Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pastoral Letters

UPDATE SUMMARY of Covid Guidelines with effect from 13th March 2022:

– Social distancing between pews and seats will remain but individual households can decide to sit together with another household if they wish.
– Hand Sanitising will still be available at the entrances.
– Our current practice of wearing of masks will continue when entering and exiting and while singing, this will be revisited again in our April meeting
– Pews and surfaces will no longer be wiped down between the services.
– Pew Bibles and hymn books will be returned to the pews.
– Children will be allowed to sit at the front again for the children’s talk at their parents’ discretion.
– Doors to either side of the pulpit will no longer be used to exit after our services, everyone when advised to do so should exit through the main doors only.
– Family members within the same household of someone who has tested positive will be able to attend services as long as they test negative on a lateral flow test before attending.
– requirements for social distancing and temperature checks are no longer in place for our Church organisations but each organisation can adopt what they are currently doing at their own discretion.

20/3/2021

Dear Church Family,

                                   We as elders are writing to you to convey a number of decisions we have made as office-bearers regarding the reopening of Church buildings for services. At each elders and office-bearers meeting the recent postponement of physical services has been reviewed and at our meeting on Thursday 18th March we agreed to recommence physical gatherings from Wednesday 24th March.  

We hope to begin Wednesday night meetings on 24/3/2021 in the main Church building with social distancing measures in place and online provision continuing for those unable to physically attend at this time. These will continue indefinitely unless further restrictions come in which may need to be considered.

Sunday Morning Services will commence in the main Church Building from 28/3/2021 with social distancing measures in place and online provision continuing for those unable to physically attend at this time. These will continue indefinitely unless further restrictions come in which may need to be considered.

Sunday Evening Services will continue online only until a later date when we will think through how to recommence them in the Church building.

All services will begin at the usual time.

I would also like to inform you all of our plans for Easter this year. As elders we have decided to hold a Good Friday Service in the Main Hall on Friday 2nd April @7:30pm. This will be a short gathering focusing our minds on the death of our Saviour and we intend to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together as part of the meeting.

As it will be in the Hall there will be no livestream of this service going out online.

We will then gather physically for morning worship in our main Church building for our Easter Sunday morning service on Sunday 4th April. We will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper at this service as is our normal practice and livestream will be available for those unable to attend physically.

There will be no evening service broadcast online on Easter Sunday.

One further point of information, as a leadership we are aware that due to Covid-19 it has been over a year since we have been able to have a members’ meeting at LBC. We aim to hold a series of members’ meetings before the summer to update the fellowship and bring some proposals and plans to the membership. Dates for these meetings will be communicated out in due course.

We are hopeful that in the coming weeks we will be able to start relaxing social distancing measures in line with guidance from the health department but for now we would ask all of you to continue to adhere to the social distancing measures that were in place up until our most recent closure. A reminder of them is outlined below:

Social Distancing Measures

As office-bearers we want to take every precaution to protect those attending meetings and will be operating under 2m social distancing guidelines until advice from government changes. This means that only members of the same household or those in an allowed social bubble will be able to sit together with everyone else adhering to the 2m distance. For all those who are not legally exempt, face masks are still mandatory when entering and leaving the building and while present at indoor Church gatherings.

–Please do not attend any Church meetings if you or anyone in your household is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or are within a quarantine period.

Entering the Building

• In order to steward meetings effectively there will only be two entry points both at the front entrance to the main Church building.
• We would ask those attending to be responsible and follow the 2m distance between households in the car park and while waiting to be shown into the building.
• A steward will then direct households to one of the two entrances.
• Please follow the social distancing markings on the floor to maintain social distancing in the Church hallway and thoroughly sanitise your hands using the electronic dispensers provided.
• A steward will then instruct you when to follow them into the building and will show you/your household where to sit.
• Everyone attending must sit where they are allocated by a steward, in order to fit the most people into the building safely.
• The building will be filled up from front to back in that order.
• Once seated please don’t leave your seat unless absolutely necessary.
• There will be no provision for hanging up coats/hats/umbrellas in cloakrooms, please keep these with your person in your allocated seat.
• The cushions will be removed from the pews but you are welcome to bring your own cushion and take it away with you again.
• We would ask if those attending could arrive for the service in good time in order to help the flow into the building and to allow for a prompt start to the service.
• It is requested that households enter the building together and not arrive in separate groups.
• We hope to be able to seat everyone but once we reach capacity that safely maintains social distancing no one else will be permitted entry into the main building.

