Corona Virus

[Joseph Patrick]

From Gerry Milligan... With all of the conflicting information concerning the Corona Virus (Scientists [who are untrustworthy to repuglicans] tell us it will come on very strong while the great prevaricator says it is a democratic hoax [is there a limit on how many hoaxes can be accused by one administration]), my question is what is your church, and you personally, planning to protect yourself and your congregation? At my advancing age and weight, I am a candidate to be infected.

[Tim Bonney]

Starting Sunday we will ask people not to shake hands during the passing of the peace/greeting time. We will make sure that sanitizer is available in the narthex and encourage people to use it as needed. And all of our communion servers (it is communion Sunday tomorrow) will sanitize their hands before serving the elements. (We actually have done that the entire almost three years I've been here with communion.)

We commune via a common cup and intinction so it is important that the person handing out the bread has clean hands.

Honestly I think the chances of anyone in Iowa getting Corona right now are slim. But, we are doing this more because it is also flu season as well as to make people feel safe. We actually didn't shake hands for a few weeks last year during a major flu outbreak in the area.

[KeithE]

My sister and I are reconsidering a trip to Santa Clara County March 25 thru April 2. That is where our brother lives and where we grew up. My sister has not been back there in 30 years. I feel it will have to get far worse to cancel the trip. My sister is more frightened.

Aside from that, my wife has told me to wash my hands 30 seconds or more with hot water.

[Haruo]

Hope you've all got lots of hand sanitizer stockpiled. There is none to be had in or near Seattle.

There are still a few baby wipes in the stores, but hand sanitizer, face masks, and bottled water are scarce to zilch.

[Haruo]

I'm hoping to attend the Olympia All-Day Sacred Harp Singing next Saturday, but am increasingly concerned it may be either impossible (because large gatherings may be deprecated by the health people) or inadvisable (because although I'm not terribly scared of this virus, I fear Mrs. H's immune system might not be so well armed). We'll see. King County just had the first COVID-19 death in the USA, and it was a case of unknown transmission route.

[Dave Roberts]

Has it occurred to anyone that the largest mass gatherings these days are political rallies? What better place to pass a virus, even more close contact than church might provide.

[KeithE]

Has it occurred to anyone that the largest mass gatherings these days are political rallies? What better place to pass a virus, even more close contact than church might provide.

Good point.

[Joseph Patrick]

From Gerry Milligan ... Yesterday (first Sunday of the month) our church observed the Lord's Supper. What do you do when the body is passed? In typical Baptist churches, this is represented by broken up crackers on a plate. Who and how are the crackers broken up? What about all of those hands selecting a broken cracker from the plate? The blood is represented by the small disposable (or reusable) thimbles of grape juice. I had no problem with the blood but refused the body as it was passed. As a health-care professional it is worrisome. Fortunately if what the white house says is true, next month when we again observe the Lord's Supper this should not be a problem (that is, if you believe that).

[Haruo]

From Gerry Milligan... With all of the conflicting information concerning the Corona Virus (Scientists [who are untrustworthy to repuglicans]

Please don't use slurs you have already repented of using.

[Joseph Patrick]

From Gerry Milligan ...Sorry for the slur, old habits die hard. I am trying to improve. I had just "cut and pasted" this from something I had written to some of my family who are as extreme as I am, only is the opposing party. I WILL DO BETTER!!

[Haruo]

Attendance this morning was 23 ~24, about three less than last week, in spite of all the fears and dissuasions. Passing the peace was mostly by elbow bump.

[KeithE]

I’m thinking that I am skipping duplicate bridge sessions for the time being - despite it being my favorite activity that I regularly do 3-5 times a week. Next one starts at 9:00 am today. Cards get passed around (with our hands) among all participants who are 90% or more seniors many of which regularly do cruises. I have already canceled a trip to California where I was (among other things) going the Stanford Bookstore - btw, Stanford moves classes online after faculty member contracts coronavirus and will probably cancel a cruise from Venice to Istanbul starting July 9 (possibly losing deposits).

This hurts

.... but maybe I can catch up with some reading for the next several months.

But I will probably go the eye doctor today at 2:00pm- check up for recent cataract surgery. Also I'll go to tutor at the Learning Center at 5:00pm unless it is cancelled.

The latest Trump tweet (this morning) offers no encouragement.

The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, “The risk is low to the average American.”

We cannot blame Trump for coronavirus and should be encouraging him, Pence, health experts to real leadership.

One idea is to close the stock market. After all it is mostly a gambling venue these days - not a source of capital as it was designed to be. Companies typically have all the capital needed and can get more from banks.

[KeithE]

Well I went to bridge today after my partner talked me into it. We did terrible.

The “director” had a big bottle of hand sanitizer that she asked people to use as they saw fit. A couple of people used the sanitizers between every hand but most ignored it. I used my own bottle every round (4 hands in this case).

The Director also said the the ACBL may cancel a National Tournament in Columbus Ohio March 18-29. Here is the Health Precautions

I know this is more than you ever wanted to know.

[Haruo]

At Song Circle last night, there were several good songs about things like washing your hands, and one really hilarious one about Ebola. Before I left, I led the group in singing the notes and the words to ELBOW BUMP, an adaptation of the popular Sacred Harp closer PARTING HAND.

[KeithE]

I have quit playing bridge although last night our Club President declare “games on” this week (14 sessions) with extra hand sanitizers, no food table (just canned soft drinks and bottled water).

Our trip to California (Santa Clara county) is postponed (Southwest Airlines offered a future flight to be used by Dec 2020)

We have cancelled our cruise (round trip from Venice to Istanbul, etc.) on July 9 (Holland American has offered future cruise credit $600 in our case).

