All this here (see below) was from BEFORE. We’re obviously not meeting while every doctor and public health official in the world is advising against it. Make sure you get the weekly email and join our opt-in directory to stay in touch.

UPDATE/NOTHING’S CHANGED: on Friday, March 13, Rebecca took part in a clergy conference call with Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health. Their primary focus was on cancelling gatherings of more than 250, hand-washing with soap and water, and people who feel sick staying home. (So please do.) None of their recommendations or emphases suggested we should cancel church so we get to meet! (Obviously, if you want or need to stay home, you should. If you’re coming Sunday night, read on!)

You may be wondering...

What're we doing about COVID-19?
We were already planning to talk this week about how prayer lives in our bodies, how our bodies participate in prayer and do the work of prayer, but now our bodies are even more front and center. We're following the guidance of health experts (none of whom are currently advising cancelling gatherings smaller than 250). So church this week is ON.

We're also asking that we all take precautions including the following:

  • YOU (and all of us) washing our hands when we get to church. For real! Go into the bathrooms and doooo it.

  • US having people with sparkling clean hands give you communion bread (so we're not all touching it)

  • SKIPPING the cup part of communion

  • STAYING HOME when feeling sick

  • USING hand sanitizer (if we can find some) but also: have you heard about...hand-washing???

  • SKIPPING THE HANDSHAKE. Literally: hugging is better. Or, probably, that elbow bump thing we’re all doing now.

If the recommendations about meeting changes (from the CDC, State of Illinois, Chicago Dept of Health or etc), we'll follow that wisdom. Basically, as usual, it pays to check the website and FB page.

Additionally, in the midst of uncertainty over everything from personal health to disruption of work, life, and finance — nevermind simply how we're supposed to be living right now — here's something you may already be considering:

We can opt in hard for thinking of health in terms of our whole communities. Our buildings, neighborhoods, church, and city. That could be as simple as a plan to check in on an older person over the next few weeks, or making some soup for the freezer — some for you, in case you get sick, some for someone else that you could drop off at their door. When the recommendations include "social distancing" (yikes), how can we be community?

Some thoughts on being a good neighbor here, and the opportunity to opt in to provide a meal or drop off something someone needs here. (Scroll down to find the skill-sharing line.)

Photo by Gallery DS on Unsplash