Without wanting to sound like a broken record, these are unprecedented and unpredictable times. The situation with covid-19 can change rapidly.

At this point in time, we're able to resume physical church services but we're aware that changes in circumstances and health advice could alter what we are permitted to do and how we are permitted to do it. On this page, we will keep you up to date on what this means for church services, ministries and any of our policies pertaining to the covid-19 pandemic.

WHO CANNOT ATTEND?

For the duration of the pandemic, we will continue to livestream our services using Zoom for those who are unable to attend in person. You can find the details for accessing the livestream on our church services page.

Due to health risks, we are not legally permitted to allow entry to anyone who answers yes to any of the questions below.

• Have you tested positive for COVID-19 or have had close contact with a suspected case of COVID-19?
  
• Are you awaiting results of a COVID-19 test?
  
• Do you have ANY symptoms associated with COVID-19 eg. Cough, Fever, Sore Throat or Shortness of breath?
  
• In the last 14 days, have you returned from overseas or a Covid-19 hotspot in Australia?
  

If you're unable to attend in person, you can still connect to the church service online using Zoom. Below are the details to access the livestream.

Meeting ID: 634-616-582
Password : bacon
Link: https://bit.ly/32sOIfM

PREPARING FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

One of the conditions of re-operning is providing adequate ventilation. This means that we will have windows and doors open (even in winter). Please dress accordingly.

Before leaving your home, we would recommend wiping any items you are bringing (Bible, phone, keys, instruments etc) with a disinfectant wipe. We would request that you only bring essential items with you. During this time we will not be providing Bibles for communal use so remember to bring your Bible.

Our church services begin at 10:00am. We would recommend arriving by 9:45am to allow extra time for washing your hands, checking in, (we need to record your names and contact details), and being seated.

ARRIVING AT CHURCH

At all times, please practice social distancing and good hygiene. This includes no handshakes or hugs during this time.

• There will only be one entry open into the Philharmonic complex. This is the gate between the Concert Hall and Philharmonic Office. Other gates will remain locked.
  
• At the gate, you will be asked the 4 COVID-19 questions to confirm that no attendee poses a potential health risk. See "Who Can Come?" above.
  
• You can either Sanitise your hands at the gate using the provided Sanitiser or wash your hands with soap for 20-30 seconds in the bathrooms.
  
• Once hands are sanitised, form a line outside the concert hall, (keeping 1.5m between your household group and others) to sign the Contact Tracing Register.
  
• Once you've filled in and signed the register, you will be directed as to which room to enter. We can fit 51 in the Concert Hall before we need to redirect people to the video overflow room in the Austral Room.
  
• When you enter the room, you may sit together as a household group. You do not need to maintain 1.5m from those who live in your house.
  
• Leave 3 empty seats on either side of you (or your household group) to maintain 1.5m distance from others. All rows of chairs will be 1.5m apart so it's OK to sit in front of, or behind others.

LIMITS ON NUMBERS

At this stage, we don't require anyone to pre-register to attend our church services. The Covid-Safe plan requires that we allocate 4m2 per person. This means our maximum numbers in different rooms / buildings are:

Concert Hall: 51 max
Austral Room: 25 max
Playhouse: 33 max

ALL OF THESE NUMBERS INCLUDE CHILDREN.

REGULAR CHURCH PRACTICES CURRENTLY ON HOLD

• No Church Lunches
  
• No Morning Tea
  
• No Shared Kids Toys In The Foyer
  
• No Kids Activity Packs Provided
  
• No Shared Bibles or Books/Resources for Borrowing

COMMUNION

At the moment, we are permitted to celebrate the Lord's Supper if it is prepared and administered in accordance with our Covid-Safe plan. We will continue to celebrate the Lord's Supper every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month as long as it is both safe and permissible.

You will be instructed during these services about how you prepare and participate in communion during this time. There will always be the option of individually pre-packed and sealed communion portions.

AFTER THE SERVICE

You are allowed to gather together after the service. You will still need to maintain 1.5m between yourself and others who do not live in your house.

We request that post-service conversations take place outside in the courtyard. There will be no morning tea provided at the moment.

LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATTENDEES

We've already mentioned above, that it is required by law that we record names and contact details of every attendee for contract tracing purposes. We need to hold on to these records for 56 days. In addition to this, all attendees are required to do the following.

• Inform the leadership of the church if you have received a positive result for covid-19 or have been in contact with a possible covid-19 case.