Churches Concerned About Spreading Germs

[Brown]

From KCCI-TV (http://www.theiowachannel.com/health/3958731/detail.html) (Des Moines, Iowa):Some local churches are doing their part this winter to stop the spread of illnesses.

At Highland Park Christian Church in Des Moines, there is a "minister of health" on the staff.
...
The Highland Park pastor has also asked people to change the way they "pass the peace" during service to avoid spreading germs.
...
The church is also adjusting their communion ritual.When I was growing up, there was none of this "Passing the Peace" (also known by variant names, such as "Sharing the Peace") stuff. But now it seems to be practiced in quite a number of churches.

For those not familiar with the practice, there comes a point in the service in which the minister invites the congregation to share the peace. The members of the congregation are supposed to turn to their neighbors, shake each neighbor's hand and wish the neighbor peace. "Peace unto you," or "Peace be with you" are typical wishes. Smart-aleck teenagers say "Peace on you" and think they're being witty.

Truth be told, most of the members of the congregation are pretty peaceful to begin with. They are rarely bellicose, and in fact, its not unusual for a member to be so peaceful that he's just barely awake. So the reason for offering one's neighbors an empty wish of peace is rather uncertain.

But apparently at least one church has concluded, not without some basis, that the empty wishing ritual could be a way to pass germs. As any pastor who shakes hands with his congregation can tell you, there are always a few who fall short of basic standards of personal hygiene.

[Ipecac]

We always did this in the United Methodist Church I attended, although it wasn't passing the peace, it was just greeting your neighbors.

I think it might be more effective to avoid congregating large numbers of people in a closed environment. Cancelling Sunday services would likely help a great deal to reduce the spread of germs. :D

[phildonnia]

The "sign of peace" has been part of Catholic masses as long as I can remember.

http://www.archstl.org/links/gloss-mass.htm
Sign of Peace
Before sharing the Body of Christ the members of the assembly are invited to express their love and peace with one another.

[Brown]

When I was a really young kid, church services were basically boring. Apart from standing and singing and shaking the pastor's hand when you left, you didn't have to do very much. But when our church got a new pastor, things started getting more touchy-feely. I just assumed that the sign of the peace was part of that touchy-feely trend.

It's certainly no surprise that touchy-feely activities (e.g., sharing the peace, holding hands during prayer, hugging, laying on hands, taking communion from a common loaf, etc.) are great ways for communicable diseases to get around.

[DangerousBeliefs]

Blame Bush... his idea is to not get sick (instead of fixing the problem!)

[scribble]

Don't bogart that peace, dude. Pass it.

[CurtC]

Well, I consider organized religion to be a virus on society, and I welcome their attempts to limit its spread.

[Bearguin]

Originally posted by Brown
Truth be told, most of the members of the congregation are pretty peaceful to begin with. They are rarely bellicose, and in fact, its not unusual for a member to be so peaceful that he's just barely awake. So the reason for offering one's neighbors an empty wish of peace is rather uncertain.

You missed the point. It's simply to make sure you are awake.

I remember listening to a Baptist preacher that sat in for the usual preacher. Really dull but would, at random intervals, yell some fire and brimstone stuff. You could see half the congregation jolt awake at that. Came to the point that I would not go if he was speaking. The regular pastor was quite a good speaker though.

[Bikewer]

Back when I was in high school, I was fascinated by the sciences, biology in particular. I spent hours peering into my Gilbert microscope at all manner of microscopic critters.

My mom worked for a local hospital which was run by an order of nuns. The nun that ran the lab found out about my interest and would send me all sorts of test-tubes, flasks, pipettes, slides, and other goodies. On one occasion, she sent me a sample of water, with a message to "check it out". Sure enough, the sample was swimming with all manner of little bugs of dozens of types I'd not seen before.
It was Holy Water.....

[Jeff Corey]

On NPR, I heard part of an item about a Catholic bishop in New England who advised his priests to give communion differently to avoid spreading diseases with the wine.
But, due to a bad signal, never found out what the solution was.
I pictured individual disposable cups.