20 August 2009
New swine flu guidance from the Methodist Church
New swine flu guidance from the Methodist Church encourages
those who are housebound with the virus to worship online or share
in a service broadcast on the radio.
The online guidance (www.methodist.org.uk/swineflu),
also offers practical advice for Holy Communion and sharing the
Peace, as well as a checklist for Church facilities.
Paul Morrison, a virologist and Public Issues Policy Advisor for
the Church said; "Each church is encouraged to think about how they
can sensibly reduce the risk of spreading swine flu during services
and the other activities that go on as part of Church life. A
number of areas of concern, such as Holy Communion, have been
specifically addressed. Once these risks have been thought out and
minimised we hope that churches will carry on serving their
communities as before."
"Swine flu is nothing to panic about but it has increased the level
of need within our communities. It is important that our churches
are able to continue to reach out to sick and vulnerable people
using both new technologies like email and internet as well as more
traditional methods such as home visits and phone calls".
The guidance stresses that where people are housebound with swine
flu, it may not be appropriate for them to receive pastoral visits
and could be supported in other ways such as by phone or email.
Those wishing to take part in corporate worship, but unable to do
so because of the virus may wish to attend an online worship
service at St Pixels, the Church of the Internet (www.stpixels.com), or share in
worship broadcast on the radio, such as the Daily Service on Radio
4 longwave, each weekday at 9.45am (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wzfs).
"Meeting together to learn and worship is the spiritual life-blood
of the Church and we don't want people to stop doing this," added
Paul. "But for those who can't attend corporate worship for
whatever reason, there are a variety of resources to offer them
spiritual support until they can return to church."
People are being encouraged to pray for the health services and all
those suffering with the virus, as well as send in their own
stories of good practice in helping to prevent and manage the
disease. The stories can be emailed to
swineflu@methodistchurch.org.uk.