Update 29 May 2020

Click on link below for this week's updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock  – Reconciliation – In this together
• Reconciliation Resources 
• Last Friday email – Fortnightly BUV Bulletins re-commencing next Wednesday 
• JobKeeper Update
• Safe Church training & resources 
• May Members Update Video and Annual Report 
• Did you receive your Annual Statistics form?
• Updated Government Restrictions 
• Long weekend sermon from Rev Daniel Bullock
• June Prayer Calendar
• Updated Resources

Weekly BUV Updates (29 May 2020)

Update 25 May 2020

The ABCs to STEP 2 of COVIDSafe Australia

As the Government’s restrictions are slowly easing and as we begin to settle into a new normal, we want to provide you with the ABC’s of what you should be doing to ensure a COVIDSAFE church, community and Australia.

The ABCs to Step 2 of COVIDSafe Australia

Update 24 May 2020

The Premier of Victoria has today announced the Step 2 easing of restrictions that will apply from 31 May.  Until this time the 10 person rule applies. 

(Source DHHS)

Along with easing of groups to 20 people at home or outdoors, from 11:59pm on 31 May, restrictions on gatherings at places of worship and ceremonies will be eased: 

• Places of worship can open for private worship or small religious ceremonies for up to 20 people in a single undivided indoor space, subject to the four square metre rule plus the minimum number of people reasonably required to perform the service or ceremony.
• 20 people in addition to the celebrant and couple being married can attend a wedding. If a wedding is held in a home, a maximum of 20 people is allowed, including the celebrant and the couple. 
• 50 people can attend a funeral in addition to the officiant and funeral staff, subject to the four square metre rule. If a funeral is held in a home, a maximum of 20 people can be present (including the officiant and funeral staff).

Please note:

• Limits will be placed on entry to ensure compliance with total gathering numbers and separate space density requirements – one person per four square metres.
• Venue operators or the celebrant are required to keep records of each person attending the wedding, funeral, or ceremony, for contact tracing purposes.
• Attendees should keep 1.5 metres between themselves and others not from their household, practice good hand hygiene, and stay home if they feel unwell.
• Multiple services or ceremonies can be held on the same day, but cleaning should occur between services or ceremonies. At least one hour should be allowed between services or ceremonies to reduce the risk of crowds at entrances and exits. The four-square metre rule applies, which limits the number of people who can be in each separate space.
• Places of worship can continue to be opened for the purposes of hosting essential public support services such as food banks, help for the homeless or other essential activities, ensuring appropriate physical distancing is maintained by keeping at least 1.5 metres between those from other households at all times.
• Ceremonies and services can still be recorded or broadcast live from the place of worship for viewing online. You are allowed to have people on site to record and live stream services, however, you must ensure those people maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between those from other households at all times.

Update 22 May 2020 

Click on link below for this week's updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock  – Thriving through knowing your identity 
• May Members Update Video and Annual Report – by email today 
• Did you receive your Annual Statistics form?
• Updated Government Restrictions 
• State Government Business Grants
• Free Church Health Resources – New PSW & Building Resilient Teams videos
• Reimagine Mission Episode 2
• Beware of scam emails impersonating BUV
• Updated Resources

Weekly BUV Updates (22 May 2020)

Update 15 May 2020 

Click on link below for this week's updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock  –  Patience and Prayer guide 
• The ABC's of Step 1 to COVIDSAFE Australia 
• Standing by our Multicultural Communities 
• Baptist World Alliance  – Standing Together in Pentecost Prayer 
• May Members Update 
• Considering Church Merger Guide
• Reverting to Fortnightly BUV Bulletins – Wed 3rd June
• Long Weekend Sermon from Rev Daniel Bullock – Wed 3rd June 
• 5 clues to Connecting with Australians 
• Updated Resources

Weekly BUV Updates (15 May 2020)

Updated 12 May 2020 2.30pm

Further clarification is provided here in the Restricted Activity Directions from the Deputy Chief Health Officer 

Gradual easing of restrictions 

Under new arrangements to come into effect at 11.59pm on Tuesday 12 May, all places of worship, of all denominations can now open for re-arranged worship or small religious ceremonies of up to 10 people as well as the minimum number of people reasonably required for the service. This includes baptisms, wedding and funerals.

Multiple ceremonies can be held on the same day, but cleaning should occur between services or ceremonies. At least an hour should be allowed between services or ceremonies to reduce the risk of crowds at entrances and exits. The four square metre rule, which limits the number of people who can be in a building, applies.

Ceremonies and services can still be recorded or broadcast live from the place of worship for viewing online. You are allowed to have people on site to record and live stream services, however, you must ensure those people maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between each other at all times.

Places of worship may be opened for the purposes of conducting weddings and funerals, but there are strict limits on the number of people who can attend.

For weddings, and under new arrangements to come into effect at 11.59pm on Tuesday 12 May, 10 people can attend in addition to the couple, and the celebrant.

For indoor funerals, no more than 20 mourners may attend in person as well as the people required for the funeral, such as the officiant or funeral company. Funerals held outdoors can be attended by a maximum of 30 mourners in attendance. If a funeral is held at a private house then only 5 people, in addition to people who live at the household, can attend.

Places of worship can continue to be opened for the purposes of hosting essential public support services such as food banks, help for the homeless or other essential activities, ensuring appropriate physical distancing is maintained by keeping at least 1.5 metres between everyone at all times.

