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Health & Wellness Updates

Home About Us Health & Wellness Updates

Eastbrook Church Medical Advisory TeamNotice

The Eastbrook Church medical advisory team is monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on our church community. The situation continues to be fluid and rapidly changing. If you have any questions or concerns, the latest information will be communicated on the Eastbrook website: Eastbrook.org/wellness, as well as the weekly email newsletter. Any more urgent news affecting the church body will be sent by additional emails. If you are not getting the weekly newsletter and would like to, you can sign up here. Additional up to date professional recommendations can be obtained at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the Milwaukee Health Department.

Our church continues to follow professional recommendations to limit the spread of the virus. The church campus is currently closed to all activities except the Bread of Healing Clinic and the Food Pantry. Church staff will continue to be available by phone: 414.228.5220.

Everyone is feeling isolated and frightened. Please continue to reach out by phone or web with everyone you can.  Go for a walk. If you are connected through a ministry or group, reach out to them. If you don’t have any of these connections, call the office to get connected. The church staff is committed to serving you and helping in any way possible. You are not alone. Our Lord is here and Eastbrook is fully available to Him to care for you.

Current recommendations for our area:

  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home except for essential activities
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
  • Follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask: Facemasks should be used by people who show possible symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Given the absence of a vaccine or medication for COVID-19, a healthy immune system can help protect you and speed recovery from infection. Ways to boost your immunity include adequate sleep, minimizing stress, tobacco avoidance, maintaining a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamin C, and regular exercise.

March 12, 2020 Update

March 12, 2020

Dear Eastbrook Family,

Earlier this afternoon, Governor Tony Evers declared a Public Health Emergency in the State of Wisconsin, with Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm recommending the cancellation of any events of more than 250 people to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

After consulting with our medical advisory team, we have decided to cancel our in-person weekend services/activities for the foreseeable future beginning this weekend. This will continue until a change is recommended by city and state officials. In its place, we are developing a weekly pre-recorded worship service that will be posted online at 8 am as “Eastbrook at Home.” We are encouraging you to watch this service in your home, with your small group, or with a table groups as a means to go deeper in relationship with God and with one another. This weekend I will continue in our “God in the Ruins” series with a message from the book of Habakkuk. I cannot help but think that Habakkuk is timely for us these days. Please visit eastbrook.org/athome this Sunday after 8 am to worship with us through song, prayer, and teaching. You will also find resources to help you engage in the service at home.

Groups under 250 within the church may continue to meet at this time, with the exception of all four of our weekend services/activities and our Wednesday night activities (Men’s Bible study, women’s Bible study, Student Night, Mid-Week Kids Clubs). If you have questions about a specific ministry activity or event, please contact your leader or the church office via email (info@eastbrook.org) or phone (414.228.5220). The Eastbrook Church Office will continue to be open unless recommendations from public health officials change. We will continue working during this time and will continue to be accessible you, our church family, via email, phone, or in-person visits for care.

While we want to be as wise as possible in relation to these things, I also want to encourage us that this is the time for us to be the church with one another and with others. This is a great time for us to step forward in community in smaller settings, while also reaching out to our neighbors with love and care. Let’s be the church marked by Christ’s love, especially in this unique season.

With prayer,
Pastor Matt

March 6, 2020 Update

March 6, 2020

Dear Eastbrook,

The church of Jesus Christ has always been a community living with God and stepping forward with courage to minister His grace and truth in the midst of a world gripped by fear, sin, and need.  Following Jesus, who is the light of the world, we have also stepped forward to shine His light into the world.

As we continue to  journey through cold and flu season in Wisconsin, there has been a lot of attention recently on COVID-19, known popularly as Coronavirus. We grieve with those around the world and in our own country who are seeing loss of life and troubles during the spread of this epidemic.

First, let me encourage us to be informed. If you are unsure about what COVID-19 is, please consult the Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and the Milwaukee Health Department to find out specifics about this unique form of coronavirus, how it spreads, and what we can do to stay healthy.

Second, let me assure you that we are taking this seriously at Eastbrook Church to make sure we are both addressing present concerns and preparing for the future. Our staff is consulting with Milwaukee Public Health Department, medical professionals within our own congregation, and other churches in the area. We have increased the presence of hand sanitizer, are placing reminders of basic hygiene around the campus, and are also developing plans if the situation impacts Milwaukee more seriously.

In the immediate term, know that COVID-19 is another respiratory virus. Influenza is much more prevalent and overall has higher total fatality numbers at present. Basic things like washing our hands thoroughly (scrubbing for 20 seconds before rinsing), taking care of ourselves through healthy eating and sleeping, using hand-sanitizer, covering your mouth when coughing, and reducing hand-shaking and hugs at this time are essential. If you are sick, then stay home to prevent sharing sickness. If we do these things, it will go a long way toward overall health in our congregation and beyond.

Third, let me encourage us not to be overcome by fear but by faith. While we must be wise and well-informed, we are also a people of faith and courage through God. We personally live with a God who is lovingly with us and promises to hold our future, both now and for eternity. This “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Because of that reality, our faith calls us to step forward to serve those in need as a response to our Savior who did not step back but stepped in to a world of need. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Some of our field workers around the world find their context impacted by this, and we want to pray for them diligently and encourage them regularly. Some of our international students are unsettled, both as their home country is impacted and some experience inappropriate prejudice or persecution here. Let me encourage us to look for ways to wisely and faithfully be God’s people here in Milwaukee and the surrounding area. In a culture of fear, may we be a church who does not shrink back but steps forward in mission for God’s glory.

The peace of the Lord to all of you,

Pastor Matt

Eastbrook KidsWell Child Policy

Parents,

We strive to make all of our children’s ministry spaces healthy and safe environments for learning, worship, and friendship. Please help us in this effort by cooperating in these well-child guidelines:

  • FEVER – Child may attend when free from fever for 24 hours without medication.
  • NASAL DRAINAGE: Child may not attend until clear.
  • COUGH: Child may not attend with croup or persistent coughing associated with respiratory infection.
  • RASH: Child having an unexplained or contagious rash may not attend.
  • VOMITING/DIARRHEA: Child should have no incidence of these for 24 hours.
  • STREP THROAT: Child should have started antibiotics 24 hours before attending.
  • PINK EYE: Child may attend after 24 hours of antibiotics, and there is no matting or drainage from the eye.
  • CHICKEN POX: Child may attend when all spots are scabbed over and the child is no longer scratching or touching scabs.
  • LICE: Children may attend after treatment and all live lice and visible nits have been removed.

If these symptoms appear during the course of your child’s time with us, we will contact you to pick them up early. Thanks for your cooperation!