COVID-19 UPDATES
This page will be updated as situations change.
21/05/2020 (Update from Associate Ps. David Underhill)
Currently the following restrictions are in place in Victoria.
There are now five reasons to leave your home:
· Shopping for food and supplies that you need.
· Care and caregiving.
· Exercise and outdoor recreation.
· Work and education – if you can’t do it from home.
· Visiting friends and family – if you really need to.
I was hoping for a greater lifting of restrictions where I could happily announce that Life Groups were able to recommence, but they don’t appear to fit into the slightly relaxed restrictions. However there is a provision for prayer groups:
The following is from the FAQ’s page found at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sport-cultural-and-recreational-activities-restrictions-coronavirus-covid19#religious-services-and-places-of-worship.
There are now five reasons to leave your home:
· Shopping for food and supplies that you need.
· Care and caregiving.
· Exercise and outdoor recreation.
· Work and education – if you can’t do it from home.
· Visiting friends and family – if you really need to.
I was hoping for a greater lifting of restrictions where I could happily announce that Life Groups were able to recommence, but they don’t appear to fit into the slightly relaxed restrictions. However there is a provision for prayer groups:
The following is from the FAQ’s page found at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sport-cultural-and-recreational-activities-restrictions-coronavirus-covid19#religious-services-and-places-of-worship.
17/05/2020 (Update from Associate Ps. David Underhill)
There was a gradual easing of restrictions from 11:59pm Tuesday 12 May.
The changes now allow for:
1. Indoor gatherings with up to 5 visitors allowed. (This allows us to travel to these homes).
2. Outdoor gatherings can have up to 10 people meeting for either exercise or outdoor activities.
3. A slight easing on numbers attending funerals or weddings.
4. There will be a staggered return to schools from May 26.
These restrictions are in addition to the previous ones of only leaving home for food & essential supplies, medical care, exercise or work.
The changes now allow for:
1. Indoor gatherings with up to 5 visitors allowed. (This allows us to travel to these homes).
2. Outdoor gatherings can have up to 10 people meeting for either exercise or outdoor activities.
3. A slight easing on numbers attending funerals or weddings.
4. There will be a staggered return to schools from May 26.
These restrictions are in addition to the previous ones of only leaving home for food & essential supplies, medical care, exercise or work.
10/05/2020 (Update from Associate Ps. David Underhill)
Currently restrictions Victoria remain the same: The rules are clear - Stay home. Protect the health system. Save lives. There are only four reasons to leave home: shopping for what you need - food and essential supplies, medical, care or compassionate needs, exercise and study if you can’t work or learn remotely.
Hopefully we will see some changes to the above restrictions next week. In the meantime please continue to pray for those making decision and for those dealing directly with the implications of this pandemic. Especially those providing medical response and those working on government policy.
Hopefully we will see some changes to the above restrictions next week. In the meantime please continue to pray for those making decision and for those dealing directly with the implications of this pandemic. Especially those providing medical response and those working on government policy.
03/05/2020 (Message from Associate Ps. David Underhill)
The Australian Government has launched a new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe, The app is an important public health initiative that has the potential to keep both our family and community safe from further spread of the coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure. Once installed and running the app uses bluetooth to look for other phones that also have the app installed. It then makes a digital handshake, noting the time, date and duration of contact. This information is ONLY stored in the app on the users phone, no-one, not even the user, can access it. If the user is diagnosed with COVID-19, and agrees to share their app information, they will be directed to upload their information and, ONLY then, will the relevant health authorities will be able to access the information about who has been in close contact with another app user for more than 15 minutes. Please consider downloading this app - available for iPhone and android phone.
26/04/2020 (Message from Interim Senior Ps. Glenda Holbrook)
The State of Emergency in Victoria has been extended until midnight 11 May 2020. This means that all the current restrictions (Stage 3) remain in place until further notice. Check this link for FAQ’s in regards to COVID19 https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-directions-faq. This link has lots of great information about what you can and cannot do. Thanks again to all those who are taking the initiative and setting up meeting groups online and over the phone. And remember, God will walk with us no matter what. We will get through this. Stay safe and stay connected.
Blessings, Glenda
Blessings, Glenda
29.3.2020 (Message from Associate Ps. David Underhill)
Sadly we have had even more restrictions placed upon us this week.
Here is part of the announcement from our State premier Daniel Andrews on 25 March:
“The most important message for all Victorians is to stay at home and avoid all gatherings of people. This minimizes the chances of transmission, protects the health system and saves lives. If you are with other people, you must observe the rule of 1 person for every 4 square metres to ensure a safe physical distance. If you are in doubt about whether you should go out, go to the shops, take public transport, or let your children go on a play date – the simple answer is don’t.”
This is not a total lockdown at this stage, but that may well be the case by the time you receive this.
