Dear friends of Yellow Lake Lutheran Church,
We are faced with a major health issue in our world today. The Coronavirus outbreak. At Yellow Lake Lutheran Church, we take this issue seriously as we are not immune. Here is a brief description:
Coronavirus is a respiratory illness affecting all ages. Elderly and those with underlying health issues are at greater risk of severe illness or death from the disease. It is transmitted by droplets expelled in a cough or sneeze from an infected person. The droplets can be breathed in directly by a recipient that is in the area near the sick person or from droplets that land on a surface. The virus on a surface can live up to a week. It can be picked up by one’s hand touching that surface then touching their nose, mouth or possibly eyes. The virus can then make its way to the lungs where the illness begins. There is no treatment. There is no vaccine.
The Church Council has met this week and has established guidelines to help keep our church family and visitors safe. It is important that we are vigilant in protecting ourselves and those around us from undue exposure to this dreadful illness. Though YLLC is a family of God and we love to share that love and embrace one another, we need to change our practices. Change to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring any illness. Especially that of the Coronavirus. It is the responsible thing to do!
Effective immediately:
We ask of you:
Many of these practices were taught to us as kids and we should be exercising them on a daily practice. Given the severity of this looming illness, we need to be more in tune with what we already know. Let’s all try to be bug free and not become victims of this horrible disease. For additional information about the Coronavirus and updates from the CDC, please go to: cdc.gov/covid19 .
We are faced with a major health issue in our world today. The Coronavirus outbreak. At Yellow Lake Lutheran Church, we take this issue seriously as we are not immune. Here is a brief description:
Coronavirus is a respiratory illness affecting all ages. Elderly and those with underlying health issues are at greater risk of severe illness or death from the disease. It is transmitted by droplets expelled in a cough or sneeze from an infected person. The droplets can be breathed in directly by a recipient that is in the area near the sick person or from droplets that land on a surface. The virus on a surface can live up to a week. It can be picked up by one’s hand touching that surface then touching their nose, mouth or possibly eyes. The virus can then make its way to the lungs where the illness begins. There is no treatment. There is no vaccine.
The Church Council has met this week and has established guidelines to help keep our church family and visitors safe. It is important that we are vigilant in protecting ourselves and those around us from undue exposure to this dreadful illness. Though YLLC is a family of God and we love to share that love and embrace one another, we need to change our practices. Change to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring any illness. Especially that of the Coronavirus. It is the responsible thing to do!
Effective immediately:
- There will be no ”Sharing of the Peace” in any form.
- Holy Communion will be by individual cup.
- There will be no Intinction Communion.
- Pastors will wash hands and/or wear gloves for distribution of wafers.
- In addition to the council's recommendation, the pastors decided to not conduct Holy Communion in worship until Easter Sunday, April 12. They recommend us to use the Lenten season to reflect on the promise “God loved the world when God gave the only Son.”
- The pastors also recommend we prepare ourselves to receive the communion meal based on the council's point of guidance into the future.
- Our traditional practice of passing the offering plates through the pews is also a means of passing germs. Therefore, offering collection plates will no longer be passed through the pews. Instead, you may give your offering in church by the following methods:
- Ushers will have collection plates available at the back of the church for parishioners to drop their offering on their way out.
- The offering plates will be on the altar before service begins and you may place your offering in the plate beforehand.
- In addition to the wonderful house cleaning of our church that Annette performs, she is also disinfecting all “touch surfaces” (pews, doorknobs, light switches, kitchen surfaces, bathroom fixtures, etc.) to make our environment safer. Thank you Annette!
We ask of you:
- Have no physical contact with others.
- Maintain space between yourself and others as much as possible.
- Wash your hands often.
- Use hand sanitizer. (There is a dispenser on both levels).
- If you are sick or even not feeling “quite right”, stay home.
- Use appropriate utensils for handling food.
- If you must cough or sneeze, use tissues to capture it and properly dispose of it in the trash.
- Be mindful of your own personal contact with surfaces or food. It’s in your own best interest and that of others.
Many of these practices were taught to us as kids and we should be exercising them on a daily practice. Given the severity of this looming illness, we need to be more in tune with what we already know. Let’s all try to be bug free and not become victims of this horrible disease. For additional information about the Coronavirus and updates from the CDC, please go to: cdc.gov/covid19 .
