New Hope Brisbane

HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE REGARDING CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 t

Dear Friends,

We want to update you on New Hope Church Brisbane’s response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and the steps that we are taking.

We are closely monitoring advice from the Department of Health and following this advice. As advice from the Department of Health changes, we will reflect these changes in our policies and in this Notice. An up to date copy of this notice will be maintained at here on our website.  

As a church we intend to respond to the current situation with COVID-19 with faith, and see this as a time to trust Jesus as the hope of the world, knowing that He is the way, the truth and the light.  We have committed to speaking life, to standing in faith and to encouraging our community to be prayerful, be prepared, be wise, be compassionate and remain connected. We believe it is essential in this time to be bearers of Good News, to lead others to faith, hope and the love of God. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NKJV

It is our heart to edify and build up our church community and those around us, as well as acting with wisdom and discernment in this time of great need. 

Spiritual Response 

Perfect love casts out all fear 1 John 4:18

It is essential at this time to ensure you are abiding with God and in His love. We encourage you to be spiritually prepared, and to be disciplined and diligent:    

Pray God’s word:

  • Psalm 91, Psalm 27, 2 Tim 1:7

Read God’s word: 

  • Your Word Is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Seek God’s way:

  • But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
  • We must not let fear dictate our actions, but we must pray and consider daily our Lord’s instructions.

Declare God’s word in worship:

  • The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7

Stand in faith together: 

  • Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25
  • Let faith arise and let’s stand together in faith against this virus. Pray daily for each other, your family, your friends, your local community, as well as for the national and international community. 
  • Be prayerful and considerate for the vulnerable in our community, and exercise due care for high-risk individuals such as older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions such as Heart Disease, Diabetes or Lung Disease. Avoid contact if possible.
  • Reach out, especially to those who may be isolated or struggling. Stay connected via phone calls, video calls, text messages, smaller gatherings. 

Know what God’s word says about healing:

Be the light in the darkness:

  • Revelation 12:11-12 Joshua 1:9
  • As God’s people let us not leave a legacy of hoarding, self-care and isolation. Instead let’s learn from scriptures which teaches us to care for each other and our neighbours sensibly without taking unnecessary risks. We sense from the Lord that we will have many walking through our doors seeking hope and peace, we must prepare ourselves for the salvation support and pastoral care needs that will arise” 

Health and Safety Response

We are continuing to monitor the advice from the Department of Health and if deemed necessary will review how we hold our Sunday services whilst the risk of contagion remains high. 

Latest COVID-19 Update

Church Services

We believe as the kingdom of God on earth the church should be open to all people at all times, as the throne of God is in heaven.  We neither require vaccination for our members or volunteers, nor do we discriminate against those who chose not to be vaccinated.  

We will continue to maintain the COVID Industry plans and have complied with the Covid Safe Checklist- Public Health and Social Measures- unvaccinated staff and patrons permitted.

If you have any further comments or further questions regarding our statement or how it applies to specific situations please know as a leadership team we are always here to listen to you and pray with you. 

 

On arrival to church, you ask that you please register your attendance at the Welcome Desk and sign in via Check In Qld. 

For those who are unable to make our church services, and for the vulnerable, we will continue to stream our services online each week at 9.30am with an extended time of worship and a message. 

Please consider switching to online methods if you give tithes and offerings – https://newhopebrisbane.com/donate/

Face Masks

As of 1am on Saturday 18th December, masks are mandatory across Queensland in the following locations:

– In shops and retail centres
– Hospitals and aged care
– On Public Transport
– Ride Share
– Airports and Planes

The Government is revising this once a 90% vaccination rate has been hit. 

With our building at New Hope being so large, we are able to easily meet appropriate social distance requirements, therefore it is not necessary to wear masks.  However if your are vunerable, we encourage you to do so.  

Sickness

If you have experienced a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or travelled overseas in the past month, we ask that you please watch the service from home and encourage you to have a COVID Test. 

If you test positive to COVID, please can you inform one of our church leaders. We do need to follow the Queensland COVID directives, however our heart is to make sure that you are also being cared for. 

RESOURCES:

Keep up to date and find additional guidance at www.covid19.qld.gov.au & www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.

Over the coming days, if there are changes to our services and activities as a church, we will update you via email and/or our social media outlets. If you have any concerns please contact us via our church messenger, via email info@newhopebrisbane.org, or by calling if you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us on 07 3839 2312. We have a wonderful pastoral care team that is here to everyone feel supported and connected.  

We must all take the Coronavirus pandemic seriously as it’s a serious global crisis with wide reaching effects. It’s important that we must all do what we can to slow it’s spread as well as minimising the risks to ourselves whilst at the same time ministering to those in need. We can do this in a number of ways that include praying:

  • for those who are infected with the virus
  • that the virus will be slowed and its reach reduced
  • that an effective vaccine will soon be developed and made available
  • for the safety and strength of health workers 
  • for wisdom for our nation’s and state’s leaders
  • for the livelihoods of many whose jobs and businesses are being effected 

Check out this practical prayer guide from Vision Radio: Coronavirus Strategic Prayer Guide

Other ways we can care for people include staying connected via phone and social media. In the case of this who fall sick, cooking meals or helping with grocery shopping may be of great practical help, but please take care not to put yourself at risk if you do this. We recommend leaving the cooking or groceries near the front door and ensuring that direct contact does not take place. We pray that you will remain healthy and continue to let the love of Jesus shine through you in this season.

Love and blessings, 
Matt and Carol Prater
Senior Pastors New Hope Brisbane Church