The Services-

• Wednesday nights will consist of a Bible study from the pulpit and a time of prayer.
• Those wanting to pray will go to an allocated microphone in order to limit the raising of voices in the congregation to limit any aerosol risk.
• The Bible study will be streamed online but the prayer time will not; prayer points will be provided as usual to those watching at home.
• Sunday mornings will consist of a children’s talk, prayer, praise, Bible reading, the preaching of the Word and the Lord’s Table.
• We are hoping to continue with having our music group take part complemented by audio recordings of praise and plan over the coming weeks to reintroduce some measure of corporate singing in a cautious and safe way.
• Screens will be in place where necessary for anyone taking part.
• Unfortunately at this time there will be no pre-service prayer meetings but we would encourage households to pray for the service in their cars before entering the building asking for the Lord’s help for the service.
• There will not be a break before the Lord’s Table and we would ask those not partaking of the emblems to remain in their seats till the end of the service.
• The Lord’s Table will be prepared by deacons using strict hygiene protocols and the individual pieces of the bread will be placed in a disposable cup and given out in similar fashion to how the cup with red juice is normally dispensed.
• The cup with red juice will then be given out in normal fashion in a disposable cup.
• We would ask where possible that those partaking of the emblems bring personal hand sanitizer and apply it thoroughly just before the emblems are given out.
• The emblems will be placed in every other slot in the trays to cut down any risk of cross contamination.
• Please hold on to your disposable cups and place them in the rubbish bags provided after the Lord’s table is finished.

Exiting the Building-

• At the end of the service please remain in your seat until instructed through one of the 4 exits by a steward.
• We would ask any conversation between households to be reserved for the carpark and that social distancing should still be maintained.

Toilets-

-We would ask that toilets only be used if absolutely necessary.

-The only toilets open will be the ones at the front of the main building. (unless a meeting is taking place in the Main Hall or for those in the Creche).

-One cubicle will be in use in the ladies and one cubicle and one urinal in the men’s.

• Antibacterial wipes will be provided and we would ask each individual using a toilet to wipe down any surfaces they have touched both before and after they use the toilet disposing of the wipes in the basket provided. (do not flush wipes down the toilet).

Families with young Children-

• Creche facilities will be available during the morning services.

Contact Tracing-

• A record will be kept of who has attended each service and if there is a positive case of COVID-19 this information would be used to aid contact tracing of those who may have been in close proximity to the infected person.
• If anyone develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for the virus we ask that you contact the Church leadership immediately.
• Services would then be suspended until the quarantine period has passed or a negative test is returned.

I just want to finally thank my fellow elders and deacons for their help and wisdom over the past few months. There have been numerous decisions needing made in unprecedented circumstances and I have been very thankful for their support and insight in navigating this pandemic in God’s strength. I also want to thank our Church family for your encouragement and support to us as a leadership and also your care for each other in these difficult days. We look forward in God’s providence to soon seeing a return to some sort of sense of normality as a fellowship in the coming months and trust and pray that as a Church family we will continue to grow and mature in the Gospel as we follow Christ.

I just want to share with you some verses from Galatians after a long Winter apart from each other,

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially those who are of the household of faith.”^[1]

In Christ

The Elders

[1] Galatians 6v9-10

CHANGES TO ABOVE effective Sunday 26th September 2021:

From Sunday 26th September face masks will continue to be mandatory (unless exempt) when entering/exiting, singing and moving around within the building.
When seated if an individual/ a household wish to remove their face covering they are free to do so but must put their face covering back on if they wish to leave their seat or speak to anyone else not in their household.
For the Lord’s Table we would ask that everyone puts their face covering back on for the time when the deacons are distributing the emblems.

