In the light of the COVID-19 situation in Victoria and the knife-edge that NSW is on at the moment in terms of trying to keep its cases low … early August 2020 the Uniting Church in NSW sent out an email in response to the NSW Premiers’ strong recommendations regarding social gatherings. (https://nswact.uca.org.au/…/covid19-guidance-note-14-update…).
WORSHIP SERVICES @ TUC
In terms of worship, the key recommendations from the NSW synod are:
• All congregations in NSW and ACT refrain from face to face worship at this time.
• Services should continue to be streamed or recorded to enable people to engage in worship.
• Should any congregation feel they must gather face to face, every participant should wear a face mask.
• No singing of any kind. This includes community, congregational or choir led
It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to close the church for in-person worship at the 9am and 6:30pm services for the weeks of 9th, 16th and the 23rd August and reassess at the Church Council meeting on the 18th August.
The 9am and 6:30pm will run ONLINE ONLY at our Facebook livestream (www.facebook.com/turramurrauniting/live) and the 10:45am will be pre-recorded and available on our YouTube channel – just like we did for 3 months in April, May and June.
We hope that this closure will be short lived … maybe as short as 4-6 weeks. At least we have a flexible worship system (and talented tech people) that allows us to adapt easily.
Youth Groups
The Youthgroups are currently reviewing their position but it is likely that they will also be shifting back to the ONLINE model.
BUGZ: Online Only
Turrazone:
SquareOne:
PlayGroup:
Other “in-person” Church Groups
We are encouraging all other in-person church groups who have been meeting to consider moving towards online only for the month of August. Check with your group on what is happening.
3rd-Party Church Complex Hirers
Non-church groups who rent our church complex will be able to continue to meet at the church complex as long as they are adhering to their COVID19 safety plan and the strict guidelines from NSW health.
If you have any questions, please contact the church office (office@turramurrauniting.org.au) or Rev Phil Swain on 0417 123 891