Dear Friends:

Well, I did it.  I got my first vaccine injection against COVID.   I want to encourage everyone to do the same as soon as they can.

I obtained the first of the Pfizer two-dose treatment on Tuesday afternoon.  It was literally painless; I didn't even feel the injection.  It was not quite that good from then on, so I'll tell my experiences and what I know about those of others.

I got it through my provider, UC Davis Health System.  They had a full injection clinic set up,  with dozens of us socially spaced and on an efficient "assembly line".  From check in to injection was about 30 minutes.  I learned that the earlier in the day you can go, the better. There are fewer people in the morning.  Still, it was not onerous.  Prior to arrival you may do a pre-check verifying your medications, allergies, etc. All pretty easy IF you have an online system.  I hope you do or you'll never see this alert!

After the injection we were sent to a 'recovery' room (ours was a tent) for observation for 15 minutes.  Those with known allergies to vaccines are sent elsewhere for an hour.  I like that degree of care.  We also obtained our follow-up date and time while we were waiting.  That was great - two things done at the same time is a relief.  Very efficient.  It all reminded me of the days of the Salk and Sabin vaccines of our youth and of photos I have seen of various pandemic treatments historically.  We clearly have learned from the past.

As I waited, I noticed a tenderness at the injection site (covered with a kid's cartoon band aid  - very cool). That gradually expanded down my arm and up my neck into a mild ache and eventually a very minor headache.  By bedtime I felt the way one does coming down with a cold - achy and very tired but no real pain.  

Now the only odd thing was that when I fell asleep I slept for only two hours before awakening and being very wide awake at that!  So I read and worked on the computer for a time. Until, at 5:30 in the morning I realized I was ravenous!  The problem now was that what I craved was a friend's potato salad, but she lives 3000 miles away and doesn't deliver.  So I had what I could find, and it seemed to help. I finally went back to bed at about 6:00 am and slept again.  And slept. And slept. And slept.   I didn't really get up until late afternoon then went back to bed at regular time and slept some more.  By this time the aches and flu-like symptoms were gone.  It was about 24 hours, and they were over.  By this morning I felt quite fine.

My husband had his injection yesterday morning while I was sleeping.  He went very early, and I didn't even realize he'd gone and returned until late morning.  He has now also passed the 24-hour mark and has no symptoms at all other than a bit of tenderness at the injection site.  This difference between us made it very clear that every body is different.  To date I've encountered no one who had anything severe at all.  

I will note, for the record, that, while he is somewhat absentminded anyway, last night when my husband took out the recycling, he threw it in the bin, container and all.  There may be something to the "COVID brain" urban legend.  I, on the other hand, can't stop laughing.  If that's the worst that happens, so be it.

We were told that with the second injection there is increased probability of a repeat of my experience with perhaps some intensification.  That seems manageable.  We understand that the Moderna has stronger side effects than does the Pfizer, but none seems to last more than 24-48 hours, and they all beat a case of COVID.  I would not be "vaccine hesitant" over these differences.  COVID is too awful to be fussy about such matters.  Even with Moderna, many people experience no side effects at all.  May you be one of them!

So those are our experiences.  It was efficient, it was manageable, it helps us feel we're on our way to being safe.  I pay attention to the science and to anecdotal reactions.  I cannot stress strongly enough that the scare stories are grounded in absolutely no facts.  The people in the Tuesday session were very diverse (although everyone was over 65 since we were the target population) and no one in my group had any complaints at all about feeling unwell.  I appreciate the scientists and physicians who are helping us survive. 

And even with my husband's mishap with the recycling, I feel quite certain he has not turned into a zombie.  I think we can safely put that notion to rest.

Good health to everyone.  I hope supplies come your way quickly with efficient distribution through your providers or your county.  This is worth the doing.  Please do it!

Elizabeth "Libby" Sholes
​Director Emerita Public Policy
​

​Dear Friends:

Today, July 1, 2020, our state's governor, Gavin Newsom, has once again had to close many businesses and places we had hoped to have open. The spike in Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has put a sudden and frighteningly-large number of people in the hospital and has once again strained an already taxed and exhausted health system.   

