able to host our Wednesday Bible study in-person at the Orangeville site.
Office Hours
Our office will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, December 24 throughout the province wide lockdown. Our admin team will regularly check phone messages, our exterior drop box at our Orangeville site and they will be answering emails between 8:30-4:30pm on weekdays. Our admin team and pastoral staff are available to support you in this season.
End of Year Giving
If you would like to give financially to Compass in-person, please call the office and we can arrange a drop off time. Donations by cheque can be mailed to Compass Community Church, P.O. Box 86, Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Z5. In order to minimize activity in the building, cheques are processed every two weeks. Otherwise please use the GIVE button on our website to give through our online platform. Thank you for helping us Finish Strong.
Begin in Prayer
Our desire as a church is to Begin in Prayer as we enter a new year. Our leadership is calling us together across Compass to pray. This will be a time where we will seek God's face, listen to his voice, humble ourselves before him and follow as he leads.
If you are currently signed up for Compass News, you will automatically receive an eight-day digital prayer guide beginning January 1. This guide will help shape your daily prayer times. You can also access all eight days on our website.
Wherever people are each day, we are asking them to pray, seek and listen to God’s care and direction for our lives and church. This is a time of expectant prayer where we are asking God to move us, renew us, challenge us, cleanse us and prepare us.
Merry Christmas!
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 8 – September 2, 2020
We have had a great summer of ministry through our Summer Road Trip teaching series, our Summer Fun Box for families, virtual group gatherings and physically distanced group gatherings. With fall just around the corner, we are looking forward to the beginning stages of our relaunch plan for in-person worship services! With the health and safety of our entire church family being priority, and in accordance with government regulations, here's what things will look like beginning Sunday, September 13, 2020 as we reopen at our Orangeville Site.
Please know there is no pressure for anyone to return to in-person worship at this time. If you are anxious and do not feel the time is right, or you have concerns because you feel it might put you or a family member at risk, please continue to watch the service online at home or with your small group and return at a time when you are most comfortable. In fact, if you are considered “high risk” for contracting COVID-19, we encourage you to remain at home and enjoy the services online.
What Does Relaunch Look Like?
On Sunday, September 13 we will begin a staged relaunch by holding one service on Sundays at 10am at our Orangeville Site. In order to have an accurate list of those attending, and to make sure we do not exceed our limited capacity, you will need to register in advance to attend the Watch Party each week.
We are calling these services “Watch Parties” because we will be gathering to watch and participate in the exact same service people will be enjoying at home. They are a party because our spiritual friends and family will be there and we will worship Jesus our joy giver, together. You may even consider hosting your own unofficial watch party at your home or in your backyard with family, those in your bubble, neighbours, home group members or friends. The services will also be linked on our website if you are unable to attend or view on Sundays and would like to watch them on demand. These watch parties highlight our unity as a church, as we have a shared experience across our sites, with those gathered in person and online.
Stage 1: Watch Parties Beginning Sunday, September 13 at 10am.
During these Stage 1 Watch Parties there will be no Compass Kids programming or Junior High class. You will be asked to sit with others from your household, and you must keep your children with you, at all times. Masks must be worn at all times while in the building. The entire upper level of the building will be closed. The nursery will be available and equipped, with the service streamed on TV, but will be unstaffed. Parents using the nursery must remain with their children. There will be no food or beverages served during the service and we ask people not to bring drinks or snacks into the building. Coffee will return at a future date (and everyone said, “Amen”).
We will have three areas for seating during the service. We have created a first come, first served reservation system where you can book your spot as seating is limited to only 30% of our seating capacity. We will also have a limited number of walk-in seats available. If you require assistance making an online reservation or do not have access to the internet, please contact the office for assistance at (519) 941-4790.
Auditorium – we recommend the Auditorium experience for adults, students or those with older children as there will not be activities provided for children in the space.
Compass Café – we recommend the Café experience for adults, students and those with children who can sit quietly with activities from home.
