Responding to Coronavirus

Dear Saint Barnabans,

We take health and wellness seriously at Saint Barnabas and to that end, we want to be attentive to the potential risks associated with the Coronavirus. At this time, we have no known cases in our community. Regardless, we have some recommendations and guidelines as a community.

The Basics

Coronavirus spreads through respiratory drops, and the symptoms are a bit nebulous at this time: fever, shortness of breath, and cough. If you’ve been in contact with people who have traveled recently or have done so yourself lately, please take these symptoms seriously if you experience them and see your doctor. The best ways to help care for yourself and the community is:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. 
• Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, handling diapers, preparing food or using the bathroom.
• Stay home if you are feeling ill.

Washing hands is still one of the greatest conquerors of outbreaks, so please take extra time at the sink every time. Twenty seconds of soap-scrubbing should be our minimum. Allow yourself the joy of a contemplative moment! Say the Lord’s Prayer while you wash! Use the time for your spiritual and physical benefit.

At Church

We will continue as usual until we need to make further accommodations, but we have this guidance to offer:

1. Passing the Peace: you can pass the peace without touching if you would prefer. Folding your hands and bowing to someone, an elbow bump, or just a smile is enough if you would like to take this precaution. Please honor those who wish to avoid touching.
2. Receiving Communion: did you know that communion is fully received even if you only take the bread and not the wine? Our Episcopal theology says that you are receiving communion fully even if you only receive “in one kind” which means either bread or wine. Since most concerns are with the chalice, you may choose to receive the bread only for communion (and, if you are newer, please know that our long-standing procedure has been that all our Eucharistic servers use hand sanitizer after the Peace/before serving) and your communion will be complete.
3. If you’re not feeling well, it’s okay to stay home!
   1. You can watch the sermon online at www.saintbarnabas.org/category/sermons/
   2. read the prayers at www.bcponline.org,
   3. and find some great Anglican hymns to listen to here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC69E1CB32EC80E36.
   4. And always remember that we are with you in prayer, as we know you are with us, as you’re recovering.

Learn More

We encourage you to be careful of your sources of information. Our two best resources are the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) and ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development):

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Episcopal Relief & Development: https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-we-do/us-disaster-program/faith-based-response-to-epidemics/

Stay in Prayer

Lastly, fear of the unknown can bring out our more anxious side—go often to prayer and to these best practices to stay calm and in your most well-centered place so you can be of help to yourself and those around you. Remember our Lord with the disciples in the storm, PEACE to all.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve your sick servants and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p459)

If you have further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.

Again, God’s Peace be with you.

Saint Barnabas Staff & Clergy