The positivity testing for the virus has risen from 4.6% to 6% in just one week. Failure to "flatten the curve" makes shut downs of newly opened operations necessary.  Hospitalizations are up 51% and ICU admissions up 47% over the past week. 

The closure will affect mostly 19 counties in Southern California where the spikes in cases have occurred.  The shutdowns will impact about 70% of the state's population. 

Indoor restaurants, movie theaters and concert venues, wineries, and other similar enclosed spaces that were gradually opening are now slated to close yet again.  If the business can operate outdoors, it can continue to function.  Churches are still asked to proceed with virtual services, and large gatherings of all kinds are discouraged, even outdoors when social distancing cannot be assured.  

Bars are being traced as a key factor in increased exposure and are being shut down. This led to a demonstration at the Capitol building by bar owners today. Nevertheless, the order stands.

In Southern CA Orange County has been put back on the 'watch' list with Solano, Merced, and Glenn counties also added. Imperial County, another "hot spot" of virus increase is moving to close all non essential businesses as well as public parks.

Beaches from San Diego to Sonoma County will not be closed by the state for the upcoming holiday weekend. However, parking will be restricted, and no traffic will be permitted.  Counties are taking the initiative to close their own in many cases.  Also, counties that have not discontinued fireworks displays are now being asked to do so. 

The state's requirement that everyone wear masks while out of their own homes or cars is the single best way to regain normality.  We learned that former California Governor, Arnold "The Terminator" Schwarzenegger has abandoned his favorite gym in Southern California since he found people not wearing masks. 

We would argue that if The Terminator can wear masks, anyone can. It's a symbol of strength, not weakness.  Please make mask wearing a positive thing among your friends, families, and congregations.  The sooner masks and social distancing become the norm, the sooner we can regain some semblance of our former lives.

In the meantime, honor the restrictions, wear a mask, and definitely wash your hands.  Have your 4th of July celebrations outside with sufficient social distancing, and remember that Independence Day comes every year. These problems shall pass if we work on them together now. 

Thank you and stay safe. 

Dear Friends,

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld Governor Gavin Newsom's order suspending in-person religious gatherings.  What was asserted by opponents was the violation of First Amendment Rights.  However, the court found that the greater good was protecting the general welfare in preserving social distancing and public health.

Soon we hope this will change.  To that end, Governor Newsom's office has put out a PDF we can use.  From the Department of Public Health, we are, oddly, part of the "COVID-19 Industry Guidance" with specific reference to places of worship.  Being part of our state's "industry" is rather appealing from the standpoint of reminding us we are to be as caring of those who pack our frozen foods as of our neighbors in the pew next to us.  So with that illumination, we link you to our specific  "industrial" guidelines for reopening here  

In the meantime for everyone worshipping via Zoom or web pages or Facebook or however you're doing it, remember the pandemic is not over, and life will not go back to "normal".  It will take some adjustment by us all, but if we truly keep the faith, we will prevail.

Thanks to all of you who have written back concerning these email observations.  It's lovely to reconnect with many of you. You're a blessing to us here in Sacramento. 

Our last advice today from the sign on the elementary school in East Sacramento:  "Keep calm, and wash your hands."

Thank you.

Dear Friends,

As the president moves to force states to declare places of worship "essential", we offer viewpoints on the topic of resuming services in our churches, temples, mosques, and meeting houses.

We have received, through our allies at San Francisco Interfaith Council, the guidelines from California's Governor Gavin Newsom:

​We also received a thoughtful observation from Rev. Dr. William Barber, the founder of the Poor People's Campaign regarding our obligations to one another in this crisis. He pointed out that our first duty is the care for and of those around us. We need to put our longing for church community in the context of what harm it could cause to those whom we love and then to the broader communities around us.

In the opening verses of Matthew 10, Jesus sends his disciples to find and heal the sick. That takes precedence over preaching the Word. In the Age of Pandemic, our considerations need to be made in light of both faith and science, of our immediate beloved community and the broader reaches of our interactions with the world.  Early church, very primitive church, took place in the home. We can find our roots that way as well as in pews in our buildings. God is where the heart is. The rest is for deliberation. 

