A Note from the Bishop Concerning the Prevention of Illness
In light of the news surrounding the spread of illness, including COVID-19 or Coronavirus, we’ve had a number of inquiries at our diocesan offices around best practices for the parish.
I commend this resource offered by Episcopal Relief and Development, which offers several recommendations for individual and parish-level prevention.
In summary, ERD recommends individuals to follow basic disease prevention practices such as washing hands, covering your mouth when you cough, and to stay home if you are feeling ill.
Liturgically, the recommendations are the following:
- Clergy should wash hands immediately before services and use hand sanitizer before distributing communion
- Regarding the chalice – intinction should be avoided. Use of the common cup with proper purificator is low-risk.
- Regarding the peace – greetings other than hugging or shaking hands are recommended, such as waving or making the peace sign
- The resource is thorough. Click here to read further.
Please join our Church in praying for our community and for the world:
God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty. Bring hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead. Bring them the courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you. (Prayer for People Critically Ill or Facing Great Uncertainty, Adapted from New Zealand Prayer Book)
Peace,
The Rt. Rev. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr.
Bishop Provisional, Eastern Michigan
Bishop Diocesan, Western Michigan