From Wednesday 6th October at our midweek meeting we will continue to wear face coverings (unless exempt) but this will be reviewed on a monthly basis and announced in advance.

4/2/2021

Dear Church Family at Lisburn Baptist,

Back at the start of January we followed the Public Health advice as a Church and ceased to hold physical services in our building. Initially this suspension was meant to end on Saturday 6th February and we had hoped to return to physical services on the 7th February. As the current lockdown has been extended and there has been no updated information from the Chief Medical officer or the Executive we as office-bearers have agreed to continue the suspension of physical services in line with the extension of lockdown. 

We cannot give a definitive date for the return of physical services at present but want to assure you we are regularly reviewing this decision and will advocate a return of physical services as soon as is safe and practical to do so. In the meantime our current practice will continue with our Sunday services and Wednesday midweek meeting being broadcast on YouTube and on the website.

I want to mention specific thanks to all who have helped in our online broadcasts over the course of this pandemic. Though online services are no replacement for being able to gather as God’s people for worship and fellowship these services have brought much joy and comfort to us all as we have sung, prayed and heard God’s Word in our homes. What has been of particular encouragement to me has been to witness many of our young people give up their time and use their gifts to be involved in these ministries.

We long to gather again as God’s people in Lisburn Baptist, may we continue to pray to this end and continue to uphold each other in prayer and maintain fellowship through phone calls, practical help and the online worship services. I want to leave you with the words of 2 Corinthians 13 v11-14 which have been of particular challenge and comfort to me recently:
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
In Christ,
     The Elders

8/1/2021

Dear Church family at Lisburn Baptist,

In light of the most recent developments with COVID-19 and the recommendations of the NI executive on Thursday it is with heavy hearts that we announce the postponement of all in-person services and ministries at Lisburn Baptist Church from Friday 8th January 2021-Saturday 6th February 2021.

We continue to pray for our government as they led us through this current crisis and for all those affected by this virus. We are thankful that the government have recognised that worship is a fundamental right and that the state should not interfere with legislating to prevent Churches from meeting. Instead they have asked that Churches co-operate with the government in voluntarily closing our buildings for the period of this lockdown and do what we can to see a reduction in the transmission rate. Last night the office-bearers present at an online meeting voted unanimously to follow the public health advice and participate in the recommended closure.

During the recommended closure that will commence today, our Sunday services will continue online at 11:30am and 6:30pm along with our Wednesday midweek meeting which will be held online at 8:00pm followed by a Zoom prayer time at 8:30pm. Therefore, there will be no morning service that can be attended in the building this Sunday (10th January) or Bible Study and prayer meeting in the building this coming Wednesday (13th January). This will be the pattern until at least 6th February.

The Office-bearers have agreed to review the recommended closure at our meeting on the 2nd February when we will hopefully be able to give better direction as to when in person services can recommence.

We would ask that as a congregation we continue to uphold each other in prayer and maintain fellowship together through phone calls, practical help, and the online worship services. I would especially commend the Wednesday night Zoom prayer times which have been encouraging and uplifting to all who have attended during the last circuit breaker in December.

One final word of encouragement:

We all had hoped that the effects of the current pandemic would have eased by this stage, it has been a long 9 months and we find ourselves in a particularly difficult time for many in our Church fellowship. Some are unwell both with Covid-19 and other illnesses and health conditions, others face economic pressures and uncertainty, others are trying to balance work life with family life in lockdown and of course there are those who continue to feel the shadow of loneliness in the dark days of winter.

The Psalmist in Psalm 42 twice asks the question, ‘why are you cast down my soul, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?’. He finds himself asking that question in a place ofdarkness, difficulty and struggle. But he asks those questions of his soul because he knows that even while he struggles and suffers, he has a hope that lifts his head from his surrounding and circumstances, ‘why are you cast down my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God!’

If you find your soul cast down today, if you feel that experience of inner turmoil in the weeks ahead, speak to your soul with that same hope, your hope is in God and you shall yet praise Him, the One who is Your salvation, Your God!

