Dear people of Good Shepherd,
The news surrounding the outbreak, and spread, of the Corona virus has understandably concerned us all. Preventative measures are being taken around the world. Additionally, there is concern among members of dioceses/churches—including us in the Episcopal Church in Colorado, and at Good Shepherd.
Regarding the Corona Virus or COVID-19
We are watching closely the news and updates about the Corona virus, or COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization both expect Covid-19 to spread through communities in the U.S. Good Shepherd will be using these guidelines to decrease risk and also to encourage confidence during this time.
Let us be neither apathetic nor fearful as we navigate this season.
Go to Church!
As long as you are feeling well and have not been in conscious contact with persons and places of known exposure to the virus, then continue to worship as usual. Take the normal precautions if you or a family member is ill (i.e. stay home), whether it is with this year's nasty flu, a stomach bug, a fever, or this new virus.
The Passing of the Peace
A handshake is not mandated by the Church, and is especially discouraged during this time. Verbally share the Peace of the Lord with those around you. Make eye contact, slightly bow your head, try an “elbow-bump”, or offer a friendly wave.
The Holy Eucharist
It is not sacramentally necessary to receive both the bread and the wine in order to make a full communion. A worshiper’s individual health needs may preclude taking either the bread or the wine at any time. Jesus is fully in the bread and fully in the wine.
The Common Cup
Medical experts agree ( and have for many years) that the danger of transmitting communicable diseases by sharing a chalice is negligible. History has borne this out and we still highly encourage this ancient liturgical practice.
Intinction (dipping the bread into the cup), however, poses a greater potential threat, especially when the bread is handled with unwashed hands of persons receiving the host and then dipping it themselves in the chalice. Therefore, we will discontinue this practice during this period. Please follow these guidelines, beginning this Sunday:
Drinking from the common cup is the most sanitary way to receive communion in both kinds.
If you do not want to drink from the common cup, please do not intinct or dip the wafer in the common cup yourself.
Intinction will be available using the intinction plates only, and the clergy or Lay Eucharistic Ministers will be the only people to handle the consecrated host. If you choose to receive by intinction, please by-pass those distributing the host, and go directly to the intinction stations. The LEMs will pick up the host, dip it and place it on your tongue.
Know that it is acceptable not to receive the cup or the wine in any way. You have received the full blessing of communion when you receive the consecrated bread alone.
Eucharistic Ministers will review best practices every Sunday, and, along with clergy, will wash hands before the service and also use anti-bacterial alcohol-based cleanser before serving communion.
As long as we all use common sense we will be able to navigate this well. If a member of our congregation does fall ill, please remember them in your prayers. We will revise these practices as needed for Good Shepherd, and they will continue for as long as the CDC believes this is a medical emergency.
We add to all of this these common sense, health-expert advised practices for all people in our daily life and work:
Frequent, effective hand-washing (for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap—the time it takes to sing/hum “Happy Birthday to you!”)
Staying home when sick
Covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing (using a tissue or elbow instead of hands)
Related Information: What follows below is more information about how we are to be in the world during a medical emergency. Please read it if it is helpful to you.
First, let us be aware that events, such as a new outbreak, can lead to a rise in xenophobia and racism. Let us be careful in our words, assumptions, and conversations that we do not perpetuate ignorance or stereotype persons who are Asian.
Second, Episcopal Relief and Development reminds us that during any medical emergency our role as churches and compassionate Christians includes these things:
Combat fear with knowledge, encourage preparedness and decrease stigma;
Maintain operational continuity and continue worship life in the case of potential quarantine and disruption;
Show God's compassion and care to those in our communities who are affected.
Third, various governmental agencies have also sent out a set of recommendations to prepare for a season of higher concern in our communities. Those recommendations include:
Try to get an extra months’ worth of prescription medications, if possible, in case there are supply chain disruptions.
Slowly start to stock up on enough non-perishable food to last your household through two weeks of staying at home if there is a wave of transmission in the community.
Think about how you will continue to work if your child’s school is closed.
Understand that large gatherings you plan to attend may be canceled.
Think through how you will take care of sick family members while trying not to get infected.
Make plans for childcare if you become sick, or when your child is sick.
Start practicing not touching your face now. This can greatly reduce the frequency of potential spread. (You can even try a buddy system, where you and a friend remind each other when someone scratches their eyelid or rubs their nose.)
Replace handshakes with elbow-bumps.
Start building healthy habits like pushing elevator buttons with a knuckle instead of a fingertip.
Avoid sharing water bottles, drinks, etc.
Increase regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces (e.g. cellphones, doorknobs, faucet handles, toilet handles etc.).
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns as we “weather this season”. In the meantime, continue to pray for effective responses to this contagion, for those who work to stop it, and for those who’ve been afflicted (or who have lost loved ones) because of it.
As always, I am yours . . .
Faithfully in Christ, the healer and redeemer of all things,
Fr. Gary