ASSEMBLING OURSELVES TOGETHER

 

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:23–25).

It is about time we regather for physical, corporate worship on the Lord’s Day after nine months of online services. No better time to start than on the very first Lord’s Day of the New Year. Thus, we shall resume our English worship services at the RELC, commencing January 3 with safety measures in place. There will be three services, at 9am, 10.30am, and 12pm. Registration is required. The service will be livestreamed at 10.30am for those unable to make it.

Although it will be Phase 3 of the so-called “Circuit Breaker” come tomorrow, we shall limit our services to just a hundred people per service before we open up to 250 when the situation is clearer and we are ready.

The Rev Dr Park Seung Kyu will be the Lord’s messenger on January 3 before he flies off to Tanzania on January 4 to resume his missionary work at the Bible College of East Africa. His wife who just graduated from FEBC with her MDiv will join him. We bid them Godspeed.

The Chinese worship service will continue to meet in Rooms 603/4, with 50 each time. However, instead of 11.30am, the Chinese service will return to its original 10.30am time slot.

Holy Communion will be conducted on the 2^nd week for the English, and 4^th week for the Chinese. Pr Zhu Jianwei, having satisfied the ordination council’s examination, will be ordained on January 3 (DV). He will then qualify to serve the Lord’s Supper to the Chinese congregation.

Safe Management Measures (SMM)

1. The authorities have granted approval to TLBPC to hold meetings of up to 100 people per time at RELC.
2. The Church’s Safe Management Officer (SMO) is Eld Tai Mern Yee with the deacons assisting. Fellowship groups are also to appoint their own SMOs to ensure that the SMMs are observed.
3. Worship services should have no more than 100 persons at a time (excluding pastors and supporting workers). Pastoral and support staff should be kept to a minimum.
4. All worshippers and church staff must declare their presence via TraceTogether/SafeEntry and have their temperature taken when they enter the premises. Those who are unwell (with fever, sore throat, cough, etc) are advised not to attend the worship services.
5. All worshippers are to ensure safe distancing (1m) and must wear their masks at all times. All are reminded to practise good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly or using hand sanitisers available at the entrance.
6. There will be no congregational singing, including live choirs. Sing with your heart, not with your lungs.
7. Bible study classes should not have more than 5 persons per group (excluding teachers). Groups must be separated by at least 1m. No interaction between groups.
8. No refreshments will be served, and no mingling before, during, and after service.
9. Those who fall ill during the service must be evacuated immediately. They are required to go home or see the doctor immediately.
10. For recording sessions, no more than 30 persons are allowed on location. Only 10 persons can be unmasked at any one time. If there is singing or song presentation, only 5 persons max can be unmasked at any one time.
11. Full-time church workers must inform the church of all recent doctor visits over the past 14 days for any treatment of illness including but not limited to typical symptoms of Covid-19 like fever, cough and shortness of breath. They should not come to work or to church if they are on MC or SHN.
12. Only 50 can gather at Godhill at a time. The premises should be cleaned/wiped down/vacuumed after every meeting especially high contact points (handles, switches, chairs, toilets, etc).

 

Zoning Arrangement and Movement

1. The RELC Auditorium is divided into 2 zones. Zone 1: ground floor seats below the main walkway. Zone 2: ground floor seats above the walkway and seats on the mezzanine floor.
2. The elderly, the handicapped, and those with infants or small children will be seated in Zone 1.
3. Those in Zone 1 will use the restrooms on the ground floor, and those in Zone 2 will use the one on the mezzanine floor (2^nd storey).
4. Collect the Church Weekly from the reception table and proceed to enter the auditorium.
5. Ushers will direct worshippers to their seats. Once seated, do not change seats.
6. After the service, those in Zone 1 would leave first, followed by Zone 2.
7. Worshippers are requested to leave immediately after service to make space for the next group of worshippers. Please do not loiter or mingle between Zones or at the foyer.
8. Worshippers coming for the 2^nd and 3^rd services are encouraged to arrive earliest 10 minutes before worship time so that there will be no crowding or comingling at the foyer.

CHURCH BANNER

A church banner will hang in front of the pulpit when physical services resume in the New Year. The banner with the church logo and theme verse shows who we are and what we stand for.

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.” (Ps 60:4).

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

From 3 January, 2021, the Sunday school (Children and Teens) and Children’s Worship will be held via the Zoom platform, on a class basis, on Sunday afternoons. As such, lessons will no longer be held one on one, with the exception of Nursery Worship.

The Sunday school timing will be from 4.15 pm to 4.45 pm. The teachers of the Kindergarteners: Tan Chew Ying, Lower Primary: Jean Koh, Upper Primary:Tai Mei Lan, Teens: Jenny Kan.

The Children’s Worship will be held from 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm. Nursery Worship i/c: Tay Yee Fong, Lower Primary Worship i/c: Mabel Wong, Upper Primary Worship i/c:Joycelyn Chng.

We encourage all children to join both sessions. The teachers will contact parents with the link for the class. If you do not hear from them by 2 January, please contact Joycelyn at 9765 8004.

WATCHNIGHT SERVICE

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph 5:15–16).

Spend the final hours of the year with the Lord. Watchnight service on New Year’s Eve is at Godhill. Four timings: 7.30 & 8.45pm by Rev Dr Jose Lagapa, 10.00 & 11.15pm by Pastor Jeffrey Khoo. Only for those registered.

Those not at Godhill can worship at home. Watchnight Service will be online through the church’s YouTube channel. It will start at 11pm. Check Telegram or church website for the link. May the Lord bless and keep us in the year to come.

 

FEBC’s BTFE begins on January 4. Sign up at www.febc.edu.sg.