Managing the New Health Orders

Most of us are aware by now that there are new public health orders that came into effect Oct 5 and will remain in effect at least until Oct 26.

The new orders will not impact our regular Sunday gatherings because the number of people we can accommodate is well within the limits set out by Manitoba Health – even with the extra space requirements due to physical distancing.

So for our Sunday Gatherings we will continue to welcome everyone who is able to come and we will continue to require mask usage and physical distancing between households.

The new orders will have a more direct impact on our Home Groups. Please be in touch with your Home Group leader to determine how your group will be following the guidelines.

For our Baptism Sunday (October 10) we are expecting more people than normal because those who are getting baptised will have friends and family coming to support them. We will have an overflow section on the second floor available in case there is no more room in the main sanctuary. It will be a good morning to show up early. 😉 It will also be a Sunday you won’t want to miss!

With these new orders, and with Covid in general, there is a huge potential for division, distrust and dissension. At the same time, there is tremendous opportunity for grace, listening and active loving one another across differences. We will continue to follow the provincial guidelines as required – and we will continue to care for the most vulnerable amongst us. We will continue to try to foster an atmosphere that is respectful and loving of all people – a safe place. We really want to put into action what the apostle John encouraged – that we follow the example of Jesus who laid down his life for us (John 13:34, 1 John 3:16). What does it look like for us to prefer each other, to offer our lives to one another in this time? Can we be the kind of community that is like Jesus who gave up his divine privileges to become human (Philippians 2:7)? Can we be the kind of people who hold our rights loosely with the primary goal of loving each other as we love God? This seems like our great opportunity in these times of division, discord and virus.

 

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash