St. Stephen Statement on Response to Covid-19

As you know, Covid-19 is of increasing concern nationally and locally. Our chief concern is for the health and well-being not only of St. Stephen people, but of our neighbors and our community. Because of this, we'll be taking some precautionary steps as we gather as God's people to help protect everyone's health, safety, and well-being. Our hope is that, in time, we'll be able to return to our usual worship practices.

  • Sharing of the Peace will be done with elbow bumps, foot bumps, peace signs, reverential bows, or some other method that prevents hand-to-hand contact.

  • Offering will be received in offering plates near the entrances to the worship space, instead of being passed person-to-person. Additionally, you can give electronically or send your gift by mail to avoid the plate altogether.

  • Holy Communion will be received using bread only, not wine or juice. Theologically speaking, only one kind (bread or wine) is necessary for communion to be "effective" as a sacrament. (Communion isn't 1/2 in the bread and 1/2 in the wine or grape juice; it's 100% in both elements.)

Here are a few other things to keep in mind as we consider how best to take precautions:

  • Wash your hands. Covid-19 is not airborne (unless it's sneezed toward you), but it can remain active on surfaces for an extended period of time.

  • Avoid touching surfaces, and wash your hands often.

  • Don't touch your face. After touching a surface with Covid-19, and then touching your face, you increase your chances of being affected by the illness.

  • Stay home if you're symptomatic. If you're experiencing fever, cough, or shortness of breath, stay home and call your doctor to find out what to do next.

The more we can minimize exposure to illness, the better off we'll be. You can find more information at cdc.gov. Remember that sermon recordings are available on St. Stephen's website, and we'll be exploring more ways that we can create worship opportunities from a distance: for example, home devotionals and video options. In the meantime, remain calm and participate as you can. Know that we may need to make adjustments to our response as the days and weeks unfold. If that's the case, we'll write and let you know.