Dear People of St. James’,
COVID-19, more commonly called the Coronavirus, is clearly on the minds of many these days. There are so many layers of what ifs and anxiety about the when of its possible arrival in the lives of those we love and the communities we live in. Last week, I wrote to you to invite you to prayer and to offer to some guidance for the moment.
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As at all times, we ask you to listen to your bodies, and if you are ill, seek assessment from medical professionals and take measures to limit exposure to others.
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We ask eucharistic ministers and clergy to use hand sanitizer following the peace.
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Remember that if you feel vulnerable to illness or worry that you might be getting ill, it is alright to receive communion “in one kind” (i.e. just the bread).
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We ask you to stand against fear and injustice with compassion and welcome, especially for members of our Chinese American community who have reported experiences of prejudice in recent weeks.
These guidelines still hold, and we have taken some additional steps. First, we are paying close attention to how Bishop Greg Rickel and the Diocese of Olympia in Washington State is handling the actual emergence of cases in their region. They are many several steps down the road from where we are. You may want to watch this video, which gives helpful guidance for the moment we are in here in Austin. This video and Bishop Doyle advise people to not intinct (dip the wafer in the wine of the chalice), but rather drink from the common cup or abstain from the cup altogether. This week, before all services, the clergy will be checking in with the eucharistic ministers to review best practices when handling the cup.
In accordance with diocesan guidance, we have drained our baptismal font, and we will seek to minimize physical contact with others, including during the sign of the peace. The diocesan guidelines encourage us to exchange the peace by finding a way to mutually acknowledge each other without shaking hands or hugging. This will absolutely feel awkward at first, but it may help us connect with each other in new ways through good eye contact, a word of greeting, a bow to acknowledge that the other person is our brother or sister in Christ.
Hand sanitizer is available in the narthex (the entryway to the sanctuary) on the welcome table, and it will also be available in the pews along with tissues. As it becomes more difficult to obtain hand sanitizer stocks, we will move to other medically effective alternatives. On campus, we are increasing the frequency with which we wipe down common surfaces with disinfectant, including in the Orange Building where the Godly Play and Youth rooms are and the nursery. We have also posted signage with good health and hygiene instructions and shared this with our neighbors at Neighbor 2 Neighbor. I am currently assembling a small team of health professionals to advise me, your Vestry, and the Welcome Table Board during this time, and we are adding a button to the homepage of our website for updates.
As we take common sense steps to care for ourselves and our loved ones, I also would ask you to continue to consider our Christian call to minister to the vulnerable and to respect the dignity of every human being. Be aware of the dehumanizing rhetoric of fear, in this time when potential victims of this illness are spoken of on the radio as if they were suspects in a criminal investigation. Support the work of organizations like Welcome Table that seek to minister to the economically vulnerable who tend to fall further behind in times of economic distress. Try to keep up with each other, especially those who might self-isolate during this time because of immunodeficiencies. If you or a loved one makes this decision, don’t just disappear from our midst. Let the church office know! Together we will seek to follow Jesus in this time.
Rev. Eileen
