Dear friends,
I would like to update you on NEW Beginnings Uniting Church’s (NBU) response to the increasing impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and the steps that we are taking to help mitigate the spread of as well as the impact to our church community and the community in general. As a people of faith, we believe that we need to model the love and hope that is at the heart of the Christian faith and act wisely with appropriate measures.
What we are doing:
As a Church we are closely monitoring and following advice from government, health and denominational authorities, and will continue to do so. We will endeavour to provide you with updated information that impact NBU as it become available to us.
We are continuing to ensure our properties are thoroughly and hygienically cleaned. We are increasing the level of cleaning prior to and post any large gather of people in our properties.
We are encouraging all people who use our properties to thoroughly wash their hands as they enter and leave our properties and before they eat.
We are endeavouring to keep all our programs, activities and worship services running until we are advised otherwise.
We are currently reviewing our practices around communion and will inform you before the next scheduled communion on the 5th April.
For our Cronulla Community Café we will be instigating new procedures to ensure the safety of volunteers and guests.
What you can do:
I would like to ask you to help with this risk mitigation by following these guidelines.
1. If you are unwell, in particular if you have cold or flu like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat etc.), please do not attend any church activity until you are well again. Seek medical advice.
2. If you have recently returned from overseas from a region or country where the Australian government requires a 14-day quarantine (currently Italy, Iran, South Korea and China) please comply with that advice.
3. Practice social distancing, ie restrict hand to hand contact and greetings.
4. Thoroughly wash your hands regularly
If you are unable to attend one of our worship services please join us for church online. We stream our full service from 10am Sunday via our Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/nbu.org.au/).
As a church we are working hard to provide ways in which we can continue to provide help, support and worship, even in the event that we have to suspend physically meeting together.
How you can pray:
Pray for those who are infected with the virus – pray for their healing.
Pray for the world and for Australia – pray that the pandemic would slow and halt. Pray that panic will not overcome our lives.
Pray for the health care professionals and other people at the frontline of dealing with the COVID-19.
Pray for the church, Prayer for safety and strength, prayer for wise decisions and compassionate hearts.
Pray for our state and national leaders – pray for wisdom and compassion.
Pray for those people whose livelihoods have been impacted and will be impacted by the economic fallout – pray for provision.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - NLT
Blessings
Simon Lee
Lead Pastor
