Vaccination certificate
Starting tomorrow, 22 September 2021, you will need proof of vaccination to enter many indoor spaces. OCC & other places are exempt from this requirement. You can download yours here: https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/
Step 3 of Re-Opening
As of today - 16 July 2021 - Ontario enters Step 3 of its re-opening plan. Here is some of what this means for OCC: we still need contact tracing - that's why you still need to register we still need to wear a face covering indoors we are allowed more people, as long as we maintain physical distancing between groups outdoor gatherings can now be up to 100 people
Stage 2
Ontario is moving into Stage 2 on June 30. And with Stage 2 come some loosened restrictions. Gatherings Maximum 25 people for outdoor gatherings Maximum 5 people for indoor gatherings Services - including worship, weddings & funerals Indoor permitted at 25% capacity of the room Outdoor permitted with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres We will still be adhering to the normal protocols hand-sanitizing, physical distancing, wearing masks at all
reopening & regathering
The provincial government has moved the introduction of Stage 1 up from Monday. June 14 to Friday, June 11. They have also made some changes to what is allowed. Under the modified guidelines Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 15 per cent capacity of the particular room; Here is a link to the provincial updates. We will post our new
Moving towards in-person gathering
The Province of Ontario's reopening plan is not the easiest to figure out (& I have a BSc, MDiv, ThM). Here's what I think it means for churches (including OCC) we can gather indoors at 15% capacity no earlier than the beginning of Stage 2 which is 21 days after Stage 1. Stage 1 begins 14 June Stage 2 begins 5 July (at the earliest) which means the earliest we can meet indoors
New COVID-19 restructions
Today the province of Ontario announced that: The emergency stay-at-home order for an additional 2 weeks. Outdoor gatherings are restricted to only immediate family. Only essential construction is allowed. 25% capacity for businesses that are allowed to open. Worship gathering are restricted to 10 people starting Monday. Interprovincial traffic will be stopped, only goods can cross the border. OCC services OCC will be meeting in person, as well as the
Changes once again
During the stay-at-home order and possibly longer OCCKids will not be meeting in person
Simcoe Muskoka Grey Zone
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is moving back into the Grey Zone, effective Monday, March 1, for an unspecified period of time. As OCC we were planning and looking forward to regathering on Sunday, February 28. But in light of the lockdown the next day, we have decided that is wise not to meet. OCC has been following all the recommended Health Unit precautions, but we want to be
how are we doing?
Back in November, I suggested that we set ourselves a focus, a goal, a purpose on this long COVID-19 journey we are on. You can find a copy of that pastoral letter here. In Philippians 3 Paul talks about his faith in Christ. He reminds us that he was an arrogant, religious person who thought he had it all together but then he threw all of his self-righteousness out and
Bible Reading
Daily Bible reading is a good thing. There is no one way to approach daily devotions, but if you are thinking for reading through the Bible in a year, Bible Gateway has several reading plan options. The Bible Gateway app provides each day's readings for your preferred plan. You can read on your phone, tablet, or computer, or simply use the daily references and read in a physical Bible. Bible