Diaconate newsletter, 17th March
COVID-19 continuing updates
As we all know, the situation with Covid-19 is evolving, and the recommendations and regulations from authorities are changing rapidly. We as a church continue to consider this issue seriously, balancing the safety of our members with our ongoing spiritual ministry.
We will update our members here on church’s responses and including changes to services, and new ways to “do church”. Updates will be posted on our church website (www.wsccc.org.au), so please check there regularly.
You may also sign and subscribe to the latest updates.
Online church services
We recognize that many members of the church have chosen to stay at home for a while, not risking the spread of Covid-19. Everyone should make their own decision about this. For those people, our leaders are working on making our Sunday services available for you to access online.
For now (current for March 17), we plan to offer BOTH the usual services on-site at the usual times, as well as on-line services, whichever you are comfortable with.
We want you to be able to continue to worship as West Sydney Chinese Christian Church from home. We want us all to be worshiping as one body, in the same way, through the same Bible passages, songs and hymns, prayers and sermons. It is also very important that we can communicate with you through announcements and updates during these services.
Each congregation may have a different type of online service – some as videos to watch, others as written text to read out aloud as families, and others a combination. We encourage you to do this with family and friends, and maintain accountability and fellowship with each other.
You will receive news about how these online services will work soon.
Other ministries
Each congregation’s leaders are currently deciding which ministries will continue, and which will be temporarily suspended. Glue and Stick youth groups will continue until further notice, with precautions taken.
A reminder of covid-19 measures
Please bear in mind the guidelines for Covid-19:
- Quarantine 14 days if you have travelled anywhere internationally.
- Quarantine 14 days if you have had close contact with a known Covid-positive person.
Please observe these common hygiene guidelines:
- If you have any flu symptoms, please stay at home.
- Wash hands often, with soap and water, or with hand sanitizer.
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue.
- Avoid close contact with others (eg handshakes, hugs).
- Feel free to wear facemasks at church without criticism.
Serving food:
- No “pot luck” BYO buffet-style (help yourself) lunches or morning teas.
- Communal lunches must be prepared by a select few (who have practiced hygiene measures), and must serve all food, sauces and utensils (not help yourself).
- Morning tea must be commercially individually pre-packaged foods. Drinks may be help yourself.
- Holy Communion will be served temporarily as pre-packaged units.
Our cleaners have been given the appropriate chemicals and equipment to thoroughly clean our church facilities.
Contingency response plan
The government is considering restricting the number of people allowed for public meetings, such as churches. Under these circumstances, the church’s services will change:
Response
Strathfield
Minimise overlap between services at 10-10:30am.
Croydon Park
No change required
Response
Strathfield
Single services only (none concurrent):
- 9am: English
- 10:15am: Combined Cantonese
- 11:30am: Mandarin
- 4:30pm: English
Croydon Park
No change required
Currently: Stage 3 Response
Strathfield
Single services as above (none concurrent); also online church services available at home.
- 9am: English
- 10:15am: Combined Cantonese
- 11:30am: Mandarin
- 4:30pm: English
Croydon Park
Single services; also online services available at home.
- 9:30am English
- 11am: Mandarin
Response
We encourage people to meet as small groups in homes to share online church services.
Response
Online church services at home for families and individuals.
Caring for others during covid-19
There are many in our congregation, and also beyond our church in our community, who are struggling more than others. Some are having to quarantine themself, some are elderly or ill, and others are needy. As Christians, we need to look beyond our own safety, and serve others particularly now.
- Can you offer to do the shopping for someone who is quarantined?
- Can you provide some essentials for our elderly, so they aren’t at risk of exposure?
- Can you donate to the ongoing needs of the needy on the streets?
Church development plan (Croydon Park)
Due to the uncertainty of the current economic climate, the Diaconate has decided to defer the commencement of the Croydon Park stage of the Church Development Plan. We do not believe that it would be responsible for us to commence on this project whilst many of our members are experiencing hardship. There remains a financial shortfall to raise.
We continue to ask our members to look towards the long-term vision for the church and kingdom of God. It is with that vision that we seek to build God’s church. The project is not cancelled, but delayed, with a target for commencement in August/September 2020.
In the meantime we continue to raise funds towards this goal. If you can help by providing further interest-free loans (which will be repaid), ongoing donations/offerings, and fundraising activities, that would establish a strong foundation for ministry in our church for generations to come.
Electronic offerings
We remind our members that as a church, we also need to keep supporting our people in ministry: our pastors, our missionaries and ongoing costs of church. These people continue their ministries of the gospel, growing God’s kingdom regardless of circumstance, and so we continue our partnership with them.
If we are not able to meet physically at church, the only way to give our offerings will be electronically. Please consider setting up regular offerings through your bank. We have also set up other convenient ways of giving:
Bank Transfer
From your electronic bank account: Set up a regular automatic debit with the church BSB numbers below:
- General fund: BSB 082 080. Acc 48 243 6244. Name: WSCCC.
- Mission fund: BSB 082 080. Acc 52 856 0495. Name: WSCCC.
- Building fund: BSB 082 451. Acc 73 932 0475. Name: WSCCC.
Online
Coming soon.
Credit Card debits
Please contact treasurer, William Sit
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