How will we gather?
This week the NSW government has ruled that up to 50 people can gather for religious activities on a church property. What does this mean for us? How will we now gather?
1. Gathering is important!
Gathering is part of our DNA as Christians. God gathers us together around his son Jesus. We all share the same God, same Lord and same Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-6).
We are one body, one family. We all belong to one another. God has given us to one another to build each other and the whole church towards maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12).
This is why we meet together: to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). This encouragement can happen online, or even via letters and messengers as in New Testament times. Yet, like us, the Apostle Paul still yearns to meet in person:
I want very much to see you, so I may impart some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Romans 1:11-12)
2. Plans to gather
The staff team have been working hard to work out if, when and how we can gather. Things are changing quickly, and we hope work can start on our Building for Ministry in July or August.
At this stage we have made plans only for the rest of this school term (Until 19 July). For terms 3 & 4 we will monitor the situation and adapt as best we can.
For the rest of this term we warmly encourage all who are able, to gather in these ways:
- Gather in homes to watch our weekly encouragement video. The current limit on visitors to a home is 5. Not everyone will be willing or able to do this at first, but it is a great opportunity to practice hospitality. Who could you invite to join you?
- Gather as Bible Study Groups. Some groups are continuing online. Some smaller groups are already gathering in homes. This week we are also opening the church building to enable groups to gather there. (Please contact Andrew Barry to arrange this).
- Gather to pray. Next Sunday (14 June) we will hold 3 prayer meetings in our church building. What a joy it will be to meet face to face with brothers and sisters to pray together. To limit the numbers to 50, bookings will be essential.
- Gather to serve. For three weeks from 21st June we are planning various events and short courses in our building.
3. What about church services?
To prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there are significant regulations and expectations for religious activities in church buldings.
Numbers are limited to one person per 4 square metres in any room, with a maximum of 50 on the site. A safety plan is required for things like signage, sanitizer and careful management of people flows.
All users of our building also need to
- Record the names and contact details of all who attend
- Maintain a safe social distance of 1.5m (including for children and youth)
- Not have congregational singing
- Clean all hard surfaces after each use
Given the impact of these requirements on our pattern of church services, and the number of services of 50 we would need, we wont be re-starting church services during this term.
Please pray that the virus would continue to be contained in our nation, and that a vaccine or other solutions would be found so we can once again joyfully gather as God’s church.
Please also pray for wisdom as we plan how to gather in terms 3 and 4.
Neil