Update for the EPC Community

THANK YOU
In March we were thrust rapidly into meeting on-line and streaming our services. Thank you to all involved who have assisted with this transition and made it possible for us to meet ‘virtually’, to worship from home and continue to hear God’s Word proclaimed each week.

WHAT’S NEXT?
As we approach July, the church needs to understand that the staged re-entry back to our corporate meeting together will be much slower and more complex to navigate than how we entered our current situation. While many of us are missing ‘in-person’ contact, together with the normalcy and rhythm of what we left behind in March, there are some among us who simply cannot meet for the sake of their health. Some of us may be feeling very nervous about the prospect of meeting once more with large groups of people. Together we are going to need to approach the next stages with much grace, patience and understanding .

IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION:

2. SINGING.
The NSW Chief Medical Officer has recommended that churches there refrain from singing. Research has shown that the increased aerosols emitted from singing voices increased the spread of the virus (“Communal singing and chanting should not occur because of the high risk of transmission of the virus. Instead, measures such as one singer standing at least three metres away from others would be safer.” NSW Health Department website, 29 May 2020). This has not yet been discussed by Victorian authorities but the principles involved mean we will need to be cautious.

3. CLEANING.
The Session and Board of Management are working to create a safe environment at the church for anyone who visits our buildings. Our plans include regular cleaning, plenty of hand sanitiser available, and (where possible) doors to be kept open for one-way entrance and exit. We will ask any group who uses the facilities to clean them after use, wiping down surfaces (such as door handles, chairs & tables) with disinfectant. There will also need to be a record of every person who attends.

Even with effective cleaning regimes, there is still a level of risk. These measures are intended to reduce that risk as much as possible. You will notice new signage and information on capacity limits for each of the buildings and rooms we use.

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?
The Session would like to encourage the congregation to meet together in homes. This now has a limit of 20 people in total and could involve watching the service together and a meal. If you are interested in offering to host others at your place or would like to attend, please get in touch.

If you are interested in being part of a group of 20 to come and watch the service in the church building, please get in contact so we can sort out the details and arrange that. This may be of value to anyone who has had trouble viewing the service at home.

It is strongly encouraged that members of the congregation download the government’s COVIDSAFE phone app. This will provide important information for contact-tracing should any of us have the virus. We hope to provide some further clarity on when we can meet in the coming weeks. If you are unwell, you will need to stay home and follow the appropriate medical advice, but please also let us know so we can pray for you.

In summary, the Session considered the following:

· Notwithstanding the Prime Minister’s latest advice that gatherings of 100 will be permitted soon, social distancing still restricts us to a maximum number of 50 in the auditorium.
· Our members have different needs and in particular, have been affected in different ways by isolation and reliance on technology and
· EPC has a duty of care to ensure, as far as possible, that we are doing everything we can to safeguard the health of each person in our congregation.

Consequently, the Session decided not to resume normal church activities at this time.
However, the Session would like to assure everyone that a central goal is to resume normal activities as soon as practicable. The situation will therefore be continuously reviewed in line with government restrictions and health regulations, with the aim of resuming activities as soon as it is safe to do so.

Please keep praying for the EPC leadership and each other as we navigate our way safely and responsibly under God’s guiding hand.