Dear all,

Greetings in the name of the Lord!

Taiwan has made great progress in controlling the pandemic, and GBC has been a part of this with its efforts to cooperate with the government health regulations. Thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation.

The Taiwan government has now announced an easing of pandemic health restrictions which will affect GBC. This email is to let you know about the changes and let you plan for them. Also, I also ask that you inform people in your ministry, class, small group or simply GBC friends about GBC’s current situation.

The main change is, from November 2, we do not have restrictions on numbers and, although there will still be some guidelines related to seating, we will not have to sit as far apart as before. (PLEASE NOTE: masks, taking temperatures, and scanning the QR code on entry to GBC are still required.)

With the changes and the recent re-openings, GBC’s situation is as follows:

1.  Morning and Evening Worship service

The 10:00 a.m. Morning Service is in the Sanctuary and the 5:30 p.m. Evening Service is in Coleman Hall as usual.

The Morning Service is also available online.

2. Baptism service

Although we had to cancel the July baptism, we will hold the Baptism Service on October 31 at 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We will baptize 12 people.

3. Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper will be on the first Sunday of the month as part of the Morning and Evening Worship Services as usual. The Lord’s Supper 2-in-1 kits will still be used and are available at the front desk if you prefer to take part online. The next Lord’s Supper will be on November 7.

4. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting

The Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting recently re-opened in Room 401, but we are now back in Room 301 at 7:30 p.m.

The online prayer meeting is at the same time. If you would like to join (or if you have prayer request), please contact us by email at ecprayerteam@gbc.org.tw.

5. Small Groups

Some Small Groups have already reopened for physical meetings. These are:

International Students Group              7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Friday in WanFu 22a

Ethiopian Students Group           7:00 – 9:00 pm. Sunday in GBC Rm 307

YungHe Bible Study Group               7:30 – 9:00 pm Friday in YungHe

Other Small Groups continue online but are now able to open for physical meetings.

6. Sunday School

Sunday school classes can now re-open. This includes adult, youth, and children’s classes. Please watch the bulletin or website for more information on this. Teachers, please let SueJenny know if you want to have class in GBC next week, Sunday November 7. (We will still need to confirm classrooms.)

7. Fellowships

Fellowships (Mabuhay and Young Adults) can now re-open.  Fellowship leaders, please contact SueJenny if you want to open your fellowship next week, Saturday & Sunday, November 6 & 7.

The pandemic has been a time of great change, so this time of re-opening is very important for the church. What happens now will have a big influence on what GBC will look like in the future. Let us have faith that God will lead us into that future. Let us pray as a church family for our part in the re-opening.

To each of you, please pray, please come, and please invite others, so that we can continue to worship and grow together in the Lord.

May God be with you and bless you all.

Pastor Nick Brideson