North Venue – we recommend the North Venue for those who would appreciate a more relaxed and family friendly environment, seating will be at round tables following physical distance guidelines. Children’s activities will be provided by our Compass Kids team.
Before you register for in-person gatherings, please complete the online self-screening assessment, which is also linked on our reservation page. You are advised to stay at home and join us online if you are exhibiting any COVID-19 related symptoms.
Stage 1: Ministry Programs Relaunch Beginning Late September.
All ministry programs will follow established physical distancing and health and safety protocols. All program participants must be signed in using an electronic check-in system when you arrive for contact tracing purposes. Entry will be through the front doors of the building only. For specific information and launch dates for the following ministries please check the website.
Student Ministry
Young Adult Ministry
Compass Men
Compass Women
Compass Seniors
Freedom Session
Safety Protocols
Self-Assessment: Please complete the online self-assessment on our website and online reservation system before entering the building for Sunday services and all ministry programs.
Personal Protection Equipment: In accordance with government standards, masks are required for all Sunday services and mid-week ministry programs. The only exception is for children under 2 years of age, or those with respiratory or other medical issues for whom it would be problematic to wear a mask. We recommend you come with your own face mask; however, disposable face masks will be available.
We recommend everyone use good hand washing techniques and avoid touching their face. Extra hand washing is a good idea for everyone – and when that is not possible, our hand sanitizer with 75% alcohol should be used. We have pumps, wall mounted and portable hand sanitizing stations with a 75% alcohol sanitizer for use throughout the building. We recommend the use of hand sanitizer as you enter the building. Hand sanitizer is not recommended for children under the age of 2.
Entry/Exit Flow: The building will open 30 minutes prior to all services and ministry programs. For Sunday Watch Parties we recommend you arrive early to allow for entry in an orderly fashion following the directional signs. Entry will be through the front doors of the building only.
Cleaning: We are following the Public Health Ontario guidelines for all cleaning protocols. Our cleaning team will clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and common areas including door handles, counters, light switches, faucets, toilet handles, etc. prior to our Sunday services and mid-week ministry programs. Common public areas, seating venues, meeting rooms and washrooms will be cleaned twice a day. These spaces will be cleaned in both the afternoon and evening, after any services or ministries have taken place. Our cleaning team is using Oxivir, which is a hospital grade cleaner, for all areas. Isopropyl alcohol is being used on all electronic equipment (ie. keypads, photocopier, phones, etc.) For a complete list of our cleaning protocols, please contact the office.
Physical Contact: We encourage you to greet each other with a friendly wave or smile with your eyes! You will be asked to maintain appropriate physical distancing (6ft/2m or more) at all times. We have eliminated the intentional passing of objects such as the offering boxes, communion plates, etc. from the service.
Seating: In order to maintain a minimum of 6ft/2m between members of different households, we have arranged chairs in groupings of various sizes rather than rows. Ushers will direct you to specific seats in the Auditorium, the Café and North Venue.
At the end of the service, you will be dismissed, asking those in the back of the room to leave first. Please follow all directional signs and be patient to allow people to maintain proper physical distancing. When exiting, please move directly outside the building and stay clear of gathering in hallways or entrances.
Offering: We encourage you to continue to use online resources for your giving. If you choose to bring your offering to the church with you, offering boxes will be placed at the front and at the exit of each seating venues.
Future Stages - Our Hope
Stage 2: Beginning after Thanksgiving
In Stage 2, we can look forward to services at 9am and 11am with hosts, live worship, and video elements. In addition, we will also begin a Compass Kids program in our North Venue and a Jr. High class in the Youth Room on Sunday mornings during the services! Seating will be in well-spaced rows and we will continue online reservations.
Stage 3: For the Christmas Season
With government regulated safety protocols in place, our hope is to begin Stage 3 at the beginning of our Christmas season, with more details to come as we journey together.
