Dear Maitland Baptist Church Family,

Good evening everyone. Today we have put together this short clip for your information please click on the above link to listen and read the following information below about the changes to our weekly services and gatherings.
Most would be aware of the potential impact of COVID-19 on our communities. Containing the spread of the virus is important for all of us and particularly those more vulnerable people. The Maitland Baptist Church Leadership Team has been carefully considering the guidelines and recommendations from the Australian Government and Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT in determining how our church should respond.

As such, the Leadership Team has suspended all regular church activities including our Sunday services, Wildfire Youth, Play Centre etc which would ordinarily occur on our site at Rutherford. This will be for a period of six weeks up to and including Sunday 26 April 2020. The Leadership Team will review this arrangement closer to the end of April. This strategy is generally consistent with the guidelines and recommendations of Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT.

One of our core values is “Loving People” and we believe that this decision is putting this value into action. We want to be able to care for the health and safety of our Church family in the best way possible, particularly those who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus and less able to recover quickly.

As a Leadership Team we want to encourage all church members who are not in a high-risk category to find ways to continue meeting and serving our community. As we continue to journey together, let’s remember that the church is not a building – the church is the people. So, while we may not be meeting together in person, make no mistake about it, we’re still going to be the church.

So, where to from here? It’s important that we find ways to connect as a church even though we won’t be meeting as a large gathering over the next six weeks. There are a number of key things that we are planning to do over this period:

• We will be providing weekly sermons online to allow you to continue to grow and encourage one another. Please check your email inbox and go online to the Maitland Baptist Church website (https://mbchurch.org.au) to make sure you are kept informed and have access to our postings. We encourage you to watch these messages on a Sunday and invite a small number of people to join you.

• At this stage we plan to continue with our Connect Groups and encourage people to join with one of these groups. These connect groups may look a little different as you may want to include a time of worship and communion. Those connect groups currently running are:

 Lindsay and Nicole (Tuesday Night) – 0467 814 941
 Stephen and Cherie (Tuesday Night) – 0419 163 880
 David and Julie (Thursday Night) – 0401 056 708
 Jenny Willdigg (Wednesday Night) – 0481 460 353
 Deep End (Young adults Thursday Night) -0490 400 358
 Jeremy Bilson (Young Men’s Group) – 0400 490 962
 Family Group – Every second Sunday – 0467 814 941
 Oxygen Youth Bible Study – Every Second Sunday (Jeremy Bilson 0400 490 962)
 Embracing The Bible – Nicole (Wednesday morning) – 0409 650287
 Girls in the Word – Nicole (TBA ) – 0409 650287

We need to remember however, that regardless of the small group setting in which our meetings take place, to remain diligent in putting into place those practical steps which will help prevent the spread of the virus – this includes regular handwashing, minimising physical contact with each other (maintaining a safe distance), staying away from others if you feel ill or have any potential cold/flu-like symptoms, and maintaining good hygiene when handling food.

While much is still uncertain, we will aim to respond wisely, prayerfully and with planning, to this rapidly changing environment by keeping up to date with the latest requirements and recommendations of both government and those of Baptist Churches NSW & ACT. Remember that we find our hope and peace in the knowledge that God is bigger than Coronavirus.

We hope that in this season you draw closer to God, invite him to show you opportunities to be a light in what many see as darkness, to serve your fellow humans as they grapple with fear and anxiety, and to be even more intentional in supporting, encouraging and connecting with each other.

Let’s lean into this moment as an opportunity to share God’s love with others and be good neighbours – to see a need and meet it.

As the Psalmist so beautifully puts it in Psalm 46, let’s not be afraid for God is with us.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

We will continue to keep you updated through Social Media and email so make sure you are following/subscribed to our accounts.