Return to Worship

4 June 2020

Hello Perth Fortress Corps

Well, as you may be aware, Western Australia moves into Phase 3 on the road to COVID recovery from 11:59pm this Friday June 5. Included in the announcement is the allowance of:

indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people at any one time, per single undivided space, applying the revised two square metre per person capacity rule for WA venues
for venues that can fully re-open under stage 3, up to 300 patrons in total at the venue, but with no more than 100 patrons in a single undivided space at any one time (referred to as 100/300 rule) and applying the revised two square metre per patron capacity rule for WA venues.

With this announcement comes both WA Government and Salvation Army requirements. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) met to discuss what this means for us as a congregation and how we might safely and wisely facilitate a return to worship. The decisions for this Sunday June 7 are:

A maximum of 100 people will be allowed in the main hall and the SLT has a contingency plan should we exceed 100.
We are not ready to provide an overflow at this point in time.
Those unwell or showing symptoms of being unwell are to remain home and we encourage participation through the livestream.
We ask that anyone at risk continue to participate via the livestream from home.
To facilitate restriction protocols, those attending are to arrive AFTER 9:30am and follow instructions given upon arrival.
This Sunday’s worship format will remain as it has during these weeks of restrictions, using a flexi worship group.
The leaders of musical sections will contact their groups to advise the processes for their return.
Our Kids Spot will feature in the meeting, Kids Church will commence at a later date and the YPSM will be in contact with families in due course.
A team of volunteers will be recruited to assist with carpark monitoring, foyer monitoring, ushering and cleaning.

It is important we realise things are different. We are not returning to the way things were. There are new chairs, COVID safety plans and the room is set up to accommodate physical distancing and our livestream requirements. The room will look and feel different. We just want to flag this with you, so you are prepared. We are, however, very excited to welcome you ‘home’; for the body of Christ to gather again to praise God, to read His word and to spur one another on. Hallelujah.

God bless you

Alwyn and Deborah, and the Corps' Senior Leadership Team

PDF copy of the letter sent 04/06/2020