The high profile of the Swine Flu outbreak has provoked new concerns about contact with people in public settings. It is natural that church leaders and members are wondering about the risk of participating in worship, including hand-shaking, hugging, and sharing the bread and cup of Holy Communion.

If Swine Flu is present where you are, get the word out in your congregation that if folks have a sore throat, fever or other flu symptoms, they should not come to worship!

Some precautionary measures you can take include:

* Talking with physicians and other health-care workers in your congregation and ask for any input they may have.

* Instituting practices of preparing and serving Holy Communion that are consistent with the best epidemiological information available.

* In consultation with your worship team/commission, implementing these kinds of changes, asking all who handle the elements to thoroughly wash their hands first (including yourself!) and to administer the bread rather than having partakers tear their own piece. (See This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion for more details.)

Helpful Links:

The Centers for Disease Control has a dedicated page with specific information and links regarding Swine Flu.

"Clean Hands and Pure Hearts: Hygiene and Holy Communion"

Holy Communion and Concerns about Infection

Holy Communion and Infection Risks: An Age-old Concern

--Adapted from the Worship section of the General Board of Discipleship Web site,

www.gbod.org/worship