Till we meet again in person or the Lord Jesus returns and we meet in the air, stay safe and stay faithful,

In Christ

The Elders

21/11/2020

Dear Church family,

In light of the most recent restrictions announced by the NI executive on Thursday it is with heavy hearts that we announce the postponement of all services and ministries at Lisburn Baptist Church from Friday 28th November-Friday 11th December.

We continue to pray for our government in the difficult decisions they are making in these days and will comply with the current restrictions they have announced out of respect to those governing us and love for our neighbour.
As a Church we have endeavoured to adhere to all public health advice throughout this pandemic, implementing the recommended practices of social distancing, hand sanitising, postponement of congregational singing and wearing of face masks when entering and exiting. We are disappointed that this latest closure means that we are unable to gather as a local church and we contend that, far from being classified as non-essential, the ability to freely gather to worship God is essential for Christians and the community.
It is a difficult decision to understand when unlike the first lockdown people can gather in education settings, in professional sports teams, as film and TV crews but not as the Church to worship God. We would trust that our Executive would not have taken this decision lightly and we will endeavour to humbly ask the reasoning and evidence behind these restrictions in light of the wider context of religious freedom and the relationship between Church and State which is fundamental to our beliefs as Baptists.
Our heart also goes out to all those in our congregation and community who are working so hard in our health service at such a difficult time and also to those facing difficult days in their employment, business and family circle. Though we will not be gathering in our Church building we will still be the Church, there to help, comfort, pray for and bring hope to all through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the only hope for our world.

This Sunday (22nd November) will continue as normal with our morning children and youth ministries at 10:00am and morning service at 11:30am. Our evening service will be live-streamed as normal at 6:30pm followed by Youth Fellowship.

As the restrictions do not come into place until Friday we plan to hold our
Wednesday midweek (24th) in the building as normal at 8:00pm.

During the restrictions our services will continue online at 11:30am and 6:30pm along with our Wednesday midweek meeting which will be held online at 8:00pm followed by a Zoom prayer time at 8:30pm.
We will also endeavour to have a time on Zoom on Sunday mornings at 10am for prayer and fellowship before the morning livestream.
Unfortunately our planned members meeting on Saturday 5th December is postponed to the New Year.

We would ask that as a congregation we continue to uphold each other in prayer and maintain fellowship together through phone calls, practical help and the online worship services.

“God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46v1

09/07/2020

Dear Church Family,

We as elders are writing to you to convey a number of decisions we have made as office-bearers in light of the recent announcements from the Executive regarding the reopening of Church buildings for services.

We give thanks for God’s faithfulness and provision to us over the past number of months and I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow elders and the deacons for their help in navigating the uncertain times of Lockdown. Particular thanks also needs to go to the Broadcast team and those looking after the CD distribution which has enabled our services to continue to the blessing of many.
The impact of COVID-19 has caused uncharted waters for many of us and the leadership would also like to thank those who formed a COVID-19 group who advised from their areas of expertise which was very helpful particularly in the lead up to Lockdown.
We also want to thank each of you for your understanding and support of us as a leadership during this crisis and have been encouraged by the many stories we have heard of you helping, encouraging and looking out for each other during this time.

After much consideration we have decided on a plan of action to navigate our way out of Lockdown. These decisions have been made in the knowledge that each of our members and adherents have specific circumstances and that there is a wide spectrum of views on when and how to recommence services. They have been made in the recognition of God’s sovereignty over all things and with the flexibility to change in line with any further relaxing or restricting of social distancing measures from the
Executive.

We are excited at the prospect of being able to gather again but want to convey a note of caution. Anyone who is shielding or is in a more at risk group – we would encourage you not to attend until you are advised by medical professionals/ feel it is safe for you to do so; please feel under no pressure from the opening of services to do something that is unwise for your personal circumstances.

