Hello Everyone! Pastor Russell here. This week, there will be two posts going up. Today’s, and then gain on Thursday when Tim Hildebrandt will be telling you what his favorite passage of scripture is and why. So make sure to look out for that.

For now though, I have a different kind of treat for you. If your household is anything like mine, there is likely a certain amount of apprehension that has begun to form around how to be healthy and safe when going to do things like grocery shopping. After all, there is report after report coming out about how the virus can do this or that (often conflicting), and all put together the picture we get of how to be safe comes out being about as clear as mud. And so, I thought it would go a long way to putting all our minds at ease if I asked our very own nurse extraordinaire Hilda Friesen, to share with us some tips and tricks that she knows as to how we can all be safe when picking up supplies for either ourselves or others (also, if you you need someone to pick up your groceries, just let me know).

Following that, I have something new for all of us to do during this time of shut down; a Prayer Walk route (a big thanks to Val Unrau for the suggestion and the route) to get us out there praying for our town.

Shopping During Covid-19 By Hilda Friesen

Life is not the same these days. We all have to learn new ways of doing things, and it is difficult. Habits do not change just because we have new rules. Many times I have caught myself doing what is my "normal" and, "oops! I should not have done that." It is necessary that we all remind each other as we see these slips, because that will help us all to adjust to new "norms". This is very important. Manitoba is running a little behind in the spread of the virus across the province, but, unless we remain diligent in physical distancing, washing our hands frequently, staying home as much as possible, etc, we will face many more cases of Covid-19, including deaths. So far it seems that everyone has been doing a good job!

Today I am thinking of shopping, for ourselves, and, more importantly, for our neighbours who, for various reasons, are at higher risk to have more serious consequences if they are infected with this virus. The following are some rules that have been strongly recommended, as well as some of the details I have learned/heard along the way:

1. Wash your hands when you enter the store (Sanitizers are inside the doors, or you need to use your own).

2. Do not touch your face {that is a very hard one even to realize you are doing so!)

3. Go in, get what you need, and leave. Do not wander around, do not visit with other shoppers, do not touch the produce unless you are buying it and maintain a 6 foot distance from all people in the store.

4. At the till, a lot of stores have 6 foot (2 meter) tapes on the floor for shoppers. That means stay at that distance behind the shopper ahead of you. A lot of stores also have plastic shields in front of the cashier to protect them and you from any droplet transmission.

5. If shopping for others, I believe it is best to put each persons supplies in separate bags. This makes it easier to deliver each persons supplies, and makes for less handling of all of the supplies. I have also come to the conclusion that using plastic bags if the store uses them, or better still paper bags which a lot of stores now have, is better than using non-disposable containers.

6. Everywhere they prefer Debit/Credit cards instead of cash, so be prepared. I do not think they refuse cash at this point, although I do believe I saw one place where that was the case, but it was posted at the entrance, so you would know prior to going in.

7. When you leave the store, wash/sanitize your hands again. Sanitize again before delivering to each individual, and, after you leave each place of delivery.

8. The person receiving the supplies needs to wash their hands as well, then remove the supplies from the bag, discard the bag, and wash their hands again.

You may think all this is overkill. My view is that overkill is far better than wishing you had done so. Data we are hearing indicates that no preventative actions are unnecessary.

Our First Shut Down Prayer Walk

Given that it is looking to be a nice week out, I cannot think of a better time to try out something new. It is Holy Week, after all. So with that in mind, on this map of MacGregor, as you will notice two lines. One that starts at Fourway Motors on Hampton and goes to Fox St, and the second that runs to the High School.

Now it has been a while since as a church we have gone on a prayer walk, but between now and next Tuesday, when you are able and to the best of your ability (even if you need to take your car), I want you to make this short trip. And while you do I want you to pray for the businesses, offices, homes, schools and anything else that you pass. The effects of this virus have already severely impacted the livelihood and regular operations of most of the places that this route will take you past, so I can think of no better first prayer walk than this. As you go, I ask in particularly that you pray that God’s support will be shown to the places that you pass.

Obviously, social distancing rules still apply, so if you come across someone try to keep 6 feet from them when you say, “hello.” But feel free to ask them to join in too!

In Psalm 107:28-30, we read the following, “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.” As Christians, we know that there is real power in prayer and so I am asking all of you to join me over the week to come in this way. Our God is more powerful than the Coronavirus. So I say, we work to prove it.