Showing posts with label pandemic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pandemic. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
more on Swine Flu
I really enjoyed this post http://spirituallyflawed.blogspot.com/search/label/antibacterial%20prayer%20serum
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Anglican Church & Swine Flu
Following my last post's arrival on FaceBook there were a couple of comments. Before I discuss those, here are some useful links
Swine Flu: Archbishops' advice on sharing of Communion
Swine Flu - The developing situation
letter from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to diocesan bishops
One of the suggestions is that we should follow the Methodists, who use individual cups as a way of maintaining hygiene. This is because Methodists do not use alcoholic drink in their cup. In this document (Communion.doc) it is noted that this practice is not legal in the C of E.
The issue with this disease is not whether you catch it if you are healthy in the first place. If so it is likely to be mild, and keep you off work for a few days. The issue is who you might give it to, as you take your part in the transmission process. Some estimates say as many as 50% of people will have no symptoms at all - but will still be infected. Our job then is to protect those for whom a dose of ANY type of influenza is life threatening. We can best do that by looking after ourselves and reducing the chance that we may pass it on.
Swine Flu: Archbishops' advice on sharing of Communion
Swine Flu - The developing situation
letter from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to diocesan bishops
One of the suggestions is that we should follow the Methodists, who use individual cups as a way of maintaining hygiene. This is because Methodists do not use alcoholic drink in their cup. In this document (Communion.doc) it is noted that this practice is not legal in the C of E.
The issue with this disease is not whether you catch it if you are healthy in the first place. If so it is likely to be mild, and keep you off work for a few days. The issue is who you might give it to, as you take your part in the transmission process. Some estimates say as many as 50% of people will have no symptoms at all - but will still be infected. Our job then is to protect those for whom a dose of ANY type of influenza is life threatening. We can best do that by looking after ourselves and reducing the chance that we may pass it on.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Communion without the cup
During the week the Archbishops issued instructions to suspend the chalice. (So no drinking wine at Holy Communion.) The Times thinks this is unprecedented. It is not. It is historical, and first occurred during the Black Death 1348 to 1350, which killed at least 30% of the European population. Swine flu does not look like it will be that bad. The same thing occurred in the 1980's when the fear of Aids was at its peak.
Sharing food from the same vessel is one of the things our government recommends that you DON'T do.
One thing that is new is the addition of alcohol gel to the ceremony. This is odd, as so far as I can tell alcohol does not kill viruses (hence suspension of the chalice).
There is also the sharing of the peace. Hands are generally thought to be more contaminated than lips, so the peace ought to be stopped as well. It has not yet come to that, but we did offer soap and water for people to wash after the peace and before receiving the bread. That at least was logical, although I don't think anyone took up the offer.
It makes the ceremony very strange, there is the wine on the table and in the words spoken by the president and the people but it is not moved. We use real bread, so the option of dipping by the server is even less practical than if we had wafers.
It was a strange experience, but one that I suppose I will have to get used to.
Should we ignore the prevailing health threat? - No, clearly that would not be sensible. God has not promised to protect us from such things - we live in the world and are vulnerable. If you do succumb there may of course be healing available - maybe. So we have to respond - but we should respond reasonably and logically. I do not see the current response as either - more thought and explanation is required.
I have been thinking about this on and off since Saturday when the problem first arose (for me). It seems to be that we should act in the best interest of others - especially our brothers and sisters in Christ - so that anything we can reasonably do to protect them should be done.
Look on the loss of the cup as an act of love, at least that way it is a positive thing, rather than an imposition.
Sharing food from the same vessel is one of the things our government recommends that you DON'T do.
One thing that is new is the addition of alcohol gel to the ceremony. This is odd, as so far as I can tell alcohol does not kill viruses (hence suspension of the chalice).
There is also the sharing of the peace. Hands are generally thought to be more contaminated than lips, so the peace ought to be stopped as well. It has not yet come to that, but we did offer soap and water for people to wash after the peace and before receiving the bread. That at least was logical, although I don't think anyone took up the offer.
It makes the ceremony very strange, there is the wine on the table and in the words spoken by the president and the people but it is not moved. We use real bread, so the option of dipping by the server is even less practical than if we had wafers.
It was a strange experience, but one that I suppose I will have to get used to.
Should we ignore the prevailing health threat? - No, clearly that would not be sensible. God has not promised to protect us from such things - we live in the world and are vulnerable. If you do succumb there may of course be healing available - maybe. So we have to respond - but we should respond reasonably and logically. I do not see the current response as either - more thought and explanation is required.
I have been thinking about this on and off since Saturday when the problem first arose (for me). It seems to be that we should act in the best interest of others - especially our brothers and sisters in Christ - so that anything we can reasonably do to protect them should be done.
Look on the loss of the cup as an act of love, at least that way it is a positive thing, rather than an imposition.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
If you are ill DO NOT enter this hospital
This gave me a chuckle this morning as I went into the phisiotherapy class. If you are ill do not enter the hospital! OK I know that's not what it says and that it has a sensible message, especially as there are new Swine Flu cases in the area. But the message it gives is "If you are ill do not enter the hospital". Decided I must get a picture on the way out. So, at each of the three notices I passed, I took a picture on my phone. This is the only one that is useable. You can see the outline of my reflection.
While waiting for the bus I thought some more, and remembered a talk in the cathederal about being a welcoming church. We don't have any notices that say don't come in, or at least they don't say that to me.
Jesus said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Luke 5:31-32
What do we have that stops the (other) sinners coming in?
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