Further easing of COVID-19 restrictions
As you may know, the NSW government has announced further easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The headline is of 50 people for religious gatherings. The reality for most churches is less due to the space available in their buildings.
Two points impinge on how many people we may have at church:
- Total floor area – Space used for public worship, divided by 4m2 per person. This includes children.
- 1.5m physical distancing at all times. Household groups can sit together.
At Oak Flats this means we may have up to 35 people based on total floor area, but may be less due to seating arrangements in order to physically distance. Each of our live stream services has had about 8-10 people present.
Therefore, the wardens and I have decided that initially just those members who have not been able to access the live stream online will be invited to attend from June 14. They will be personally contacted.
Additionally:
- In the NSW public health order congregational singing is not allowed, and a solo singer must be spaced 3m from other people.
- We will not have morning tea at church. If you can, visit someone’s home to watch the service and/or have morning tea. Some people are already doing this, which is great. Currently 5 home visitors are allowed at one time.
After we have observed how this change works in practice, and in communication with others, we will decide further changes as appropriate. Further easing of restrictions from 1st July 2020 is possible and you will be kept updated.
Thank you to everyone for your patience and graciousness.
– SAM PURSELL
What is normal?
None have escaped CV19’s domination. Old words have become new, new meanings have been found while the title “pandemic”, not seriously applied worldwide since the Spanish Flu at the end of WW1 and transmitted to Australia as the troops arrived home from 1919, now sits in the shadow of the grim reaper.
In 1919, nearly 12000 Australians died of the that flu from a population of 5,303,574 or 0.23%. 102 Australians have died from CV19 so far from a population of around 25M.
What is normal?
The tragic death tolls have become front page news and behind each is a personal story that may never be told due to the volume. However, each is known to God and highly valued.
As CV19 has taken its course, there has been one dominant catch cry worldwide: “We just want life to get back to normal!!!” But what is normal, do we really want it??? Abundant Gospel opportunities have been presented by the pandemic, but has there been a rush to repent in the face of imminent death, or to witness, or revival in the heats of God’s people or an avalanche of Prayer Meetings calling for guidance and forgiveness?
Governments have struggled. NSW seems more interested in re-opening gambling facilities than places of worship. Life has never been about easy answers as one PM said.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 God says: “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away behold, new things have come.”
What normal do you to seek after?
– Geoff Kyngdon
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