We hope to begin Wednesday night meetings on 15/7/2020 in the main Church Building with social distancing measures in place and online provision continuing for those unable to physically attend at this time. These will continue indefinitely unless further restrictions come in.
Sunday Morning Services will commence in the main Church Building from 26/7/2020 with social distancing measures in place and online provision continuing for those unable to physically attend at this time. These will continue indefinitely unless further restrictions come in.
Sunday Evening Services will continue online only until a later date when we will think through how to recommence them in the Church building.
All services will begin at the usual time.

Social Distancing Measures
As office-bearers we want to take every precaution to protect those attending meetings and will be operating under 2m social distancing guidelines until advice from government changes. This means that only members of the same household or those in an allowed social bubble will be able to sit together with everyone else adhering to the 2m distance. Face masks have been recommended for indoor gatherings by the Executive but will not be made mandatory for Church services.
Wearing a face mask will be left up to individual choice.
* Please do not attend any Church meetings if you or anyone in your household is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or are within a quarantine period.

Entering the Building

• In order to steward meetings effectively there will only be two entry points both at the front entrance to the main Church building.
• We would ask those attending to be responsible and follow the 2m distance between households in the car park and while waiting to be shown into the building.
• A steward will then direct households to one of the two entrances.
• Please follow the social distancing markings on the floor to maintain social distancing in the Church hallway and thoroughly sanitise your hands using the electronic dispensers provided.
• A steward will then instruct you when to follow them into the building and will show you/your household where to sit.
• Everyone attending must sit where they are allocated by a steward; this is in order to fit the most people into the building safely.
• The building will be filled up from the front back in that order.
• Once seated please don’t leave your seat unless absolutely necessary.
• There will be no provision for hanging up coats/hats/umbrellas in cloakrooms, please keep these with your person in your allocated seat.
• The cushions will be removed from the pews but you are welcome to bring your own cushion and take it away with you again.
• The balcony will be closed at this time.
• We would ask if those attending could arrive for the service in good time in order to help the flow into the building and to allow for a prompt start to the service.
• It is requested that households enter the building together and not arrive in separate groups.
• We hope to be able to seat everyone but once we reach capacity that safely maintains social distancing no one else will be permitted entry into the main building. We are exploring an overflow in the Main Hall but this may not be in operation for a few weeks.

The Services

• Wednesday nights will consist of a Bible study from the pulpit and a time of prayer.
• Those wanting to pray will go to an allocated microphone in order to limit the raising of voices in the congregation to limit any aerosol risk.
• The Bible study will be streamed online but the prayer time will not; prayer points will be provided as usual to those watching at home.
• Sunday mornings will consist of a children’s talk, prayer, Bible reading, the preaching of the Word and the Lord’s Table.
• We are exploring the use of soloists/small singing groups and the use of prerecorded singing but there will be no congregational singing at this time.
• The entire service, including the Lord’s Table will aim to last no longer than 1 hour.
• Unfortunately at this time there will be no pre-service prayer meetings but would encourage households to pray for the service in their cars before entering the building asking for the Lord’s help for the service.
• There will not be a break before the Lord’s Table and we would ask those not partaking of the emblems to remain in their seats till the end of the service.

• The Lord’s Table will be prepared by deacons using strict hygiene protocols and the individual pieces of the bread will be placed in a disposable cup and given out in similar fashion to how the cup with red juice is normally dispensed.
• The cup with red juice will then be given out in normal fashion in a disposable cup.
• We would ask where possible that those partaking of the emblems bring personal hand sanitiser and apply it thoroughly just before the emblems are given out.
• The emblems will be placed in every other slot in the trays to cut down any risk of cross contamination.
• Please hold on to your disposable cups and place them in the rubbish bags provided after the Lord’s table is finished.

• Exiting the Building

• At the end of the service please remain in your seat until instructed through one of the 4 exits by a steward.
• We would ask any conversation between households to be reserved for the car park and that social distancing should still be maintained.

Toilets

-We would ask that toilets only be used if absolutely necessary.
-The only toilets that will open will be the ones at the front of the main building.
-One cubicle will be in use in the ladies and one cubicle and one urinal in the men’s.
-Antibacterial wipes will be provided and we would ask each individual using a toilet to wipe down any surfaces they have touched both before and after they use the toilet disposing of the wipes in the basket provided. (do not flush wipes down the toilet).

