ACF response to Covid-19
A message from ACF Pastor Vijay Pillai
Dear Friends,
I trust by the grace of our Lord Jesus that all of you are well. Some of you are perhaps already isolating yourselves, having taken guidance from the health professionals. As far as I know, apart from having some minor symptoms, no one in ACF has been affected by the coronavirus.
As part of our response to the wider situation, ACF has put together a Pastoral Care Team to ensure that we do our best to remain connected with each other throughout this next period (which may continue for several weeks, if not a couple of months). Please inform us if you are isolating yourself or are unwell in anyway. There may be a few ways that we are able to assist you or someone you know. Below you will see some of what the Care Team offer. I want to especially thank Rona, ably assisted by David Y. and Gillian, for their stellar effort in putting this plan together.
At 10:30am this Sunday morning, instead of turning up at church, get behind your computer monitor. Click on the church website (aberdeencf.com). There will be a link that will take you to our Morning Service that will be streaming live.
In these times, as in every other time, the Lord is always our strength and help.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
May our Lord bless and keep you.
Vijay
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Information on the ACF Pastoral Care Network
The ACF Pastoral Care response has been set up as follows:
Core Team: Pastor Vijay, Gillian McKenzie (Youth Pastor), David Young (Children’s Pastor), Brian Boyd (Elder) & Rona Boyd
Purpose: to identify ‘vulnerable’ people in our congregation & support them during these challenging times (Prov 3:27)
The term ‘vulnerable’ does not only apply to the elderly in our congregation, but to anyone who may find themselves in need during the current coronavirus outbreak. This could include individuals/families self isolating, as well as the over 70’s.
Coordinators have been appointed for the four identified ‘people groups’ for our congregation as follows:
- David Young – Children & Families
- Gillian McKenzie – Youth & Young Adults
- Rona Boyd – Seniors
- Brian Boyd – Other Adults
Pastor Vijay is being kept clear of day to day activities to allow him to focus on urgent pastoral matters.
Each Coordinator has set up their own small Team of Volunteers to contact people from their designated group. In this way we hope to be able to make initial contact with most of our members and regular attenders, to see if they wish to be part of our Pastoral Care Network. If they do, then their contact details will be noted by the Volunteer and entered onto an ACF Pastoral Care Database by the appropriate Coordinator. If they do not wish to be part of this group then their details will be deleted and no further contact maintained in line with GDPR legislation. Access to the database has been restricted to the Four Coordinators and Pastor Vijay, for data protection purposes.
Where requested, contact will be maintained by the appropriate Volunteer caller. On conclusion of each call the Volunteer must update their Coordinator who will then ensure the database is updated. Contact will be maintained by the Volunteer until either the person no longer wishes to be contacted, or the coronavirus emergency ceases.
Should anyone request assistance by way of practical help e.g. shopping, uplifting urgent prescriptions, etc., details will be noted by the Volunteer and passed to their Coordinator for further action. A second Team of Volunteer ‘Runners’ is being established to carry out these tasks, if it is appropriate to do so.
Guidance for both Telephone Callers and Runners has been developed and will be shared as appropriate.
It is anticipated that many people will request personal prayer throughout this emergency and these will, if authorised by the person, be circulated to everyone on the existing ACF email list. If you wish to be added to this list, please email office@aberdeencf.com.
The email address office@aberdeencf.com can also be used to send appropriate information to the Core Care Team.
In addition, an emergency mobile number has been established for urgent matters. The number is:
07307 654996
This will operate between 0900 – 2100hrs each day, with one member of the Core Care Team covering this on a rota basis.
Please be aware we cannot, and will not, be carrying out pastoral visits to people in their homes, for both their safety and that of the Volunteers.
We are NOT an Emergency Service, so for health issues people should be directed to:
- NHS advice: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
- NHS Coronavirus helpline for general information: 0800 028 2816.
- In a genuine health emergency call ‘999’ and ask for the Ambulance Service
We fully appreciate that many in the congregation will be part of existing social networking groups through the church i.e. Home Groups, Women/Men’s’ Fellowship/Women’s’ Bible Study, etc. and these are to be encouraged. The above described process is in no way trying to undermine or prevent these existing groups from carrying on their good work, but to enhance the care for our church family and ensure no-one ‘falls through the cracks’.
God bless,
Your Pastoral Care Team