It is with great anticipation that we now begin to return to in-person church, knowing that as we’ve been physically apart, we’ve remained united by the Holy Spirit, as we’ve gathered online around the glorious word of God.

From next weekend, Saturday 16th October, we’ll be able to include some people face-to-face, whilst we continue to provide the best-possible livestream for everyone.

For the next two weeks the public health orders advise that we may only accommodate in-person participants who live in Regional NSW (which excludes Shellharbour and Greater Sydney), who are not required to ‘stay at home’ (due to contact with confirmed cases or venues), who are not showing any flu-like symptoms, and who are fully vaccinated (noting that unvaccinated children under 16 can attend if accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult from their household.)

Everyone must wear a face mask (unless under 12 or exempted) and refrain from congregational singing, and we can seat 34 people (plus workers) in the church and 45 people in the hall to watch the livestream in-person.

Both services will offer a separate children’s program (with plenty of time outside) which will commence approximately half-an-hour into the service, but our youth Bible studies will remain online only until Friday 29th October.

We will be joining for dinner on Saturday and morning tea on Sunday, and will initially eat outdoors on our church lawn to increase ventilation.

Two weeks later, on Saturday 30th October, people can attend regardless of where they live or their vaccination status, unless they are unwell or required to stay at home.

Four weeks after that, on Saturday 4th December, we can double the number of people in our buildings, remove our masks (when you’re ready), and start to sing together.

So, whether you’re online or in-person, we are so thankful that we continue to be together as we travel the roadmap to returning to ‘normal’ church.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Simon Berger via Flickr)

I vividly remember sitting my final HSC exam, knowing that in just two hours, my thirteen years of school would come to an end.

When the final “pens down” command was announced, one of my classmates, wearing a party hat he’d smuggled into the exam room, loudly let off a champagne popper to celebrate.

Right now, we’re also looking forward to a ‘hooray’ moment, when NSW will hit the vaccination targets and when the restrictions will be released.

Soon we’ll all be together, like we were before the pandemic, and it will be a moment to cherish.

Yet this event is nothing compared to the significance of the long-awaited arrival of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who came in the first century.

For hundreds of years, God’s people had waited patiently for the time when this man would arrive, and then, finally, the moment came!

John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, captured his joy in the words of this song:

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Saviour from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. (Luke 1:68-71)

They waited centuries for that moment, and the impact was unmatched by anything in history.

Now as we live as people of the risen Lord, we await the day when Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead and to bring about the new creation.

Yet, his patience means the salvation of those who still have not turned to Jesus to enjoy his forgiveness and friendship.

So, as we’re waiting for Jesus, let’s share the good news with all who will hear, and let us patiently wait for the greatest moment in the future of our world.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Sue Thompson via Flickr)