Tuesday, March 10, 2020

From the Rector and the Wardens regarding the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases at St. Stephen's

A STATEMENT FROM THE RECTOR AND THE WARDENS OF ST. STEPHEN’S REGARDING PROCEDURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT ST. STEPHEN’S (MARCH 10, 2020, UPDATED ON MARCH 12, 2020)


As we have said from the beginning, we do not want to contribute to the existing anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus crisis, and we have, in the last few weeks, made some real steps in moving toward keeping our congregation safe. However, as the crisis grows, a few other safeguards need to implemented.

Coronavirus is now a stark reality in the United States. Just this week, the Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Georgetown, Virginia, came down  with it, and unknowingly exposed 500 members of his congregation. On March 11, 2020, the first official case of COVID-19 in North Dakota was diagnosed.

We have received some suggestions from the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota regarding how congregations in the Diocese should proceed. We have adapted those suggestions to our own unique situation here at St. Stephen’s

It is also important to remember that, in addition to Coronavirus, we are now at the peak of the Flu season. It is just good practice to take some very definitive actions the spread of illness at St. Stephen’s.

With that in mind, we are asking the congregation of St. Stephen’s to do the following:

+ HOLY WATER FONTS: The holy water fonts (namely the baptismal bowl in the narthex and the font near the sacristy) have been emptied and disinfected and will remain empty throughout the duration of Lent. Sand has been placed in the fonts as further reminders of our Lenten observance.

+AT THE PEACE: Please refrain from shaking hands at the peace or at other times (before and after Mass, for example). Waving, elbow bumps, waving the peace sign, bowing, etc. are all perfectly acceptable in place of shaking hands or hugging. Please use hand sanitizer after the Peace.
Fr. Jamie will not be shaking hands either at the door before Mass or during the Peace. He will share the “peace sign” with others, will return “elbow bumps,” bows, etc.

+ AT THE OFFERING: We will not be passing the plates for the foreseeable future. Offering plates will be placed at the front of the nave, where the first pews are located.

+ AT HOLY COMMUNION: We are asking that, at Holy Communion, only the Bread be taken by the congregation.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Holy Communion in one kind (i.e, just the Bread) is full and complete Communion in and of itself.

+COFFEE HOUR: The Vestry has decided to pare down the existing coffee hour. Beginning this Sunday (March 15) Vestry members will now serve the coffee hours. We will offering cookies, donuts, etc., which will be handed out by members of the Vestry using gloves and tongs, and using disposable utensils. Those scheduled for coffee hour during Lent are relieved of their responsibilities until Easter.

+ HAND SANITIZER/WASHING HANDS: Please take full advantage of the hand sanitizer in the nave and elsewhere throughout the church. Also, please wash your hands thoroughly.

+ IF YOU ARE ILL: please refrain from coming to church or church meetings. However, if you are unable to come to church, please contact Fr. Jamie so he can offer you an alternative for Holy Communion (an at-home visit) and include you in the intercessory prayers of St. Stephen’s.

+ SOCIAL ISOLATION: If you are feeling the need to socially isolate for the sake of not being exposed or exposing others to potential illness, please feel free to do so. However, if you do so decide, please consider other ways to continue contact with the congregation (i.e. email, Facebook, Twitter, etc). I will be making regular updates on the St. Stephen’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/52039214842/. We are also in the beginning process of posting televised episodes of both our Sunday and Wednesday Masses on the Facebook page.

Please also remember that these are all only temporary changes at St. Stephen’s. We will resume our tried and true practices once the threat is passed.

FINALLY, please be assured that there are no plans to cancel church. We will continue to celebrate Mass on Sunday morning and Wednesday evenings as we always have. It is our tradition as Christians that during times of crisis, the Church and its life-giving Sacraments are places of refuge during these hard times.

Most importantly of all, please pray. Keep the Church, St. Stephen’s, those who have been affected by COVID-19, our nation and all of our fellow neighbors in your daily prayers during this time. Keep your eyes on Christ and his healing, saving, life-giving Presence. And let us move through this uncertain time together, in spirit and unity.
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all of us
who wait or work in uncertainty.
Bring us hope that you will make us the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.

Fr. Jamie Parsley, Rector
Jean Sando, Senior Warden                  Jessica Anderson, Junior Warden


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