AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM TONI AND THE SOPHIA CHRISTI PARISH COUNCIL
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Dear Sophia Christi members and friends,
For the past several days we have been carefully monitoring the news and guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday Governor Brown issued an Executive Order that included guidance for community and faith-based organizations. The measure that caught my eye states: “For vulnerable people such as those with underlying conditions and older adults, cancel gatherings of more than 10 people.” It further states that “underlying medical conditions may increase the risk of serious COVID 19 for adults of any age.” These guidelines can be found on the Oregon Health Authority website.
Since the majority of our community fits within the “high risk” category due to age, regardless of underlying health conditions, and because the virus survives anywhere between 3 hours and 3 days on surfaces (and we can only clean so much), we realize that the best course of action from a public health point of view is for everyone to stay home. The problem is not about 1:1 transmission anymore. According to infectious disease specialists the virus has already exceeded that level of concern. So our task is to interrupt the accelerating spread of this virus among the population. This is an important responsibility for those of us who care for the citywide, countywide, statewide and extended global community.
In the last newsletter I wrote about “fear.” When a true physical danger arises the “brains” of the community move into action. They work toward identifying the danger in order to reduce or eliminate the threat. This is what the experts in virology and epidemiology are doing for us today. We are listening, and will continue to do so, making the best judgment calls we are able to make to protect each other, to care and support each other, until the threat has passed.
These last two days I have been in two elevators and one grocery store—all necessary trips that I would have preferred not to take given the circumstances. It wasn’t possible to maintain “social distance” and people were aware in a new way—being careful, making eye contact, smiling, attempting to give space even though space was at a premium. In the elevators people made jokes, smiled, spoke to each other. I had the sense everyone felt more vulnerable and, on some level, felt a need for each other. Suddenly we were more than strangers. God is with us in this time of disease and fear. Let’s be here for each other, asking for and giving support through email, texts, phone calls. In sacrificing physical presence this Lent may we learn how precious our presence with each other truly is.
Here is a tweet from someone named Matt Pearce: “I imagine all the closures give people a sense of ominousness. But it’s really an amazing act of social solidarity: We’re sacrificing so we can give nurses, doctors and hospitals a fighting chance. Start from there and hopefully we can figure out the rest.
Blessings, peace and continuing health to all of you!