Families with young Children

• We want to encourage everyone to come to Church who feels safe and able to do so but recognise that social distancing can be difficult for parents with young children but we want to encourage you to feel the service is accessible and available for all ages.
• Unfortunately we are unable to provide crèche facilities in the immediate future.

Contact Tracing

• A record will be kept of who has attended each service and if there is a positive case of COVID-19 this information would be used to aid contact tracing of those who may have been in close proximity to the infected person.
• If anyone develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for the virus we ask that you contact the Church leadership immediately.
• Services would then be suspended until the quarantine period has passed or a negative test is returned.

Please be in prayer in these days that we would continue to know the Lord’s presence, help and protection as we begin steps to return to regular fellowship together. On a personal note I have been so encouraged by how the Lord has been with us in these days and been using this time for love to be expressed among our Church family, for opportunities to reach those who never have come into our building and to see others use their gifts in new ways to God’s glory. This has been a hard time and there may be more hard times ahead, but we take comfort from the words of Isaiah 43v1-3:
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
In Christ,
The Elders

____________________________________________________________________________

17/03/2020

Dear Church Family,

With a heavy heart I am writing to you to convey the decision of the elders on the 16th March 2020 to suspend all Church services until further notice in light of the developing situation regarding the Coronavirus.

We have not taken this decision lightly and understand this will be the first time in our 95 year history that we have not gathered as Lisburn Baptist Church on the Lord’s Day and in other meetings.

Our government has asked us as a nation to stop the gathering of groups of people in a bid to fight and delay the spread of this virus and we feel that by temporarily stopping our meetings we are following the teaching of Romans 13:1-7 where we are instructed to be subject to our governing authorities who are ultimately appointed by God.

Yet we want to encourage you as a Church to rise to the challenge of our time. We may have to temporarily shut the doors of our building but we are still Lisburn Baptist Church. Every effort therefore must be made to to continue to worship and glorify our God whilst showing love and fellowship to each other.

We are rapidly progressing an action plan to move our services to an online format by Sunday morning and will endeavour to circulate points of prayer so we can still pray in our own homes on Wednesday evenings from 8-9pm.

We understand that not everyone can navigate the online world so we are looking at how we can effectively distribute CD’s of services to those who need them. If you would like CD’s brought to you please contact one of the office bearers.

This is a time for us to care for each other; it is a time for us to be the body of Christ. I ask that you pick up the phone and encourage each other in the Lord and in prayer. I ask that if you are not in an ‘at risk group’ and are able to help practically with care for those who are self-isolating that you contact the office bearers.

I want to assure you that we as a Church and that we as elders are here. If you feel overwhelmed with fear or anxiety, we are here. If you are struggling to see the hand of God in this, we are here. If you need someone to talk to or someone to pray with you just pick up the phone.

But most of all I want to assure you that God is here. He is as much God today as He was yesterday and He will be tomorrow. He loved us enough to forsake His Son on a cross to pay for our sin so that He will never have to forsake us. Our God is still on the throne and we can still trust in Him. He tells us to ‘cast all our anxieties on him, because He cares for us.’ 1 Peter 5:7. He tells us that He has given us ‘a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.’ 2 Timothy 1:7

So let us use this time wisely in service for Him, let us share the hope we have in Christ with the lost, let us care for the weak and the needy, let us bear each other’s burdens, let us spend time alone with God, let us pray and read God’s word as families, let us continue to grow more like Christ.

‘Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.’ 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Pastor Daniel Ashby

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Upcoming Events

CHURCH continues! Just not in our building! Because of the Coronavirus we are broadcasting online Sunday services.

SUNDAYS & WEDNESDAYS Live Stream Video!

Sundays @ 11.30 am  & @ 6.30 pm Wednesdays @ 8 pm

Pastor Daniel Ashby is now ONLINE

CLICK HERE to watch: https://lisburnbaptist.org/live

Wherever you are, you’re very welcome to join with us ONLINE!