Shelburne and Grand Valley Sites
We are currently not able to obtain permits from the Upper Grand District School Board to hold services and have not found appropriate alternative worship spaces. Our hope is to be back at all our sites during Stage 3 or in the New Year. In the short term, everyone is encouraged to worship together as one church in person or online.
All our current staged plans will be adapted and modified in accordance with government regulations this fall, and we will keep you updated via Compass News emails and our online service highlights. If you or someone you know is not connected with Compass News, a link to sign up can be found on our website.
Whether you join us at the church building or continue to worship from home in the coming weeks, our priority remains the same, to worship, serve, and glorify our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us via phone (519) 941-4790, email or in-person. Public office hours are now Tuesday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm and our staff are available during regular work hours during the week.
On behalf of the Elders Board and Staff Team of Compass Community Church,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 7 – June 25, 2020
Over the past several months, we have learned much about what it means to be the church in the midst of the current public health crisis. Compass has sought to live out its missional calling, meet the needs of our congregants and do our part to protect the health of those in our church and community. The ministry of the church has continued and even expanded through online services, email communication, virtual small groups and gatherings, driveway visits, telephone calls, social media and our website. While we yearn for the time when we will be back together in person, we expect that COVID-19 will be present in the community for the foreseeable future and will continue to affect the way we worship, deliver programs and meet together. Therefore, our Elders Board and Church Staff are involved in careful planning to support the ongoing ministry and prepare as best we can for what is to come. Because we love God, we want to offer worship and ministry that brings our very best to Him. Because we love our neighbours, we want to serve their spiritual needs and do everything we can to make sure we bring no harm to anyone when we do gather.
Over the past month a task team formed by the elders and staff have been meeting to consider the next steps in the relaunch plan. We have prayed, discussed and have gathered input from ministry leaders, legal counsel, insurance, public health, our denomination and other churches. There are still currently many government and public health restrictions on worship gatherings. We cannot do many of the things we believe are critical to our worship life at Compass. For instance, we are very limited in the number of people who can gather, masks are required for all, we won’t able to sing or interact with each other, Compass Kids and Compass Jr. High Students programs cannot run. Also, we will not have access to our school locations in Shelburne and Grand Valley until the Fall at the earliest. Therefore, we have prayerfully decided NOT to relaunch our in-person worship gatherings at our sites until September. We will continue gathering together online for the duration of the summer. While we are disappointed by this, we also know that God is doing incredible work through our online worship services. As restrictions ease, we will reopen all our sites in a responsible manner that exalts Jesus, prioritizes health and safety, while also maintaining the culture and mission of our church.
For the summer we are asking people to continue to join us for worship online on their own, as families and in established social bubbles. As we are allowed to increase the size of those gatherings, we encourage the formation of watch parties and small group gatherings to worship, watch and pray together. In the late summer, we will communicate a staged approach to re-establish full in-person services and ministries at all our sites including Sunday morning Compass Kids and Compass Jr. High Students. We anticipate this will involve the multiplication of services and a need for many to serve and volunteer in new ways. A strong online presence will be maintained for those who are unable to gather in person. We want you to be part of this process and will be sending out an online survey next week to all those currently subscribed to our Compass News email list. If you want to receive the survey, please subscribe today.
God’s Word guides us into how we should move forward together. In Ephesians 4:32 Paul writes, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you.” So, as we plan, make decisions and begin to regather, be gracious, be kind, be compassionate. Give the benefit of the doubt. Forgive. Bear with one another. Pursue unity. Seek to understand. Why? Because we have an unprecedented opportunity now to show everyone that we are His disciples by our faith, loyalty to our church family and love for one another (John 13:35).
In closing, I want to remind us of one certainty. The COVID-19 pandemic in its present form will pass. One day we will look back on this time and see clearly that God was with us and was working in our midst for good. Knowing this, we can turn to him today and ask him to give us the discernment, compassion, and faith to make the right decisions for our church at this time. But let’s be clear: the church has never closed and never will. God continues to lead us forward. We can't wait to connect and celebrate with you all online this Sunday!
