If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you should stay away from church, work or school, at least until 24 hours have passed since you have had a fever (without using any fever reducing medication).  While we will miss your presence at church, the greatest kindness you can show to others is to avoid sharing your flu.

HAND SANITIZERS are available at the back of the church and on the table in the hallway leading to the Parish Hall.  Please feel free to use them.  The Center for Disease Control recommends frequent hand washing with soap and warm/hot water as the best way to fight germs.  Hand sanitizers are the next best alternative.  In case you are wondering, there is a container of hand sanitizer at the altar which our Priests and Lay Eucharistic Ministers use, as appropriate, before handling Communion items.  As one parish member commented, “PurellÒ is the new Lavabo.”  Don’t know what a Lavabo is?  Ask one of the “old timers.”

PASSING OF THE PEACE need not involve physical contact.  You can always simply state “May the peace of the Lord be with you,” nod, make the sign of the peace with your hands, or bow.

RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION can be “in both kind” – that is by receiving the bread and wine – or by receiving only one.  Medical experts agree that the danger of transmitting communicable diseases by sharing the chalice is negligible.  All Episcopal churches use real wine; many, including St. James, use port.  The high alcoholic content kills off almost all the germs, virus and microbes.

If you still felt uncomfortable using a common cup, either drinking from it or in by intinction (dipping the bread in the cup), don’t worry.  Episcopalians believe Christ is equally present in both the consecrated bread and in the wine; “receiving one, the other, or both, get you no more (or less) in Christ’s presence.”  If you prefer not to receive wine, simply cross your arms across your chest as the chalice bearer comes by.