From P5
outreach into the local community almost since its inception.” In fact, according to CAN’s executive officer for community support, Cheryl Lawrie, serving the local community forms the cornerstone of the church’s work. But COVID-19 restrictions in place since March, with only a short return in June to any sense of normality, have meant major and dramatic changes to the way CAN supports the local community. The restriction on the number of people who can gather together has been an obvious brake on the sort of work CAN has always done. “Before COVID-19, we were working strongly with the community and with vulnerable people within that community,” Cheryl says.
challenge, but I was also amazed at the capability of the many people who made the transition quickly to a different way of doing things. “Different congregations had different methods, but they were all finding ways to ensure that that connection happened.” In Melbourne, Sue and Cheryl quickly realised the pandemic’s emergence was going to present a major challenge, particularly for some of the congregation’s more vulnerable members. “We have many congregation members who fall into that ‘vulnerable’ category and when COVID-19 came we had to shut down fairly quickly in terms of face to face worship,” Cheryl says. “It’s been difficult for everyone and we have a number of congregation
impressed with how everyone has kept “I’ve been active and just got on with things. ” Cheryl Lawrie
“We had programs, including community meals, emergency relief, a drop-in centre and a family learning program. The family learning program was essentially a homework club which extended to include the parents of the children involved. “We also worked closely with the mothers on health, education and welfare and that extended into an African women’s program.” For Tasmanian worshippers, the introduction of restrictions in March meant some dramatic changes, including an end to church services. “Immediately, our presbytery team made resources available through our website and on Facebook, providing alternative options for Sunday morning worship without actually gathering together,” Hoon says. “Some congregations also started using telephone and email communication as a means of keeping everyone connected, including with the wider community. In some ways it was a 6
members who live alone, but I’ve been impressed with how everyone has kept active and just got on with things. “It’s all about trying to find different ways for people to connect and we have continued with a presence online and we send material out each week. “We’ve done things like Zoom meetings and what’s been fantastic about that is we have had former congregation members join us from places like Timor Leste, Japan and Rwanda. We also set up a pastoral care team, which meant that everyone in the congregation gets a call every couple of weeks.” Unlike their Uniting Church counterparts in Melbourne, Tasmanian congregation members were allowed to return gradually to physical church services in July, with some restriction on numbers in place. “Many of our churches were able to restart services, while implementing social distancing measures according to a Synod check list,” Hoon says.
Stage Four restrictions have forced Melburnians to remain indoors.