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 6 – June 9, 2020
On June 8, the Ontario government announced the beginning of Phase 2 for our region and the reopening of the province amid the coronavirus pandemic. Phase 2 allows for an increase in size for social gatherings from five to ten people. The government also has allowed churches to reopen in adherence with public health guidelines and with a 30% capacity limit.
At Compass, we continue to make plans toward the gradual reopening of all our sites. Unfortunately, we cannot resume our in-person Sunday worship gatherings in Shelburne or Grand Valley because we have not yet been given permission to use the school buildings. At our Orangeville Site, we are currently not able to accommodate our church size by running services at 30% capacity with Compass Kids programming and Junior High classes on Sundays.
Therefore, for the immediate future we will continue to hold our worship services online on Sundays and also continue to postpone our mid-week ministries. The church office will remain closed, but staff are continuing to work and are available during business hours. We are choosing not to rush back to in-person gatherings until we are confident we can do so safely and well. In the meantime, we are seeking to make our online experience the best it can be. We would welcome individuals, families and groups of ten people or less to gather in their homes, using social distancing guidelines, to watch services, pray and participate in group discussion using our sermon Talking Points.
We appreciate your faithfulness, patience and prayer. We are asking God to lead us as a church during this time and to advance his kingdom through us.
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 5 - May 13, 2020
With some businesses in our community beginning to open, people have asked “What about Compass?” Like many of you, I can’t wait for the doors to open, for set up teams to return and for us to meet together in person for worship, teaching & Compass Kids at all our sites. But for now, nothing is changing.
We won’t resume in person gatherings until they are allowed, and our gatherings can be safe and effective for our adults, students and kids. We want to have quality services with genuine community, clear teaching, passionate worship and for it to be something we can invite our friends to. Services at Compass are now fully online, and ministry continues. We are working hard to make that the best possible experience for everyone. What is exciting is that we are reaching more people than ever as we gather online for worship and in virtual groups throughout the week.
When we do reopen, we want Compass to feel like Compass. That is why we won’t rush. We will seek to be wise in our planning and communication. We will ask God for discernment and courage as we share the good news of Jesus Christ boldly and with creativity. Please continue to keep Compass in your prayers.
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 4 - April 23, 2020
Hi Compass,
A time of crisis like we all have been experiencing can take away many things that we often take for granted. Things such as freedom of movement, employment, health, opportunities to socialize with others, sports, shopping, travel, and for us as people of faith, the chance to assemble for worship. These losses can bring a real sense of isolation, disorientation and a wide range of troubling emotions. Even though we are very thankful the COVID-19 virus has not impacted our community as devastatingly as in other areas, we are all affected in various ways.
While we could spend time focusing on the grievances and worries that have come as a result of the disruption, it might be better to use the time to count the blessings and opportunities that have also come. As we think on these things (Philippians 4:8) we witness beautiful expressions of service, dedication, sacrifice, love of neighbour, support for those in need, comfort for the grieving and an outpouring of fervent prayer that I think is unprecedented in my lifetime.
One question I have been pondering is…
What is the Lord offering to us in this time?
Throughout history God has used wilderness experiences and times of isolation to prepare his people for what is to come. God is offering us many gifts in this time like silence, waiting, the opportunity to reflect, listen and pray in a different way – so when this time ends, we will be changed people. I am inspired by these words of Dallas Willard who writes:
“God is more interested in the person you are becoming than in your work, ministry or job. And the surest way to realize the full potential of your God-designed self is to live in eternity while you are in time, conscious of the loving gaze of your all-sufficient Shepherd.”
As we move into this post-Easter time, I want to express appreciation to all of you who are contributing to the ongoing work of Compass. To our group leaders and student ministry volunteers who facilitate online gatherings and prayer times, thank you! To those who contribute to the elements of the online worship service, whether behind the scenes on technology or up front leading or being part of a video, thank you! To those who have financially given to Compass to allow us to maintain our staff and support our mission partners, thank you! For those who have signed up to help, to pray, to make phone calls, to support, and for others who have just privately taken action when they see a need or are prompted by the Holy Spirit, thank you! To the many of you who have shared the online links to our services with friends, neighbours and family, thank you! We pray and trust that God will continue to use our ministry to impact lives.
