Bishop Steve is encouraging all of us to stay ahead of the virus by setting good examples in our communities....

Like many of you, I have been watching how things are developing with the COVID-19 virus and the continuing impact it is having in our world and our own communities. Often during our morning and evening prayers by Zoom we remember those impacted by the virus and give thanks for the way our leaders have kept us safe in this country compared to other places throughout the world.

With the recent scare in Wellington, it is becoming obvious that as a country we are tending  to become more complacent. We only need to look around us to see how many people are scanning in using the COVID tracer app or using sign in sheets, to see how we are not keeping on top of this. Currently experts in various fields are encouraging the Government to give stronger directives around this, including also the value of wearing masks in places where numbers of people gather and it is difficult to maintain social distancing. 

I want to encourage all our churches to be on top of this and to set an example of how we can maintain the safety of all of us as the Pandemic continues and we have a greater risk from newer, highly contagious variants... and it is taking longer than expected to get vaccinated. 

Can I ask you to do the following:

• Be prayerful - keep this situation in your public and private prayer, and in doing so ask "what does God want me to do that will make a difference?". This could mean reminding ourselves to set examples for scanning and signing in when we are out and about. Remember also that there is also an opportunity to "pay forward" when you receive your COVID-19 vaccination in the Get One Give One campaign. 
  
  
• Be diligent - make sure the tracing posters are displayed in your church and premises and you have a sign-in sheet for any who don't have a smart phone. Encourage your 'welcomers' , as they greet people, to ask if they have signed in. Put a reminder note of this in your pew sheets and mention it when you are giving notices. A reminder also for Church Wardens that this is part of your responsibility to keep an eye on this, as well as others on Vestries or Church Committees. 

This virus thrives in the kinds of places many of us frequent and enjoy - social venues, public transport... and churches where people gather for worship. We want to stay ahead of COVID-19 by providing places where we all can encounter Christ... and not this unwelcome guest.  

+Steve