Hello Church
With all the discussion regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world, we at CCA want you to help our church and community remain healthy, safe and avoid unnecessary risks.
Teach your family members to wash their hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds using soap and water. Sing the ABC song twice or Happy Birthday twice. I heard a Christian artist who made a hand-washing song on K-LOVE. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Keep your hands below your chin, try not to touch your eyes, mouth or nose; use a tissue. When sneezing/coughing use a tissue then throw the tissue away (this is better than coughing into your elbow), if no tissue is available (carry some in your pocket) use your elbow.
Most importantly, if you or a family member is sick and/or has a fever, cough, or shortness of breath please stay at home.
If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Go to the Doctor if you have these symptoms. A press conference with the Governor, Tuesday, suggested you call first in case they have a precaution strategy in place.
We already clean and disinfect stuff in the preschool and nursery rooms every week; we have a volunteer that has been doing this.
If you are sick or need to stay home with a sick kid and have a responsibility at church just let Mandy or Deryl know or find a replacement. Don’t try to come because you feel like you need to be here to help. We can get it covered =) we appreciate all our volunteers do and we can’t do it without you, but we do want sick people to stay at home. If you or your child has run a fever, please keep them home until they have gone a FULL 24 HOURS WITH NO FEVER.
We are not trying to alarm or scare anyone but want to be proactive. Please be in prayer for all the people that are infected and those caring for them. Pray for our leaders at the national, state and local levels as they make decisions to best meet the needs of all citizens.
Here is a link from the news conference on Tuesday: www.coronavirus.alaska.gov/
Here is some food for thought:
What message are we telling our kids when faced with a threat? Instead of reason, rationality, open mindedness and altruism, are we telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary, and self-interested? COVID-19 is not over. It could come to our city, hospital, friend or family. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The virus has produced harm; but our own behaviors and “fight for yourself above all else” attitude could prove disastrous.
We should temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn about better health hygiene and limiting the spread of disease in our society. Let’s meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts. Our children and friends will thank us for it. You will have an opportunity to help people who are in fear. Help them learn to lean on God. We have come to realize as a Christian that we really are not in charge of very much and we have learned the peaceful value of trusting our lives to our powerful God. Troubles make people think about the deeper things in their life; and your ready answer for your faith can lead them to faith. Look for those opportunities.
REMEMBER: The peace of Christ in our lives allows us to live in confidence of His presence even with all that is going on around us. God is good!!
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4.6,7
If you are experiencing trouble, we would be pleased to talk with you on the phone.
Deryl Titus (some is edited from various sources)