From The Pittsburgh Tribune Review- Front page above the fold.
In Pittsburgh's Catholic churches, parishioners can greet each other during services with bows, nods or winks instead of the traditional handshakes and hugs because of the threat of growing influenza pandemic.
In Greensburg, they won't take communion from a common cup while flu season lasts.
In St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carnegie, small bottles of hand sanitizer sit on pews, ready for church members to use after they greet each other with the sign of peace.
"Someone suggested we eliminate the (sign of) peace, but a lot of people look forward to it, especially the young people," said the Rev. Bruce Nordeen, pastor at St. John's.
These are among the steps churches across the country are taking to try to keep the H1N1 flu out of their pews.
"With concern this year over the epidemic potential of the 'swine flu' virus, we are called to be particularly vigilant," Bishop David A. Zubik wrote to Pittsburgh diocesan priests Oct. 2. "Liturgical practices are one of many encounters throughout the day that are capable of transmitting viruses."
Some churches stopped offering communion during flu season, but Zubik left that decision up to parishioners.
"Those uncomfortable receiving from the cup during the flu season should not feel obligated to do so," he wrote.
More here-
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=episcopal
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