(UPDATED MONDAY, 10-01-2023)
Dear Church family,
We want to give you all an update on our church’s response to the latest update on social distancing guidelines, as of 10 January 2023. With the lifting of Vaccine Pass requirements and social distancing measures, we are pleased that we are able to resume all in-person worship and corporate gatherings. If you do not feel comfortable coming to worship with us in person for any reason, please do not feel pressured to come; we will still be providing a livestream option so you can stay connected with us from home.
Safety Precautions for In-Person Gatherings:
Staying Home When on Compulsory Quarantine, Testing Positive for COVID-19, or Displaying COVID-19 Symptoms
If you are under compulsory quarantine or tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you refrain from attending in-person church activities until the end of your quarantine. If you, or any member of your household, is exhibiting any of the common COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms (fever, malaise, dry cough, shortness of breath, etc.), we ask that you seek medical assistance immediately, stay home, and fully recover before joining any church activities in person.
Face Masks
As a church, we are asking all participants to wear a face mask while at church gatherings. If you do not have access to a mask, you can ask one of the greeters at the door to provide you with one for the day. If anyone is preaching or leading the congregation in worship, prayer, or sharing on stage, they may remove their face masks during that time.
Building Blocks
The children’s church ministry (Building Blocks) will resume in-person classes during Sunday Celebration and will take the necessary precautions to make sure that the children are safe. If your children are not feeling well, contracted COVID-19, have any of the COVID-19 related symptoms, we ask that you and your children stay home out of love for others in our community. We would love to host your children once they have recovered.
LIFE Group and Smaller Gatherings
For those who are meeting together in person, please practice good hygiene, wear masks as often as possible, use hand-sanitisers, and wash hands frequently. Anyone who feels unwell with flu-like or fever symptoms, tested positive for COVID-19, or is undergoing mandatory quarantine, should take necessary precautions, stay home, seek medical assistance if applicable, and inform their leaders of their situation.
We believe that these measures will ensure that we are living out our values as a biblical community with wisdom and love for one another as well as for the greater community around us. More than anything, please continue to pray for the city and for trust in God’s greater plan for Hong Kong. May we be a light and share the hope of Christ to those around us! If anyone has any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at hongkong@hmcc.net
Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
With Love,
HMCC Pastoral Staff and Executive Team