With guidance from the United Church Statement on COVID-19, Westworth United Church is taking the following precautions and offering support and prayers to those affected.
Prevention
1. If you are not feeling well, please stay at home and contact medical professionals as needed.
2. Please wash your hands frequently. We are ensuring that we have enough supplies of soap for our dispensers. We also have hand sanitizer bottles in the sanctuary and narthex. We are now wiping down all door handles with disinfectant twice a week and after large gatherings.
3. We request that everyone refrain from shaking hands. While greeting and passing the peace, please fold your hands over your heart and bow slightly to one another.
4. We will not be passing the offering plates. When entering the sanctuary, you are invited to place your offering in the offering plates that will be beside the sanctuary doors. You may also place your offering in the plates when you leave. The ushers will still bring the plates forward during the offertory and we will offer thanks for the offering that has been and will be received.
5. We are currently working on Phase II, should the need arise, so that we can implement it immediately.
Compassion
1. We will be mindful of any comments about COVID-19 directed to any particular racial group and attempt to repudiate and dispel any comments that are prejudiced or racist.
2. We will seek and share stories of people and communities most affected by COVID-19 and offer our prayerful support.
3. The China Christian Council, our Mission & Service partner, works ecumenically to provide much-needed medical supplies, disinfectant, protective clothing, and food items on the ground in Hubei Province. They have recently written to the United Church:
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of our friends praying for and supporting China and Hubei…Now the epidemic is basically under control, but there are still many patients in hospital. The CCC is continuing to ship medical supplies for hospitals in Wuhan…We are very concerned about the situation in other countries and we call on all Christians in China to pray for the medical experts and patients of the world.”
March 11, 2020 (this may change as we receive further updates)
