This week worship will be one service at 9.30am at church which will also be streamed.

There are several government changes due to COVID for this weekend.

Firstly, thank you to everyone for your support last week as we were required to go into lock-down.

There is still an increased risk at the moment and so there are added restrictions for this week for those attending worship.

The summary

• Everyone 12 years and over must wear a mask while they are in church this week.

• Make sure you are properly checked in.

• There is a list of places for contact tracing. If you have visited those places during the times specified please get tested and quarantine.

• Be very aware of physical distancing. Our seating capacity has been reduced.

• The correct number of chairs are in the auditorium. No new chairs should be brought in.

• Chairs may be moved to allow families to sit together

• Use hand sanitiser regularly

The detail

You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to.

You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, except in your home. This includes at church.

As a result everyone 12 years old and older is required to wear a mask in worship this week.

You are expected to wear the mask for the entire time you are in worship unless you qualify for an exemption.

There are some exceptions to wearing a face mask , including:

• children under 12

• a person eating, drinking or taking medicine.

• where visibility of the mouth is essential

• where a mask needs to be removed to clearly communicate.

• a person with a particular medical condition or disability.

• a person undergoing medical treatment.

• if a person is asked to remove a face mask for identity purposes.

• if wearing a mask creates a risk to a person’s health and safety.

• for emergencies or when allowed by law.

• in any circumstances when it’s not safe to wear a mask.

If you believe the exemption applies to you please inform one of the welcomers that you are legally exempt (you are not required to say what the reason is, or to provide proof only that you qualify for an exemption.)

If you are not wearing a mask, and are not exempt you will be offered a mask and asked to wear it while at worship.

If you are not willing to wear a mask, and are not exempt, you will be asked to leave.

For those who are leading worship if you are speaking (preaching, praying, doing the bible reading please go to the lecturn, sanitise, remove your mask, speak, replace your mask before returning to your seat.

Singers and worship leaders are NOT exempt while singing, masks should be worn.

Here is a link to a clip on how to wear a mask to assist you. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/how-to-wear-a-mask

Close contacts – get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days

Date Place Suburb Arrival Departure

Sun 3 Jan Woolworths Calamvale North Calamvale 11.00am 12.00pm

Tues 5 Jan Coles Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown Sunnybank Hills 7.30am 8.00am

Tues 5 Jan Nextra Sunnybank Hills Newsagent New Sunnybank Hills 8.00am 8.15am

Tues 5 Jan Bunnings Warehouse New Acacia Ridge 2.00pm 2.40pm

Wed 6 Jan Sunnybank Cellars (ex Lucky Star Bottler) Hellawell Road, Sunnybank Hills 2.05pm 2.15pm

Casual contacts – get tested immediately and quarantine until you get a negative result

Date Place Suburb Arrival time

Sat 2 Jan Train from Altandi station to Roma street Sunnybank 7.00am

Sat 2 Jan Train from Central Station to Altandi station Brisbane City 4.00pm

Note that face masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19. Social distancing is the gold standard of COVID-19 prevention methods, coupled with washing your hands regularly.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR PEOPLE LEADING WORSHIP

For those who are leading worship if you are speaking (preaching, praying doing the bible reading please go to the lecturn, sanitise, remove your mask, speak, replace your mask before returning to your seat. Singers and worship leaders are NOT exempt while singing, masks should be worn.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR WELCOMERS

Our role is to inform people not to enforce

Everyone must wear a mask.

If people are not wearing a mask, offer them mask to wear.

If they inform you they are exempt from wearing a mask note that in Elvanto.

If they are not exempt but are unwilling to wear a mask you should ask them to either put on a mask or leave. If they refuse do not take any physical action, note it in Elvanto.

Our job is to inform people of the requirements we are not the police. Let one of the ministry team know.

Ask people to check the contract tracing list and to get tested and quarantine if need be.

Our seating capacity has been reduced. The correct number of chairs are in the auditorium. No new chairs should be brought in.

Chairs maybe moved to allow families to sit together

Cleaning

During the week the building has been steam cleaned. This is all the floor area as well as all the cloth chairs.

Post worship clean

As we move into 2021 we will be trying to move to a rostering system for cleaning. I will be approaching families and individuals over the coming weeks to see if they will be willing to do the cleaning after church once every 4-8 weeks. This will move away from the current volunteer system which sees some people doing cleaning every week. The cleaning involves vacuuming the floors (hall if used, auditorium and foyer), cleaning the high touch points (door handles, chair arms, lectern) and toilets. If several families would like to join together to volunteer please see Brian.

Monthly chair clean. Now that the chairs are clean we would like to clean them monthly. Preferably with a portable steam cleaner. Are there people who may have one they would either loan or come down and use to help with this?