Effectively for the church it means no groups at all can meet and both the Mt Martha and Rosebud offices are closed until further notice. Staff may be entering the offices (under strict guidelines) at times to respond to phone messages and/or emails however most are working from home. You can leave a message or email the church offices with any queries and someone will reply but please don’t come to the offices.
We will still endeavour to do some sort of streaming for services on Sunday with the link being in the Navigate and on the web page each week.
With all that said please do all you can to stay in touch with people and look out for one another. Let’s be the disciples Jesus is calling us to be.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciple when you have love one for another” John 13:35
Here is part of the announcement from our State premier Daniel Andrews on 25 March:
“The most important message for all Victorians is to stay at home and avoid all gatherings of people. This minimizes the chances of transmission, protects the health system and saves lives. If you are with other people, you must observe the rule of 1 person for every 4 square metres to ensure a safe physical distance. If you are in doubt about whether you should go out, go to the shops, take public transport, or let your children go on a play date – the simple answer is don’t.”
This is not a total lockdown at this stage, but that may well be the case by the time you receive this.
Effectively for the church it means no groups at all can meet and both the Mt Martha and Rosebud offices are closed until further notice. Staff may be entering the offices (under strict guidelines) at times to respond to phone messages and/or emails however most are working from home. You can leave a message or email the church offices with any queries and someone will reply but please don’t come to the offices.
We will still endeavour to do some sort of streaming for services on Sunday with the link being in the Navigate and on the web page each week.
With all that said please do all you can to stay in touch with people and look out for one another. Let’s be the disciples Jesus is calling us to be.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciple when you have love one for another” John 13:35
20.3.2020 Click this link for Pastor David Rietvelds video update.
18.3.2020 (Message from Senior Pastor)
Dear Friends
It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of our decision to close down all our public services of worship. The prime minister’s announcement banning larger gatherings on the 18th of March set the parameters for what is considered to be the safest, most caring option for all.
As Christians, we love to meet, to corporately worship and hear from God, and to encourage one another. As Baptists we are conscious that the Most High does not dwell in temples built by human hands. Rather, Jesus promises to be present wherever two or three gather in his name.
I would encourage you (within current health guidelines) to gather in your households, with friends, or fellow life group members, either on a Sunday morning or midweek and watch our weekend services which will be live streamed. Follow the links from our websites homepage to log into the feed.
If you are a volunteer leader, or life group leader, we ask that where it is reasonable to do so, you continue to offer ministry to those who wish to attend. I need to stress you do this in a way that is compliant with current guidelines.
If you and/or your team would prefer to put your ministry or Life Group on hold, we support that choice. Please communicate directly to your group members if your program is in recess and also inform the church office.
By all accounts it could be months before church can resume as normal. With that in mind, I encourage you to set up spiritual disciplines and rhythms that will feed your soul through this season. Be intentional about listening to sermons, devotions, prayer, and fellowship through whatever means are possible, and serving when and where you can.
In addition to emailing out the weekly newsletter and weekly update, the pastors will email you some suggested resources for the week that you could access online. It will also be our aim to make something of Easter despite the significant and obvious constraints.
The church office will remain open for now. Church staff will be available by either phone or email, whether they are working from the office or from home.
My prayer is that you will know God’s presence and comfort in this unsettling time. God often uses times of disruption to bring growth and movement.
Grace, peace and blessings
David Rietveld
Senior Pastor
It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of our decision to close down all our public services of worship. The prime minister’s announcement banning larger gatherings on the 18th of March set the parameters for what is considered to be the safest, most caring option for all.
As Christians, we love to meet, to corporately worship and hear from God, and to encourage one another. As Baptists we are conscious that the Most High does not dwell in temples built by human hands. Rather, Jesus promises to be present wherever two or three gather in his name.
I would encourage you (within current health guidelines) to gather in your households, with friends, or fellow life group members, either on a Sunday morning or midweek and watch our weekend services which will be live streamed. Follow the links from our websites homepage to log into the feed.
If you are a volunteer leader, or life group leader, we ask that where it is reasonable to do so, you continue to offer ministry to those who wish to attend. I need to stress you do this in a way that is compliant with current guidelines.
If you and/or your team would prefer to put your ministry or Life Group on hold, we support that choice. Please communicate directly to your group members if your program is in recess and also inform the church office.
By all accounts it could be months before church can resume as normal. With that in mind, I encourage you to set up spiritual disciplines and rhythms that will feed your soul through this season. Be intentional about listening to sermons, devotions, prayer, and fellowship through whatever means are possible, and serving when and where you can.
In addition to emailing out the weekly newsletter and weekly update, the pastors will email you some suggested resources for the week that you could access online. It will also be our aim to make something of Easter despite the significant and obvious constraints.
The church office will remain open for now. Church staff will be available by either phone or email, whether they are working from the office or from home.
My prayer is that you will know God’s presence and comfort in this unsettling time. God often uses times of disruption to bring growth and movement.
Grace, peace and blessings
David Rietveld
Senior Pastor