A Prayer by Walter Brueggemann (C) - slightly adapted for our circumstances from "Prayers for a Privileged People"
Springtime . . . when the living is easy.
We take our ease, even amid terrorism. The threat is mostly remote, and the war in Iraq (or Afghanistan or Sudan or . . . ) scarcely calls us in our privilege to attention.
And then, right in the middle of our easy living, the news breaks: an influenza outbreak.
There is sickness, death and it continues to spread.
We experience a sinking sense that the world is not safe, that our life is not free of threat, and we wonder where and when next will come assault on our well-arranged lives.
We turn to you, partly out of need, partly out of habit, partly out of trust.
We know you to be Creator, who maintains order, Redeemer, who loves us more than we love ourselves. But we are so self-sufficient, we do not easily turn from our ways to yours.
And so amid our trust in you comes our fated self-confidence, our urge to manage, our wish for self-sufficiency.
So we, unsettled in deep ways, want to believe more than we do. But even now we believe enough to know that your good way does not depend on our trust.
So be our God—yet again— this time, and we will be honest in our double-mindedness as we turn to you in our fear. Amen.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
State of CT on the Swine Influenza
From the Connecticut Department of Public Health:
Swine Influenza: What Connecticut Residents Need To Know (PDF)
also check out, the State of Connecticut's Pandemic Flu Task Force site:
CT Flu Watch
to keep up to date on happenings in Connecticut.
As of now, no changes in our normal Sunday worship for this Sunday.
Swine Influenza: What Connecticut Residents Need To Know (PDF)
also check out, the State of Connecticut's Pandemic Flu Task Force site:
CT Flu Watch
to keep up to date on happenings in Connecticut.
As of now, no changes in our normal Sunday worship for this Sunday.
Keeping it in perspective...
Managing Your Anxiety about Swine Flu
from the American Psychological Association
from the American Psychological Association
The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about swine flu can cause anyone to feel anxious and worried. These reactions are understandable because there are unknowns about the spread and severity of the illness. Even during this period of uncertainty, you can take several steps to manage your anxiety and have a positive outlook.
- Keep things in perspective.
- Get the facts.
- Maintain a hopeful outlook.
- Stay healthy.
- Build resilience.
- Have a plan.
- Communicate with your children.
- Keep connected.
- Seek additional help.
Swine Flu Outbreak
Having watched the news and read stories online, I am reminded that we are dealing with a new flu strain that we are just learning about but there is no need to panic or to lock myself in a room alone.
Precautions and proper hygiene are always essential and during this outbreak, very necessary to help protect myself and others.
The flu has come to Connecticut, see these CT Post articles:
Stratford man likely victim of swine flu
Southbury man is 'probable' swine flu case
Of course, the flu can always be deadly, see this CNN article:
Regular flu has killed thousands since January
What are we doing in the Church to plan and prepare? I am visiting these sites and gathering info.:
Planning for Pandemic Influenza (Episcopal Relief & Development)
Pandemic Influenza Planning for Parishes.pdf (National Episcopal Health Ministries)
Preparedness Plan for Pandemic.pdf (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davenport, Iowa)
Emergency/Pandemic Planning Powerpoint (Anglican Diocese of Niagara)
as well as...
www.cdc.gov
www.redcross.org
Precautions and proper hygiene are always essential and during this outbreak, very necessary to help protect myself and others.
The flu has come to Connecticut, see these CT Post articles:
Stratford man likely victim of swine flu
Southbury man is 'probable' swine flu case
Of course, the flu can always be deadly, see this CNN article:
Regular flu has killed thousands since January
What are we doing in the Church to plan and prepare? I am visiting these sites and gathering info.:
Planning for Pandemic Influenza (Episcopal Relief & Development)
Pandemic Influenza Planning for Parishes.pdf (National Episcopal Health Ministries)
Preparedness Plan for Pandemic.pdf (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davenport, Iowa)
Emergency/Pandemic Planning Powerpoint (Anglican Diocese of Niagara)
as well as...
www.cdc.gov
www.redcross.org
Swine Flu: Top 12 answers you need to know
Answered by infectious disease expert Charles Ericsson, M.D., professor of internal medicine and director of Travel Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
1. How do symptoms of swine flu differ from other types of flu? None, really, although this flu might include gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting), as well as the usual respiratory symptoms. The basic symptoms may include: fever (100°F+), sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, fatigue.
2. If I felt flu-like, how would I know if I had swine flu? Swine flu is identified through a respiratory specimen taken within the first 4-5 days and sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is best not to report to the hospital, clinic or doctor's office, where you could risk spreading the disease. Again, call your doctor first to get instructions as to what you need to do next.
3. How long are people contagious? Adults are potentially contagious for the length of time one has symptoms, up to 7 days following the beginning of illness. Children can be considered contagious longer, up to 10 days. The initial incubation period is 24-48 hours.
