Church and the Coronavirus

The news has been saturated with reports on the spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) and many people are wondering how to best protect themselves against getting sick. Since the Church is a gathering of people in close proximity, it can potentially be an incubator for for infection. While the Coronavirus has the headlines, the following are good practices at all times, especially during cold and flu season.

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How you can help prevent the spread of illness:

• Hands spread infection more readily than any other contact. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. This is the best way to prevent the spread of disease.
• Use our hand sanitizer in the narthex after leaving church, especially if you shake hands with the pastor. If you shake the pastor's hand, you shake hands with everyone in the church!!! However, don't let hand sanitizer replace proper hand washing.
• If you are feeling ill, stay home. If your illness becomes prolonged, contact the church office to arrange a pastoral visit. Pastor Ehrhard always brings communion with him on pastoral visits.
• Pray for the sick and for God to preserve us in good health.

For more information on preventing the spread of the Coronavirus and other infectious disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page on Prevention & Treatment of Coronavirus.

Taking communion and avoiding illness:

• The CDC and others have investigated the use of a common chalice with respect to spreading disease and has found that there is little to no risk of spreading disease by drinking from a common chalice (links below).
• Because hands are the most likely to spread infection, we ask that you do not intinct (dip the host in the chalice). 
• Our pastor and communion assistants will ensure their hands are properly washed before handling the communion elements and dishes.
• The precious metal of the communion chalice and the alcohol of the wine act as a natural antiseptic. In addition to these protections, the pastor wipes the chalice with a clean cloth after each person receives the blood of Christ and rotates the chalice for each new communicant.
• Trust in the Lord's words of promise that His blood communicates the forgiveness of sins, and where there is forgiveness of sins there is also life and salvation. 

Read a letter from the Rector and former scientist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (with references to peer-reviewed studies). 
Read Does the Communion Cup Runneth Over With Germs? from the LA Times.

Note: these links are helpful for the practice of using a common cup, but do not necessarily reflect the biblical teaching of the Lord's Supper as it is confessed in the Lutheran Church. With any question, we stick with the Lord's own words for what is most sure and true. If you have any additional questions about the doctrine or practice of the Lord's Supper in the Lutheran Church, please contact Pastor Ehrhard.