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Preparations for returning to worship onsite
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Olive Way program
Pastoral Care Committee
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Sunday Morning Program
Roster participants
Non-Violent Direct Action
FUNdraising Committee
Presbytery of Port Philip West
Creatures of the land

Worship in January

As we prepare to farewell 2020 the worship committee is delighted to be sharing our plans for worship in January.

Sunday morning worship will be offered onsite and in person.  We need to attend to a range of COVID safe requirements including

  • social distancing – keep 1.5 metres space between individuals or household groups.
  • To assist with this, every second pew has been roped off and yellow markers placed on the open pews 1.5 metres apart.
  • A Household group may sit together.
  • hygiene – sanitiser is provided on entry, the worship space is thoroughly cleaned before and after worship
  • mask wearing is required at all times unless you are leading parts of the worship or receiving Holy Communion

Signing in

  • you will be asked to check in using the QR code or by signing in.
  • please download the Service Victoria App in preparation for using the QR code.

Live streaming worship

  • Our worship services will be livestreamed and recorded.
  • The services will be accessible via the BUC YouTube channel at 9:30am.
  • The regular worship email will also be sent out on Sunday afternoon with the link to the recorded service.
  • The live stream is being offered as a trial – please provide any comments or feedback about the live stream to cameron@bigpond.com

Managing numbers

  • We can only welcome 90 people to the worship space.
  • Please register your intention to attend worship using Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/BNVXR
  • If you arrive for worship and number limits are reached you will be encouraged to access and share the livestream using your personal devices, ie phone, tablet.
  • You may choose to:
    • sit with others in the chairs available in the hall
    • gather in the outdoor spaces
    • go to a local café
  • A welcomer will join and support those in the hall.
  • Don’t let this discourage you from coming! There will be a place for everyone – including visitors and those without access to technology. No one will be turned away, and we are all encouraged to work together to make this possible.

Reconnecting

  • Morning Tea will not be provided at the moment.
  • Thankfully though we can stay, chat and catch up with each other after these many long months apart.

Updates

BUC News

Ministry Team on leave

  • Ian will be on leave from 4th-24th January.  Please see the diary below for preachers joining us.
  • Dave will be on leave from 29th December-27th January
  • Peter will be on leave from 28th December-10th January

BUC News

Thank you from the worship committee
We met for a brief Zoom meeting on Wednesday to reflect on worship during Advent and Christmas before discussing our plans for worship in January.  We want to say thank you to so many people for everything offered during our time apart:

  • Music Coordinators – Elaine Potter, Alistair Hunter, Natalie Sims, Shawn Whelan for the months of recording our amazing repertoire of recorded music and especially the beautiful Christmas Carol recordings
  • Elaine and Julia Potter for the beautiful choral items offered in the Christmas Eve services
  • Musicians and vocalists – too many to name however their names were on the orders of services sent out each week
  • Everyone who has offered Candle Lighting, Acknowledgement of Country, Children’s Times, Bible Readings and Prayers of the People for our recorded services
  • Faye Findlay, Helen Burnham, Saide Cameron, Philippa Hamilton-Smith for contributing plants for the Advent garden
  • Hannah Friebel for her prayerful dance response in the Blue Christmas service
  • Caitlin Mullen-Beagley, Dave Hall, Tameka Brown and all the young people who offered us a wonderful Pageant adventure in Pageant Pandemic
  • David Cameron, Ray Cameron and Shawn Whelan for compiling the services for YouTube
  • Chris Magee for filming parts of the services and especially for Christmas Eve Carols and Candlelight
  • the Live Stream Task Group – David Cameron, Ray Cameron, Chris Magee, Shawn Whelan

Holy Communion
We will celebrate Holy Communion together for the first time in many months on 3rd January.  This celebration will be offered in line with COVID safe requirements.

Welcome
We will welcome Rev. Narelle Collas as our preacher on 10th January.  Narelle is on of our Presbytery ministers.

Roster support
The January worship roster has been prepared.  There are gaps on the sound desk and laptop operator rosters – we’d love to have people to join these rosters.  Please contact saide.cameron@bigpond.com to find out what is involved and/or to offer your support.

Olive Way reopens
The Olive Way will reopen in a COVID safe environment on Wednesday 20th January.  Please contact Peter Blair, Olive Way Pastor, peteblair75@gmail.com after 10th January if you are interested in offering to volunteer and support this ministry in a time of transition.

Wider Church News

Synod e-news update
The final newsletter for 2020 published 17/12 included

  • Moderator’s Christmas message – Rev. Denise Liersch offers her message reflecting on the the Christmas Carol ‘O little town of Bethlehem‘ which she says can light the way for us this Christmas season
  • Presidents Pastoral letterread more
  • Change the Heart prayer service25th January
  • Day of Mourning 2021read more

Presbytery of Port Philip West
The final edition for 2020 offers reflections on the theme ‘A thrill of hope’, news about Advent around the presbytery and a COVID checklist.