4. Is there medication for this? Yes, although there is no vaccine, there are four anti-viral drugs commonly used to treat various strains of flu. Tamiflu or Relenza have shown to be effective against recently reported strains of swine flu. Prophylactic (preventative) use of anti-virals is not recommended. Previous vaccines for swine flu you might have taken would provide incomplete protection at best.
5. What are emergency warning signs of complications? Emergency warning signs in children are: Fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or interacting, being very irritable, fever with a rash, Emergency warning signs in adults are: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting.
6. Can I catch it from pigs or from eating pork? No and absolutely not.
7. Can it kill me? Deaths have been reported from the Mexico City outbreak but so far, cases reported in the US have been mild and no deaths have been reported (as of April 27, 2009).
8. Should I cancel my vacation to Mexico? Check frequently with the CDC Web site for possible Travel Alerts.None of the more than 4,000 flights to Mexico from the US have been canceled as of this writing. However, some international airports in Europe and Asia are stepping up precautions and issuing alerts.
9. What if I'm on a plane? Should I wear a mask? Not necessary. The air on a plane is filtered.
10. How long does the germ live on surfaces, like on my desk if someone sneezes in my office? Influenza virus survives only minutes on inanimate objects or hands. Influenza is most easily spread by droplets that come into contact with our mucus membranes such as when someone coughs or sneezes in our faces. Good hand washing can diminishing the spread of the disease.
11. What can I do to take care of myself and others? If you are ill, stay home. Control your sneezes and coughs. If you cough into your hand, remember the virus could be live on your hand at least for a few minutes, so wash your hands before touching anyone else. If you get symptoms suggesting the flu, call your doctor. Resist going to the doctor’s office or a hospital to avoid sprading the disease to others.
12. What else can I do? Keep in touch with the most recent CDC messages through the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Downloaded from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
1. How do symptoms of swine flu differ from other types of flu? None, really, although this flu might include gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting), as well as the usual respiratory symptoms. The basic symptoms may include: fever (100°F+), sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, fatigue.
2. If I felt flu-like, how would I know if I had swine flu? Swine flu is identified through a respiratory specimen taken within the first 4-5 days and sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is best not to report to the hospital, clinic or doctor's office, where you could risk spreading the disease. Again, call your doctor first to get instructions as to what you need to do next.
3. How long are people contagious? Adults are potentially contagious for the length of time one has symptoms, up to 7 days following the beginning of illness. Children can be considered contagious longer, up to 10 days. The initial incubation period is 24-48 hours.
4. Is there medication for this? Yes, although there is no vaccine, there are four anti-viral drugs commonly used to treat various strains of flu. Tamiflu or Relenza have shown to be effective against recently reported strains of swine flu. Prophylactic (preventative) use of anti-virals is not recommended. Previous vaccines for swine flu you might have taken would provide incomplete protection at best.
5. What are emergency warning signs of complications? Emergency warning signs in children are: Fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or interacting, being very irritable, fever with a rash, Emergency warning signs in adults are: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting.
6. Can I catch it from pigs or from eating pork? No and absolutely not.
7. Can it kill me? Deaths have been reported from the Mexico City outbreak but so far, cases reported in the US have been mild and no deaths have been reported (as of April 27, 2009).
8. Should I cancel my vacation to Mexico? Check frequently with the CDC Web site for possible Travel Alerts.None of the more than 4,000 flights to Mexico from the US have been canceled as of this writing. However, some international airports in Europe and Asia are stepping up precautions and issuing alerts.
9. What if I'm on a plane? Should I wear a mask? Not necessary. The air on a plane is filtered.
10. How long does the germ live on surfaces, like on my desk if someone sneezes in my office? Influenza virus survives only minutes on inanimate objects or hands. Influenza is most easily spread by droplets that come into contact with our mucus membranes such as when someone coughs or sneezes in our faces. Good hand washing can diminishing the spread of the disease.
11. What can I do to take care of myself and others? If you are ill, stay home. Control your sneezes and coughs. If you cough into your hand, remember the virus could be live on your hand at least for a few minutes, so wash your hands before touching anyone else. If you get symptoms suggesting the flu, call your doctor. Resist going to the doctor’s office or a hospital to avoid sprading the disease to others.
12. What else can I do? Keep in touch with the most recent CDC messages through the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Downloaded from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Influenza (Flu) Prevention Advice
“There is a huge difference between preparedness and paranoia,” says Dr. Robert Emery, occupational health expert at the UT School of Public Health at Houston. “Although we’re dealing with a new strain of flu, a set of universally applicable preventive measures exist that can be employed right away by everyone to help stop the spread of this disease”
Proper hand hygiene
There’s a right way and useless way to wash hands—and wash away—micro-organisms. The object is to break down the protective membranes of germs, dislodge them from your hands and let them go down the drain. Plain soap in the right hands is strong stuff.
1. Lather well with a bar of soap or squirt a coin size of liquid soap in the palm of your hand.
2. Vigorously rub your hands together, soap up between your fingers, AND your wrists, front and back for 15 seconds. Sing the first chorus of any song you know and that’ll take you through the 15 seconds.