Source: DHHS   https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sport-cultural-and-recreational-activities-restrictions-coronavirus-covid19

Updated 11 May 2020 1:00pm

Premier Daniel Andrews, has announced the first stage of restrictions easing.  At this stage, as of 11.59pm Tuesday 12th May:

1. Indoor Gatherings – Allow up to 5 visitors at home in addition to the normal residents of a household. This includes the outside and inside of a premises – so the total number at a residence is 5 additional people. This will be an additional reason that people can leave their home – this will be to visit family and friends in group no more than 5 people.

2. Outdoor Gatherings – Allow public gatherings of 10. Groups of no more than 10 people can gather for exercise and outdoor activities  – Includes household members and other people but a max of 10.  A person cannot organise or knowingly attend an outdoor gathering of more than 10 people.   

3. Private worship or small religious ceremonies will be permitted with up to 10 people, plus those required to perform the ceremony. Please note – an additional requirement of religious ceremonies is to keep records of contact details of each guest, to assist in contact tracing if required.   

4. Funerals  – Allow 20 mourners indoors (people required to conduct the funeral are allowed in addition).  If held at a priavte residence, only 5 people max allowed. Please note – an additional requirement of religious ceremonies is to keep records of contact details of each guest, to assist in contact tracing if required.   

5. Weddings – Allow 10 guests in addition to the couple and the celebrant. Please note – an additional requirement of religious ceremonies is to keep records of contact details of each guest, to assist in contact tracing if required.   

6. Community facilities  (eg – Youth Groups., community centres, foodbanks etc)  Allow 10 people for a support group plus the minimum number of people reasonably required to operate the facility or groups – Density quotient applies – does not include the use for Sport.  Please note – operators must keep of contact details of each person attending the group to assist in contact tracing if required.   

7. Schools  – Information to be announced later in the week but a probable gradual return before the end of Term 2 – at least 2 week notice to be given for parents. 

Presumably social distancing (outside of family groups) and hygiene requirements still apply for all of the above.

Further information can be found here and as more information comes to hand, it will be updated here.  https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-victoria

Update 8 May 2020 8 May 2020

Click on link below for this week's updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock  –  The Church is Resilient
• A Call to Persevere – Building Pastoral Resilience in a Crisis by Rev Jonathan Stark 
• Leadership Questions for Now and Then by Rev David Devine  
• Reimagine Mission Podcast by BUV's Mission Catalyst Team 
• Together Good News stories – Stories of being Together on Mission Despite Restrictions
• 2020 Ministry Contributions and 2019 Annual Statistical survey 
• Conducting church meetings during COVID-19 – advice from Lewis Holdway Lawyers
• Global Interaction's May Mission Month and Activate conference
• New Resources 

Weekly BUV Updates (8 May 2020)

Update 1 May 2020

Click on link below for this week's updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock  –  Prayer 
• BUV Prayer Calendar  – May 
• National Redress scheme extension
• Resources to connect with your community during COVID-19
• Be an 'Essential' Church  
• BUV Safe Church Facebook Group 
• Global Interaction May Mission Month & new State Director 

Weekly BUV Updates (1 May 2020)

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the team at Dandenong Baptist Church have adapted to the challenges of these unexpected times, and have come up with some new and creative ways to care for our members and the broader community.

Each week, our church runs a program called Nourish. This involves an accessible and interactive service followed by a community meal, which has been operating for the last five years. This service and meal program is attended by many people who are homeless or socially disadvantaged. As the coronavirus restrictions began, our Pastor for Community Engagement Naomi Paterson was hesitant to close the meal program down, aware that the homeless community in Dandenong would be hard hit by the social effects of the virus, along with the challenges posed for the community by mass closures of local organisations that provide material aid.

Our team serving take away meals while practicing social distancing measures

Pastor Naomi liaised with the Material Aid Co-ordinator from the City of Greater Dandenong Council, and put in place procedures to serve the meal as takeaways, with both our volunteer team and our guests practicing social distancing measures. Along with meals provided by Cornerstone Contact Centre, a local organisation which serves meals to the street community that also runs from Dandenong Baptist Church, Nourish was identified by local and state levels of government as a key provider of material aid in Dandenong. As social distancing lockdowns came into play, Pastor Naomi was visited by local police, who assured us of the importance of keeping the meal programs running and continuing to care for the marginalised in Greater Dandenong. They helped to work out the safest way to serve the meals while observing the distancing laws, and have visited the programs several times since to lend their support.

In the early weeks of March, Naomi contacted local fruit and vegetable stallholders at the Dandenong Market and secured twice-weekly donations of fresh produce from two different stalls. She also secured a donation of bread three times each week. In mid-March, local Council began to provide Nourish with both fresh and non-perishable food, along with important items such as sanitizer and gloves. Alongside the hot meal, we have been able to provide our community with boxes of fresh produce, non-perishable food hampers and fresh bread. As well as serving these to our guests at the community meal programs, our pastoral team have been visiting church members who are in isolation and delivering these hampers full of goodies, showing practical care in a time when social distancing poses such unique challenges to the way we provide pastoral care.

Senior Pastor David Talathoti with a box of fresh produce ready to be delivered to someone in isolation

The Sunday morning service is being broadcast weekly via Facebook livestream and is well attended. Pastor Naomi is missing the Nourish church service but is glad for the opportunity to wander down the line as guests’ queue for the takeaway meals, stopping to chat to all our regulars along with newcomers. Many from this vulnerable community already struggle with mental health and have mentioned that they are feeling anxious or depressed at the moment. We are aware that there will be huge social and economic implications in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, and that vulnerable members of our community will need care and connection more than ever. It is such a privilege to be able to share the love of Jesus with our neighbours in practical ways during this challenging time.

Submitted by Dandenong Baptist Church