The situation in western Washington with regards to COVID-19 has been evolving rapidly over the last several days, as has the response of the parish and diocese. After conversations with Public Health—Seattle and King County, the Bishop has initiated several requirements for all churches in the Diocese of Olympia:

Diocesan Guidance for COVID-19

This is current as of Thursday, March 5, 2020.

1. The use of the common cup in the Eucharist is suspended until further notice. Communion will be distributed by the priest only. Priests must wash or sanitize hands directly prior to administering the sacrament. (Insert giving up communion wine for Lent jokes as necessary.)
2. The Peace must be exchanged without touching. The bishop recommended “Practice bowing, making a prayerful sign to the other person, looking at them lovingly and offering the Peace, but then moving on without touching.”
3. Holy “water fonts and stoups must be emptied. (Luckily our practice in Lent is to do just that.) If you need holy water from Church of the Redeemer, please make a request of Fr. Jed.
4. There is to be no passing of the offering plate. (Again not an issue for us at Redeemer.) The plate will continue to be placed on the offering table at the back of the nave (congregational seating area) as you enter.
5. There will be no food at coffee hour until further notice. There will still be coffee. (We are not barbarians.)

Additional steps for COVID-19 at Church of the Redeemer

In addition to the above steps from the Diocese, Church of the Redeemer is taking additional steps regarding COVID-19 as of March 5, 2020:

1. All classes, including Adult Education, Deepening Faith, Godly Play, and Building Faith Brick by Brick, are cancelled for this Sunday, March 5, 2020. Further updates will continue next week as to if further cancellations will be necessary.
2. All commonly touched surfaces will be wiped down with a bleach solution Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, as well as by our janitorial service on Saturday. All rental groups will be required to do the same at the end of their meetings, if they happen at all.

Most importantly…

Public Health—Seattle and King County has requested that all people over the age of 60, as well as all people with underlying health conditions, refrain from attending gatherings of 10 or more. Yes, the 8:00 am service has is more than 10 people.

Please use your best judgement as to whether you attend church this Sunday. If you are sick in any way, please, do not come to church. God will understand.

Virtual Church

We are working to find digital means to include those who choose not to be apart of the physical gathering of church on Sunday by other means, such as posting sermons and creating liturgies that can be prayed in solidarity at a distance. Please continue to visit the website and our social media platforms for more updates about distance and virtual parish participation, as well as updates as this situation progresses.

Be not a-feared

It is difficult not to succumb to fear and anxiety when the whole world seems to be awash in it. But, when we feel these feelings, we must remember that God is more powerful and knowing even than the coronavirus and cares for us and will see us through this as well.

The Almighty Lord, who is a strong tower to all who impart their trust, to whom all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow and obey: Be now and evermore your defense, and make you know and feel that the only Name under heaven given for health and salvation is the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

For more information

For more information about COVID-19, see the following:

• Centers for Disease Control
  • Share Facts About COVID-19
  • Interim Guidance: Get Your Household Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• Local information
  • • Public Health—Seattle and King County (including Facebook)
      • Novel Coronavirus fact sheet
    • Snohomish Health District (including Facebook)
    • Washington State Department of Health (including Facebook)
    • COVID-19 Response in the Diocese of Olympia

Church of the Redeemer

Welcome to 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. The campus is 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.