Aside from this, if you would like to meet with me to discuss or simply express any issues you have relating to how the restrictions were managed here, I am making myself available for the beginning of each week (Mon-Tues, 8:30am-6pm) for the next 3 weeks for that. Please contact Roz to organise a time that would suit - I hope to meet with you and listen to any concern.

We do have a sense God is calling us to gather around Jesus and to follow him - all have a place and a role in that as we continue to see his kingdom grow amongst us.

Kia Ora, Church Family.

As we enter into a new phase of the Traffic Light system, I want to communicate to the church why we are doing what we are doing.  We do understand there has been confusion around our approach so want to address that and to encourage us to engage with what is happening here at Nativity.
Vestry has now met, and we had a good session working through people’s concerns and different points of view and sharing possible options. The difficulty is making sure what we do is based on the gospel and our commitment to that, and our struggle is to have a solution that does not affect that negatively.

A little bit about the gospel stance that has been guiding us through this time: The gospel, at its heart, is an invitation and a way made possible to fellowship with God that is free and available to all.
The church cannot control access to that.

Much like border entry into a country, there is a very clear set of scriptural injunctions that tells the church who has responded to that appropriately – this is around repentance, receiving of the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to following the way of Christ.

So a person’s conscience choice, such as the one to be vaccinated or not, does not affect their access to fellowship with God. Therefore, while we endeavor to follow government guidelines around running services as we are called to obey those in authority, we feel the gospel message is at stake in turning people away from our main gathering when it is based on a matter of conscience. Hence a No Vaccine Pass required service, open to both the vaccinated and unvaccinated has been our main service in the church while providing a Vaccine pass worship service for those who want to be in that environment only.

We are wanting to hold to that gospel stance while continuing to provide ministry for all.

We recognize this is not ideal and it is not without feelings of frustration and feelings of anguish. How we have been operating has always been provisional and through regular meetings with care cell leaders, Vestry, and others, we will continually evaluate what we are offering and doing. We would like you, either in groups or as individuals, to come and share your concerns with us. We do understand that it can be hard to get our heads around what is happening, and we do want opportunities to discuss this with you further.

Being faithful to the gospel is essential but we want to remain open and adjustable – we understand we have to be functional and make things as suitable as possible so do come and speak to us.

Finally, we encourage you to engage with what is happening.

As we head into the Red setting, the Nelson diocese has just gathered in a monthly meeting to look at how to run the house church model and to do that well. From that meeting we were encouraged that meeting in house churches for a time is not only a safer option, but also a positive one – there were testimonies that we heard of how much people valued that experience – they grew in their faith, and it opened up some missional opportunities that weren’t there in different settings.

So, we do need hosts and we need people to gather to meet for worship, to invite others to join in on that – and to journey along together and to see what it is that God is saying during this season to us.
It is gathering around Christ and his gospel and sharing that with others that brings life and fruit, there is nothing that can substitute that.
​
Kia kaha and God Bless.

​Following the Diocesan advice at the Red setting of the Traffic Light System (TLS); and given that our approach has been that our gatherings remain available for all, we will move to an online and ‘House Church’ model after our last January service this Sunday (please note the changes around the NVP and VP services for this Sunday due to Red settings).
 
Although we may not see this as ideal, small group gatherings (and online options) are not only valid but are a potentially positive way of being the church during this time. Along with the practical considerations of protecting those most at risk and doing that in a unified way, this model allows us to continue to engage in prayer, Bible study, and faith-sharing and can be a tool for God’s ongoing work among us. Along with the Sunday service continuing as an online option, small groups can consider the ways in which they might be called to develop the church’s ministry and mission.  
 
Some recommendations:

• There will be various resources available for you and these can be used according to your groups needs and abilities. The sermon is an aspect of our community that can keep us journeying along together as a wider congregation so we encourage you to watch that and engage with it as a group. Likewise, communion is a key part of our unity as a body and while the frequency of celebrating that can vary, we encourage you to find a rhythm that works for your group. Again, resources will be provided for that.
• While there is flexibility of when to meet, try to meet on Sunday. This time is already part of the rhythm we have and can help others who may want to join.
• Think invitational and missional – this may be the opportunity to invite someone along who may not be comfortable in a traditional church building setting. You could run the service around a meal and organise what you do more around guests.

 
We are planning to meet with care cell leaders and any others willing to be hosts of groups as soon as possible. Please be in touch with us with any issues you have so we can assist in any way.
We have been greatly encouraged over this time with people’s desire to continue to gather. So to finish, some words from scripture I shared with the VP gathering on Sunday.

SUNDAY 19th DECEMBER
8am Church (NVP)

• This service is open to all - vaccinated and non-vaccinated.
• (This service will use the Nativity Centre for morning tea and toileting facilities. These areas will be disinfected between the 8am and 10am services.)

8am Barnies (VP)

• This service is open only to those with vaccine passports.
• (This service will be able to use the morning tea and toileting facilities within Barnies and will therefore be separated from the NVP service.)

10am Church (NVP)

• This service is open to all - vaccinated and non-vaccinated.
• (This service will use Barnies for morning tea and toileting facilities and will therefore be completely separated from the VP service. We ask all participants in this service to use the main church doors as the entry and exit point where possible and to avoid entering the Nativity Centre space).

10am Lounge (VP)

• This service is open only to those with vaccine passports.
• (This service will have exclusive use of the Nativity Centre, including the kitchen and toileting facilities.)