As I think of the active presence of the Risen Christ working through the people of our church, these verses come to mind, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6
As a staff, it is encouraging for us to hear stories of how God is continuing His “good work” in your lives, even in these difficult times. We would like you to consider sharing with us your answer to a second question…
How are you experiencing God at work in you and/or through you during these unusual days of Covid-19?
The easiest way to share is on the front page of our website, where you will find the ‘Share a Story’ button. We will be considering ways to appropriately share some of these stories in the weeks ahead.
For some of you, this may be a very difficult time where God seems quite distant. We would appreciate the opportunity to connect with you as well. Our Need Prayer? and Help in Time of Need buttons also provide opportunities to make us aware of prayer requests or simply your needs, which may include the need to talk with someone.
We again thank you for your prayers, encouragement and financial support through these unusual days. For those of you who are able to give financially, Compass has information on online and electronic giving options on our website.
We take great comfort in the presence of God each day and confidence in the knowledge that he is sovereign and in control of our lives, our church and our world. As we endure, we do so with hope that better days will return. We will be together worshipping again.
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 3 - March 25, 2020
We are continuing our ministry prayerfully and in faith together during this unprecedented season and hope you are connecting with us through our website and social media platforms. If you or someone close to you has a need, prayer request or could benefit from a personal phone call, let us know by using the Need Prayer link or by leaving a phone message at (519) 941-4790. While our programming and Sunday gatherings at all sites have been postponed indefinitely, our ministry and mission continue.
Here Are The Latest Updates:
Services: Sunday online services will continue weekly. Invite your friends and family to join us! We are excited to be preparing for amazing Holy Week services on Palm Sunday (April 5), Good Friday (April 10, with communion online) and Easter Sunday (April 12). All services are at 10am.
Sundays for Kids: Parents be sure to check out our Compass Newsroom and our Compass Kids webpage for the latest Sunday service resources. We have age appropriate videos for kids each week and several PDF resources for parents.
Online Giving: During this COVID-19 crisis, Compass needs your financial support in a special way. At this time, in person giving during our services has stopped, but ministry expenses and opportunities continue, as do our commitments to our staff and missionary partners. Our only source of support is your financial giving, so please give today. If you have not yet signed up for some form of online giving, now is the time. All the giving options are easy and accessible to you on our website. If you need assistance with online giving, please email our Treasurer.
Donations by cheque can be mailed to: Compass Community Church, P.O. Box 86, Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Z5. Make your giving an act of worship and a step of faith, because Jesus first gave to us (2 Cor. 8:9). Thank you, your gift makes a huge difference!
A Gift for You: We are thrilled to give you the gift of FREE access to RightNow Media. Simply sign up on our website and you will receive a link to RightNow Media. When you create your own personal account, you’ll be all set to explore more than 20,000 videos. It’s like the "Netflix of Video Bible Studies" and has a HUGE library of faith-based videos that you can access whenever and wherever you want—on your phone, iPad, computer, or at home on your TV. This is also great resource for kids too!
Compass Office: As of Wednesday, March 25, our Compass office is closed to the public, however our office admin team is still working their regular office hours from home. All phone messages and office emails are being monitored Monday-Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm. Mail pick up from the post office box continues regularly.
Newsroom: Our newly designed Compass Newsroom continues to bring you the latest news and resources from our staff and ministry leaders. Be sure you are on our Compass News email list so you can receive Compass family updates, specifically concerning COVID-19.
Our Compass staff and elders are praying for you!
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 2 - March 18, 2020
The Bible tells us that Church is not a building, a service or a program - it's a group of people, a community, a family. Our response to the COVID-19 crisis highlights this truth. While all programs and gatherings are postponed until at least March 31st, our ministry and mission continue daily. More than ever, we need to be the Church for our communities.