3. Rinse under warm, RUNNING water. Remember, the object is to dislodge germs. The force of water is key.
4. Dry thoroughly your hands with a disposable towel or under the blower, again, rubbing your hands together.
5. Discard the towel.
If you’re using alcohol-based gels as hand cleansers:
1. Put a dime-sized amount in one hand.
2. Vigorously rub your hands together and in between your fingers until the GEL IS DRY—about 30 seconds. DO NOT touch your face!
3. Once your hands are clean, do not touch your face, nose, eyes or lips.
4. Rubbing your eyes and nose provides a freeway for micro-organisms and good breeding ground once they’ve arrived.
Cover your cough
1. If you must cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue, your sleeve or your hand.
2. Throw the tissue away in a waste basket. Do not leave discarded tissues on your desk or other surfaces.
3. Then, wash you hands thoroughly.
The throw-it-away part is essential. Micro-organisms live a life span from a few seconds to days on inanimate surfaces such as desks, table tops, faucets…tissues. If your tissues are scattered on your coffee table, they then are in contact with community surfaces. Both the tissues and the surface it sits on can spread germs to the person who touches the coffee table.
If you feel sick:
1. If you begin to feel ill: feverish, achy, have a dry, painful cough, sore throat, go home from school or work and call your health care provider for further instructions.
2. If you feel sick with flu-like symptoms and you care for the very young or the very elderly or the chronically ill, inform your health care provider when you call their office.
3. If you have recently traveled to Mexico or to one of the areas worldwide that has reported a swine flu outbreak, inform your health care provider. He or she may prefer to treat you with prescription anti-viral medications from home, or may request that you come in for a visit. Follow instructions from your health care providers.
Downloaded from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Proper hand hygiene
There’s a right way and useless way to wash hands—and wash away—micro-organisms. The object is to break down the protective membranes of germs, dislodge them from your hands and let them go down the drain. Plain soap in the right hands is strong stuff.
1. Lather well with a bar of soap or squirt a coin size of liquid soap in the palm of your hand.
2. Vigorously rub your hands together, soap up between your fingers, AND your wrists, front and back for 15 seconds. Sing the first chorus of any song you know and that’ll take you through the 15 seconds.
3. Rinse under warm, RUNNING water. Remember, the object is to dislodge germs. The force of water is key.
4. Dry thoroughly your hands with a disposable towel or under the blower, again, rubbing your hands together.
5. Discard the towel.
If you’re using alcohol-based gels as hand cleansers:
1. Put a dime-sized amount in one hand.
2. Vigorously rub your hands together and in between your fingers until the GEL IS DRY—about 30 seconds. DO NOT touch your face!
3. Once your hands are clean, do not touch your face, nose, eyes or lips.
4. Rubbing your eyes and nose provides a freeway for micro-organisms and good breeding ground once they’ve arrived.
Cover your cough
1. If you must cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue, your sleeve or your hand.
2. Throw the tissue away in a waste basket. Do not leave discarded tissues on your desk or other surfaces.
3. Then, wash you hands thoroughly.
The throw-it-away part is essential. Micro-organisms live a life span from a few seconds to days on inanimate surfaces such as desks, table tops, faucets…tissues. If your tissues are scattered on your coffee table, they then are in contact with community surfaces. Both the tissues and the surface it sits on can spread germs to the person who touches the coffee table.
If you feel sick:
1. If you begin to feel ill: feverish, achy, have a dry, painful cough, sore throat, go home from school or work and call your health care provider for further instructions.
2. If you feel sick with flu-like symptoms and you care for the very young or the very elderly or the chronically ill, inform your health care provider when you call their office.
3. If you have recently traveled to Mexico or to one of the areas worldwide that has reported a swine flu outbreak, inform your health care provider. He or she may prefer to treat you with prescription anti-viral medications from home, or may request that you come in for a visit. Follow instructions from your health care providers.
Downloaded from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
How NOT to be Jesus...
{I am just not sure how he was trying to live like Jesus.}
Naked man arrested at Stratford beach
By Daniel Tepfer, Staff writer CT Post, 04/27/2009
STRATFORD -- A local man, who told police he was reliving the life of Jesus, was taken into custody for being nude Sunday on Short Beach.
Police received complaints from several beachgoers enjoying the unseasonably warm temperatures that a man was lying naked on the beach.
Angelo Dicks, 31, of Gregory Circle, was allegedly lying nude on the sand close to a number of families with young children, according to officers sent to the scene.
When Dicks was told that nudity is not allowed on the public beach, he allegedly responded that he was imitating Jesus, adding that he did not want to have a bikini line.
After refusing to get dressed and leave the beach, Dicks was arrested after a brief struggle with officers.
He was charged with risk of injury to a minor, breach of peace and interfering with police.
He was released after posting $5,000 bond.
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