To prevent the spread all viruses, including COVID-19, do the following:
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds (sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”) while using soap and water.
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available or in between hand washings.
- Face masks are for your use only in the event of your illness to keep germs in, not out.
- The common cup or communion in one kind is safer than intinction.
- You may wish someone peace without shaking their hand or hugging.
- If you are concerned about an oncoming illness, call a healthcare provider before going to urgent care, a walk-in clinic, or the emergency room.
Some background on COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the outbreak of a new respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and which has now been detected in at least 57 locations internationally, including cases in the United States. The virus itself has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019″ (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
Electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first US case of COVID-19, courtesy CDC.
The first case of the coronavirus in Washington State appeared in Everett in January 2020. On Saturday, February 29, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health and Public Health—Seattle and King County officials reported the first death from the virus in our state, a man with underlying health conditions.
Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to new cases of COVID-19. He issued a proclamation that directs state agencies and departments to utilize state resources and do everything reasonably possible to assist affected communities responding to and recovering from COVID-19 cases. Such a proclamation is normative and necessary in order to activate statewide resources and access necessary funds in order to support our communities and effectively respond to needs and expand preventative measures.
Symptoms and severity of the virus
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. Based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses, symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and include the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The elderly, young children, and those individuals with compromised immune systems can be especially vulnerable.
If you believe that you may be experiencing symptoms, it is very important for you to be tested for COVID-19. However, before you go to your physician’s office, walk-in clinic, or to the emergency depoartment of your local hospital, the CDC advises that you call ahead in order to speak with a medical care provider. They will want to put necessary protocols in place to receive you, including providing appropriate barrier protection in their facility and for their healthcare workers.
Healthy practices at church
Communion
The CDC has stated that “…no documented transmission of any infectious disease has ever been traced to the use of the common cup…”. This due to the fact that alcohol kills viruses. Further, the minister handling the chalice wipes both the inside and outside edge of the chalice and turns the chalice edge while wiping the edge in between serving each communicant with a clean part of the purifcator (linen).
Those receiving the cup should remember not to touch the bowl of the cup with their hands, but rather place a hand beneath the base of the chalice in order to help the Eucharistic minister guide it to the communicant’s lips.
Intinction (dipping the bread in the cup of wine) by the communicant is strongly discouraged.
Alternatively, receiving the sacrament in one kind (meaning just the bread or just the wine) has always been, and continues to be, an acceptable alternative for communicants. We want to offer this option for those who prefer it since it too has a precedent in our tradition.
The Peace
At the time of Peace, the common practice has been that members of the congregation greet each other with a handshake, or even an embrace or kiss. Unfortunately, this is a prime opportunity for the spread of germs.
Therefore, graceful understanding should be extended to those who do not wish to have direct physical contact with their fellow worshipers, either because of their vulnerability to infection or their concern about their own state of health.
Our congregants may notice that members of the liturgical party frequently bow to one another, such as when the children bring forward the offering, as a sign of mutual acknowledgement, respect, and gratitude during preparations of the altar for communion. Members of the congregation may want to consider the option of respectfully bowing towards one another at the time of Peace with this same intention in mind.
Acknowledgement
Most of the above text comes from Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett, Washington.
Please continue to follow Church of the Redeemer’s website and Social Media for more updates, as they become necessary.
For more information about COVID-19, see the following:
- Centers for Disease Control
- Local information
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