We are seeking to CONNECT people together appropriately with God and each other during this time of social distancing. This leverages the use of social media, email, phone calls and online technology.
We want people to continue to THRIVE in their faith through worship, teaching and resources for kids, students and groups. We are taking steps to COMMIT to meeting real needs through prayer, financial giving and sharing with those in need.
Here are some important details and updates:
Worship services for all our sites will continue online on Sundays at 10 am or can be viewed anytime after through our website, Facebook or YouTube. We are preparing a great service for this Sunday including resources for children and families through our website. We are continuing in our Character Sketches series and plan to have communion together online (details coming in Compass News). Home Groups are also meeting online, using the Discussion Questions prepared for you and your family. We can't wait to connect, worship and interact with you!
Financial giving is so important! The mission of the church doesn't stop. Everything we do is made possible by your support of Compass. Please consider giving online or signing up for pre-authorized giving during this season. Donations can also be dropped off at the church office. We are seeking to be wise stewards and ask you to continue to support our church, staff and ministry partners by generously giving.
Resources for kids, students and groups - “Compass Newsroom” will be launching soon on our website. Ministry leaders will be providing ministry resources, ideas for connection and links to social media platforms.
Food Bank donations are welcomed. We are collecting food for those in our community as there are urgent needs. Food can be dropped off at the church office and will be distributed to families in need. Toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, canned food, dry goods, etc. all needed.
Prayer and help are available. As a church, we are passionate about meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people in Jesus' name. Please pray for each other, our church, government, health care workers and those infected and impacted by the virus. If you would like prayer or need assistance, please reach out by phone, email, or by using the prayer link on the front page of our website. We are here to help.
Church office hours. Our staff have been encouraged to work from home as much as possible. For now, we have limited our office hours to Monday – Thursday, 9am-3pm. The office will be closed Fridays. All drop-offs and deliveries should happen during those times or by using the mail drop bin at the office entrance on the wall. We will be checking the office voicemail and email during what would be our regular hours. (8:30am - 4:30pm)
Stay Connected. Check in with one another. We will continue to update you as the COVID-19 situation develops. The best way to stay informed is to follow us on social media, sign-up for Compass News email updates and check the ‘update’ link on our website.
Thank you for standing together in faith as the Church of Christ in these challenging days. Psalm 27 begins and ends with the confident declaration of faith, “The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?... I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Let us seek to be used by God as a source of hope and help in Jesus name.
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor
Update No. 1 - March 13, 2020
After prayer, reflection and in response to the recommendations of Public Health officials concerning the outbreak of COVID-19, we have decided to cancel our worship services for Sunday, March 15 at all our sites, and mid-week programs during March Break.
The Upper Grand District School Board has cancelled all rental permits for Grand Valley & District Public School and Centre Dufferin High School in Shelburne for March 15, 22, 29, and April 5. (Essentially until the schools reopen).
Our staff will remain fully engaged and we are prayerfully planning how to best respond to the opportunities this unique season will present to us. As a church, Compass wants to be a source of peace, hope, love and truth in our community during these unprecedented times. The look of our ministry may change a little but our mission continues.
We understand that the risk associated with COVID-19 to those in our region is low, but we are seeking to be wise and loving by following the recommendations given and not putting any of our people at risk. We will be providing updates regularly and will make a determination regarding next week’s services and programs by Thursday afternoon.
We are hoping to connect online as a church this Sunday morning at 10 am on social media. We will also be posting sermons and discussion questions. We encourage people to continue to care for their families, neighbours, groups and friends in ways that reflect the example of Jesus.
At this time, we ask you to continue to pray for Compass, intentionally engage with one another and give generously. As always, remember we are happy to pray with you and for you, so send your requests through the office at office@thisiscompass.com or (519) 941-4790.
Grace and peace,
Andrew Gordon
Lead Pastor