March 12, 2020

North Heights & the Coronavirus

The concern about the coronavirus has reached a heightened state of awareness. North Heights wants you to know that we are following federal, state and local agency recommendations while we continue our weekly activities.

Keeping our facilities clean and safe for you and your family are a high priority—especially high-touch areas as door handles, handrails, counters, crash bars, etc. In addition to hand soap located in restrooms for hand washing, we have added hand sanitizer (with over 60% alcohol) throughout our campuses.

During services, North Heights will be applying these preventative measures to keep germs at bay:

Greeting others

• Replace handshakes and hugs, with smiles, eye contact and warm words

Communion

• Communion servers will dispense a wafer in your palm 
• Communion cups will be spaced further apart; carefully take a cup directly from the serving tray

Offering

• Instead of passing an offering plate, ushers will direct a procession to the offering plate, or you may give online nhlc.org/give

Altar Prayer

• Instead of the laying on of hands, prayer ministers will extend their hand

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued these helpful guidelines:

• Avoiding exposure is the best way to prevent infection
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if you are not feeling well
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your mouth and nose with your forearm when coughing and sneezing or use a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds at a time with soap and water; if no soap and water are available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol 

Cybercrime
Cybercriminals are beginning to capitalize on the public’s desire to learn more about the outbreak. There are scams that attempt to steal personal information, infect devices with malware, peddle false information or sell scam products. Some criminals are using CDC letterhead or fake CDC email addresses. Do not give out personal information unless it is a verified and trusted entity.

If you are looking for trusted information on the coronavirus, visit reputable websites like U.S. Center for Disease Control or the World Health Organization.

Call to Prayer
Above all, God has the coronavirus under control. This situation provides us a “Call to Prayer.” Please be in prayer for healing, prayer for the containment of this virus, and prayer for divine wisdom for those working towards solutions.