1. Overall response to COVID-19

Session advises the congregation that in order to fulfil the requirements of the Government and to avoid contributing to the spread of the Coronavirus all physical meetings are cancelled when COVID-19 restrictions require places of worship to close. When this occurs all members of the congregation are encouraged to maintain their social connectedness by using technology, i.e. making phone calls to each other, using Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and other technologies. The use of Zoom has been very beneficial for holding meetings such as our weekly Prayer meeting.

Session exhorts all our people to respect the decisions of our governments in light of the Bible’s teaching that Christians are to obey secular authorities as placed over us by God. 1 Timothy 6:13, Titus 3:1 & 1 Peter 2:13-17. We need to find creative ways to keep connecting together without flouting the physical distancing requirements that have been established to protect people from illness and death.

2. Sunday Worship

When we are unable to meet physically at St. Cuthbert's we prepare a recorded video, worship service, which is linked to our website so that you can join in worship each Sunday in your own home to worship God in song, prayer and hearing God’s word. The order of service will generally take the following form:

Welcome
Song of Praise

Bible Reading

Children’s Memory Verse

Children’s Song of Praise

Prayers
Message

Song of Praise
Close with Notices

3. Devotional Life

Session encourages all members of the congregation to maintain or to develop strong daily Bible reading and prayer times at home and to hold times of family/household worship especially on Sundays using the recorded video service when COVID-19 restrictions are in place..

The teaching of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:1-18 is helpful in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. When we are isolated in our homes God is giving us time to draw near to Him by shutting down many other activities that often take His place in our lives. In these times particularly we are encouraged to embrace the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 6 which contains a wonderful promise: “…..your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

We encourage the use of material to assist with daily devotions and family worship through our website at "Time at Home". Session extends its prayer for God to richly bless each member of our congregation and through these difficult times teach us to love God and one another in deeper and richer ways.

4. Giving

If you are wanting to make offerings for the ongoing ministry of our church these can be made through direct debit to the St. Cuthbert’s Bank Account:

BSB No. 033-095

Account No. 201358