Holy Communion and SARS
April 17, 2003
Pastor Stefan Wolf

Dear Members and friends,

before we celebrate the important Christian feast of Easter with Services including the Celebration of the Holy Communion taking place on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we’d like to inform you about the measures we have taken to ensure the secure reception of the elements during the Holy Communion.

We follow the advice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and our Bishop Michael Pryse (The Letter is also posted on this web-site):

·        I, as Pastor, disinfect my hands before touching any of the elements.

·        Instead of the common cup we use disposable plastic cups which will be provided to everybody coming to the altar.

·        The cups will be disposed after the use in an extra bin. Nobody has to touch them after use. They will be thrown away sealed in a plastic garbage bag.

·        The bread will not be placed in the hands of the worshiper.

After the Service we will abstain from shaking hands, to make sure that if someone should bring unknowingly the disease to church this will not be spread any further.

In the hope that these precaution don’t hinder the full and enthusiastic participation in the Holy Communion.

We pray for those who are sick of SARS, for those who care for the sick and for those who do their best to fight the illness.

May God bless you and have a blessed Easter Celebration.
On behalf of Martin Luther Church,
Stefan Wolf, Pastor