Churches during flu - or Coronavirus - season

It’s flu season. 

And this year, you add the Coronavirus into the mix.

Reading the news of businesses on the west coast telling people to work at home, hearing government officials talking about quarantines, hearing the anxiety in those who are scheduled to travel, I’ve been asking... what are some ways our pastors and churches can deal with this?

Here’s a few thoughts....

1. Remember that we are people of faith, not fear. We are called to pray and care for others.  We trust in the Lord.
2. Be sensible when it comes to group interaction and germs. In one church where I pastored, when flu season came we told people to bump elbows rather than shake hands when it was greeting time. People laughed... and did it.  Have hand sanitizer and use it. (My second winter as a lead pastor was considerably more healthy than my first simply because I started using hand sanitizer ever Sunday!).  Make sure your church is being well cleaned. Use disinfectant. Tell people (especially eager volunteers) to stay home if they are not feeling well.
3. Make sure you have systems in place to check up on people.  Do you have current phone numbers and addresses for those in your church? If we did face an epidemic in our area, do you have a system for checking on people to see how they are? Maybe it’s caring through your small groups or ministry teams. Maybe it’s a caring team ready to go. Just make sure it doesn’t all rest on the pastor (what if he/she gets sick?? By the way, this may be a great time for a pastor to either make sure someone else in the congregation has a sermon prepared, or record a sermon to have as backup on the week they really want to stay in bed. It’s not just volunteers who should stay home when sick). Pay particular attention to the most vulnerable in our midst. 
4. Lean in to newer, non-physical ways of “meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25). Do your small groups know how to use google hangouts to meet? Talk to your people about engaging in your live-streamed services. Even round-robin emails among a small group of people can be helpful. And yes, make sure you have online giving available.
5. Consider how you can reach out and minister to your community in the midst of this anxiety. Offer the peace of Jesus. Considering delivering food or medicine to those in need. Start and publicize a community prayer line.
6. Remember we’re people of faith, rather than fear. Wait... didn’t I already say that? Yes I did. So go greet someone joyfully by bumping elbows...