If you have any queries or concerns please contact Brian Hoole on Brian@emmanueluca.org.au

Blessings

Brian Hoole

As we look at how we can start meeting face to face while adhering to all the restrictions a form has been created that will need to be completed and submitted to Church Council prior to commencing.

The form and risk assessment is attached if after reading it you would like some support with completing the form please ask Helen Smith or Brian Hoole.

Hello Emmanuel Community.

Great news. We are excited to announce that we can commence worship services under strict guidelines. Worshipping God together is such an important part of Christian community. Many things have changed due to COVID-19, there are government required processes and procedures that we need to follow to be allowed to re-open so please read the information below carefully.

Commencing this Sunday 21 June we will be conducting one worship service at 9.30am. People need to register, and when we reach 80 people we cannot accept anymore. Other people will need to watch online. At this stage the 8am service is not running, neither is Sunday School.

We have several key messages.

Our health comes first. If you're sick, please stay home. If you're over 70 or a vulnerable person, consider staying home. Practice social distancing and good hygiene while at church. We will have a live video-link available for those who cannot attend as well as the current material we have been presenting each week.

Be Prepared. Only 80 worshippers are allowed. You need to register for Sunday worship in advance. Familiarise yourself with where you're sitting, which entry to use and where to park. You will receive an email once you've registered making this information clear.

Give electronically. This reduces the risk for our volunteers. The banking details are available [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/payments).

Help out where you can. Each section needs welcomers and cleaners every Sunday. If you are not a vulnerable person please volunteer. Information about that will come later this week.

If you would like to attend Face to face worship on Sunday, [register here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/650d5e50-a6e1-49b7-9501-c26d1aa7b8f5)

If you have any questions about ticketing and the registration form please contact Helen on 3355 2162.

Key changes for return to Face to Face worship:

Booking and Seating

Seating will be separated into four groups of twenty in 4 areas: Laurel Auditorium, Laurel Hall, South Pine Auditorium and South Pine Hall (see map below).

Attendees will be required to sit with the same group of people each week where possible and will enter and exit through the designated doors on the Laurel St or South Pine Rd entrances as signed and directed.

At registration, please select the tickets for your preferred seating area (please be aware that we may need to reallocate this due to operational requirements). You will receive an email confirming your registration and giving details about which entry and exit doors to use.

Families with Sunday School aged children should use the Hall where possible.

Families with only adults and those with limited mobility should use the auditorium spaces where possible.

Those who need the hearing loop should use the Laurel Auditorium.

Those who are rostered to lead worship (including the preacher, singers, musicians, and the tech team) will need to register as Worship Team,

Other members of worship team families will need to register in their preferred area.

Each section will be looked after by a section welcomer who will direct and register attendance.

Minimising Contact

No printed material will be provided (newsletters, bibles, hymn books etc.).

Please bring your own Bibles and activity materials if you want them (including colouring books, pens/pencils, instruments, toys, food, and drink) for children.

No morning tea will be served.

Mingling before or after the service is discouraged and people are asked to exit the building promptly to allow cleaning to commence.

Cashless offering via direct debit is still the preferred method but Perspex offering boxes will be made available onsite in each section for cash donations and offering envelopes. Money for offering and CHH should be in clearly marked envelopes and put into these boxes at the start or end of worship.

The retreat room will be available with limited furniture and a maximum capacity of 4 people (1 family). Hand sanitiser and cleaning materials will be made available for cleaning after each use.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Regular building cleaning including bathrooms and high touch areas will be undertaken before and after worship activities in line with required procedures and the COVID Industry Plan for Worship Places.

Hand sanitiser will be made available and should be used by everyone upon entry and exit of the building.

Soap, Paper towels and rubbish bins will be available in the bathrooms and retreat room for handwashing.

If you are unwell or are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 including fever, coughing, a sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, you should stay at home.

In line with Queensland Health guidelines, any people considered “at risk” including people over 70 years of age, over 65 years of age with underlying health issues and Indigenous Queenslanders over the age of 50 with one or more chronic diseases, should also stay home.

Volunteers

Volunteers will be needed for cleaning on Saturday and after the service and for welcoming on Sunday. An email will come out later this week requesting volunteers. Note that vulnerable people, including those over 70, are not able to volunteer.

If you are unwell

If anyone attends the service and displays symptoms of COVID-19, they will be isolated, provided a face mask, and instructed to go home or to a health facility. An incident report will be completed and reported accordingly.

Individuals who attend a service and find later they are a probable or confirmed case of Covid-19 must inform Helen Smith on 3355 2162 or [office@emmanueluca.org.au](mailto:office@emmanueluca.org.au?subject=Covid%20) or Brian Hoole on 0435 242 000 as soon as possible.

Online services and material

Those who cannot attend in person can watch the service online. Details will be in the newsletter.

Sermon, worship and Dig in at Home resources will be made available on the Church website and App as usual.

We look forward to worshipping with you in person or online on Sunday.

Brian