Bendigo Karen Church Company have continued to meet, throughout the first and second waves of restrictions. Saw Edward, their Youth Sabbath School Teacher shares with us some of what they have been doing.
It is my great honor to have an opportunity to write about our church programs during Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
During the first wave and the second wave lockdown, we, Bendigo Karen SDA company, organized weekly church programs. The more the restrictions impacted our community, the more spiritual the programs we organised. Some of what we have been doing, we were doing before restrictions started. We have continued them online as needed, adding to them different elements to continue our sense of community.
Every Sunday there are youth small groups meeting to catch up with each other and share their experience and study some holy scriptures together and pray for each other.
Tuesday evenings before the restrictions began, we would meet at church each Tuesday at 5pm, for a question and answer session for members and nonmembers alike. Firstly, we gave priority to non-church members’ questions. After there are no more questions, we continue to discuss and learn about the Great Controversy. This has continued via Zoom when we cant meet in person.
Wednesday evening is our regular prayer meeting.
Friday evenings we also have regular vesper service. We added another activity game called Kahoot (It is a biblical quiz for children, early teen and youth), You can only have a certain number of participants so we are thinking of dividing it into youth and adult groups, all looking at Jesus’ parables.
Like other churches, we run online church, starting with the weekly Mission News at 9.30, then different classes for the different ages finishing with the divine service. In the afternoon, a youth group meets at 2pm. They worked through the Search for Certainty series, and are now working through Christ’s parables. We read the parable, share our ideas, ask questions and dig deep for the core meaning that Jesus intended. Then at 3pm it is the teen time, and they are studying a series called Way to Jesus. At 4, we may join an Australian-wide Karen Adventist Youth program, or combine with Werribee Karen youth. Or perhaps conduct a whole church Bible Study.
What has worked particularly well for this church company, is being formed into nine church groups by our church board, with each group being allocated a leader. Members of each group pray together and talk together by phone or messenger. Keeping our community intact.
Saw Edward