We have not cancelled our cruise to Australia/New Zealand starting on Nov 9, but probably will before full price payment is due.

Our travel insurance (Allianz) is not applicable to epidemics or pandemics.

I’m staying at home playing games, reading books, walking, posting on BL, pressure washing my back patio (maybe driveway). My breathing and oxygenation is somewhat compromised from a surgery I had in college - left me with 70% lung capacity and typical blood oxygen levels of between 90- 97%. So my wife is going to get groceries from here on out. She is also helping with food “backpacks” this morning at our church to be distributed to families at MLK Elementary School.

My son in law is under self- quarantined for 12 more days at home due to his regular attendance at large concerts (Casting Crowns or Luke Bryan) - he was sent home last Friday. Future concerts are no doubt stopped until ?. We will help with any financial shortage that they see, though he may get some federal aid for loss of job. My daughter is not allowed to drive for 5 more months due to fainting spells-they use grocery/GrubHub delivery systems.

My sister has possibly been compromised (prayer mtg at Rehab center last Monday, church senoir trip to 50’s concert Saturday, and her church service yesterday). So she should self-quarantine at her apartment for 14 days. She too could get federal aid (it seems to me) since she is a substitute teacher.

I offer these actions our family is taking as a an example of what I believe to be responsible actions. It may be overly stringent but I'd rather be "safer than sorry".

[Tim Bonney]

Our church is shutdown for two weeks and the governor is now suggesting schools close for four weeks. This could be a long siege. I'm concerned some smaller churches could go broke if they have to close for a month or more.

[Dave Roberts]

Our church is shutdown for two weeks and the governor is now suggesting schools close for four weeks. This could be a long siege. I'm concerned some smaller churches could go broke if they have to close for a month or more.

You mean that Methodists are like Baptists who won't send their offerings if they cannot come to church?

[Haruo]

Our church is shutdown for two weeks and the governor is now suggesting schools close for four weeks. This could be a long siege. I'm concerned some smaller churches could go broke if they have to close for a month or more.

You mean that Methodists are like Baptists who won't send their offerings if they cannot come to church?

Last month I applied for Social Security; I'll be 66 two weeks from last Sunday, and my checks will start in late April (unless the whole system has a heart attack first). I was really really really unhappy about the fact that during the application process online, the SSA website referred to me as one of their "customers".

[Haruo]

Our church is shutdown for two weeks and the governor is now suggesting schools close for four weeks. This could be a long siege. I'm concerned some smaller churches could go broke if they have to close for a month or more.

Trump himself, he who not long ago said the virus would disappear like a miracle by April, yesterday said that "they [implying the CDC etc experts surrounding him at the time] are saying" the problem may last into July, maybe August. I heard one of those experts offer that same possible timeframe. And some of these experts are now saying we (not sure if the reference was to the US, WA, or King Cty) "are where Italy was two weeks ago"; which if you've been following Italy is NOT an encouraging thing to hear.

[Dave Roberts]

Yesterday, Television Religious Personality, Kenneth Copeland, announced that the Coronavirus is God's punishment on Americans for hating Trump. Do you ever wonder why young people are rejecting Christianity when this is what they see?

[KeithE]

Kenneth Copeland: Hatred Toward Trump ‘Opened the Door’ for the Coronavirus Outbreak

God did not create the coronavirus to punish anyone as Kenneth Copeland and others have opined.

God cannot swing a magic wand and end this pandemic.

There’s a better way to think about God’s will and the Coronavirus.

God’s Will and the Coronavirus

A Better Way
This way says God wants to defeat the virus. God desires to prevent the deaths and destruction we currently see. This way says God loves everyone and everything, from the most complex to the least. And God always actively engages the fight against the Coronavirus, at all levels of existence and society.

This better way says God can’t defeat the Coronavirus singlehandedly. God needs our help. In this time of struggle, God needs the best of medicine, the best from social leaders, the best from each of us.

In our current crisis, God’s specific will changes. God calls each person, each family, each community, and each political structure to unique responses of love. These specific calls are particular to what each creature can do in each situation. God calls us all to act in loving ways in light of what’s possible.

For most, social distancing can be a significant form of love. Sharing provisions – including toilet paper – can be another. Cooperating with health officials can be a powerful expression of love. Taking reasonable precautions can be an act of love. And so on…

[Joseph Patrick]

Trump himself, he who not long ago said the virus would disappear like a miracle by April, yesterday said that "they [implying the CDC etc experts surrounding him at the time] are saying" the problem may last into July, maybe August. I heard one of those experts offer that same possible timeframe. And some of these experts are now saying we (not sure if the reference was to the US, WA, or King Cty) "are where Italy was two weeks ago"; which if you've been following Italy is NOT an encouraging thing to hear.

From Gerry Milligan ... It seems that the coronavirus, AKA COVID - 19 has had a name change. Both the president and his secretary of state are calling it the "Chinese Virus" while some in the administration are calling it "Kung-Flu." I wonder how the sycophants will spin this.

[Dave Roberts]

The Chinese Virus and Kung-Fu Virus names are their not so subtle appeal to his base's suspicion of everything foreign.

[Haruo]

I wonder how Spaniards feel about all the comparisons of COVID-19 to the "Spanish Flu of 1918", and what they call that one.

[Joseph Patrick]

I wonder how Spaniards feel about all the comparisons of COVID-19 to the "Spanish Flu of 1918", and what they call that one.

From Gerry Milligan ... one story is that people (administration at the time ?) were angry that Spain stayed neutral during WW I and named the flu, which originated in Kansas, the "Spanish Flu"