March 12 Letter from our Senior Pastor regarding coronavirus.

March 12, 2020

Dear members and attenders,

As we indicated on Monday in our email correspondence, should the need arise to adjust various aspects of our Sunday morning practices, Redeemer is ready. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19, the virus is now a pandemic. There are more than 120,000 cases worldwide and there have been 4,000 deaths. In the United States there are now more than 1,000 cases.

In regard to the situation in San Antonio though, nothing has changed since Monday. There is no current presence of an outbreak about which we are aware and there is no one connected to Redeemer with the virus. However, given the WHO's declaration, the intensification of response measures across the nation, and the spread of the disease, the Session now feels like further action needs to be taken to adjust our Sunday morning practices to protect the health and well-being of our worshippers.

So, Redeemer will modify its Sunday morning worship practices in the following ways to minimize close contact by those in attendance.

• Bulletin distribution: Our usher/greeters will welcome our members and guests upon entry, but they will not hand out bulletins. These will be conveniently placed for worshippers to pick up on entry into the sanctuary. We also ask that congregants dispose of your bulletin upon exit, and not recycle for use in the second service.
• Greeting of Peace: Congregants will be advised to shake hands or not, hug or not, fist bump or not, elbow knock or not. In addition to a verbal greeting of peace, each person is encouraged to greet one another in a way comfortable to both parties. We would also ask that you please not be offended if a fellow member or guest does not want to shake your hand.
• Communion Preparation: All communion preparers will prepare the elements while using gloves, and similar to last week, the preparers will cut the bread into pieces.
• Communion Distribution: Instead of the side tables, the elements will be placed on two tables at the front of the sanctuary. Communicants will come forward in typical fashion, but sanitizer will be available at the baptismal font for those wishing to use it prior to partaking. There will be no servers at the table. Instead, communicants will take the elements off the table from the plate and wine tray. A server wearing gloves will be adjacent to the table to swap out communion trays as they empty. Upon exit, communicants will place their communion cup in the basket.
• Offering Collection: Redeemer will forgo the traditional method of taking up tithes and offerings through the passing of the plate. Instead, upon dismissal from communion and after placing their cups in the basket, communicants will have opportunity to place their gifts in the offering plates, which will be on the tables located on the outside walls. Upon conclusion of the communion service, an usher or deacon will collect the offering plates and return to the Deacon on Call.

Because COVID-19 spreads like colds and the flu, the best way to prevent spreading the virus is personal hygiene. Redeemer commends the CDC's advice to stay home when you are sick, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use tissues to cover coughing or sneezing.

In addition, Redeemer will continue practicing disinfecting protocols throughout the building to provide a clean and healthy facility for our guests, members and children. Restrooms are equipped with liquid-foam soap dispensers. Hand sanitizer is also available throughout the facility.

In the end, we must place our confidence in our sovereign Lord who protects and provides for us in all seasons. Jesus reminds us,

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:29-31

Yes, this is an anxious time. But we serve an awesome and gracious God who holds us firmly in His grip. Let's fix our eyes upon him and seek to do good to our neighbor so that Redeemer can continue to be a refuge of hope and beacon of light in this uncertain world!

For Christ, our Redeemer,