1. Stay calm.
The CDC's first recommendation
is to remain calm. It is important to maintain our church's prayerful and
pastoral presence in the community. The CDC guidelines for the coronavirus are
similar to their guidelines for general flu abatement. It should be noted that
this illness, while aggressive, belongs to the family of viruses that cause the
common cold.
2. Sharing of guidelines
Anyone who is sick should stay
home to avoid infecting others. Any person who has flu-like symptoms (high
fever, coughing, runny nose, chills, body aches, fatigue, etc.) should refrain
from attending worship services. Please be assured an illness is an acceptable
and valid reason for failing to attend worship.
This includes your pastor! If you
feel as though you should stay at home just to avoid others, please do so.
I would encourage you to wash
your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Actually using
the Lord’s Prayer is a great way to get 20 seconds of washing in. It is important to get a good lather of soap,
wash the front and back of hands and in between fingers, and then use a paper
towel to dry hands, turn off the faucet, and open the restroom door. Here at
church we are offering an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as well. It is also important for you to avoid
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Encouragement of individual
and communal practices of good health and hygiene.
In our worship space, we have
added some additional steps to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects
and surfaces. Hand gels are available at
the entrances to our worship space.
4. Worship Practices
Please know we will change up
how we receive communion moving forward.
There will be no common cup or common loaf of bread. Also, I would encourage you to avoid hugging
and or shaking of hands for a while.
Fist and or elbow bumps are preferable.
If you have any concerns
please feel free to let me know.
Blessings
Pastor Tony