We hope the guidelines are useful. We know your good sense will help you find your individual and collective ways forward.

In addition, many of our member denominations have issued guidance and protocols for reopening and strongly encourage congregations to err on the side of compassion and safety.  For example, the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church provides the following guidelines:

New Local Church Protocols for Preschools and Drive-in church gatherings

As new cases of coronavirus and deaths as a result of COVID-19 begin to decline in Nevada and California shelter in place restrictions are beginning to ease in phases. As we venture out with masks and hand sanitizer into our new normal, the Conference staff has been preparing new protocols for local churches so that as we begin to gather we continue to protect our faith family.

Many churches have wanted to take advantage of gathering for a 'drive in' worship in which folks gather in the church or alternate parking lot and stay in their cars. This may sound simple yet there are still necessary precautions to consider that keep folks safe and protected.

The drive-in protocol is posted on the conference coronavirus page. Click here to access the protocol.

Blessed be.

Dear Friends:

One of the scariest parts of being in lockdown to fight the coronoavirus in California is the possible lack of access to food. This is particularly hard for elders with limited mobility and incomes. Deliveries are great, when they exist, but they cost much more and strain limited budgets.

Here are resources that have been established in various counties to provide three hot meals a day to eligible seniors through June 10 of this year.  Please share this information widely in your congregations and communities.  

We want to share this information from our allies at In Home Supportive Services with you in case you want to participate or know others who could benefit from the "Great Plates" program that supports local restaurants and seniors on home isolation due to COVID-19. Here are the numbers to call or consult: 
 
http://211.org/ (Put in Your Zip Code to Find Number to Call)
 
L.A. County Joins Great Plates: here
 
Sacramento Zip Codes Call:
Dial 2-1-1
Or Toll-Free (800) 500-4931 Or Alternate (916) 498-1000
 
Sonoma County Zip Codes Call:
2-1-1
Or toll-free (800) 273-6222 or Text Your Zip Code to 898-211
 
Your income must be less than $74,900 to participate.
 
See main link & PDF: here
 
Main Link to All Senior Food and Other Programs:  Here  

We hope these resources will help you help others.

Stay safe.  Wash your hands!

Dear Friends,

For many years California Council of Churches and California Church IMPACT worked with an outstanding organization, the Applied Research Center. Originally based in Oakland, CA, they created several powerful programs to examine racism in our nation particularly in California.  We found their work to be of the highest standards as they examined legislative voting records, bias in our state budget and bills, and followed factors in our society that too often barred both equity and equality for communities of color.. 

Renamed Race Forward their programs have become truly national in scope. We now invite you to explore one of their new webinars looking at racism as a factor in how our nation is responding to the coronavirus pandemic, and how the pandemic is revealing the racism that already exists.

Please feel invited to share their work May 8 in the first of a series of webinars on this important topic.  Whether your concern is the unduly high mortality of Black and Brown people dying from COVID 19 or the rise of anti Asian hate crimes, these webinars hold important information for those of us dedicated to justice in our world.

To learn more please go here  We think you will find their in-depth analysis as helpful as we always have. 

Please stay safe and practice the best in pandemic prevention and in the creation of a humane society.

Thank you!

Dear Friends,

We are posting a statement from our former Council of Churches board member, Rev. Dr. Art Cribbs, Jr.  We found it insightful and want to share it with you.

 An Open Message:

Don't let the worst of us lead the rest of us!   

Nobody is a lesser or worse person than any other person, but, some of us are worse in our thinking.  When it comes to the pandemic and all the opinions and protests expressed across the nation along with pronouncements emanating from the White House, we are being bombarded with poor thinking broadcast through a mega microphone captured on radio, television, and across the Internet.  We need sound and sane leadership.  No compromise!  We can ill-afford to follow leadership that is laden with poor judgment and inexperience.

We need a commitment to pay close attention to the medical scientists who are NOT obligated to any political party or person.  We need to heed the directives of medical scientists whose lives are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of every person.  We don't need to follow the advice and misdirection of politicians or corporate business heads who place a higher value on money, the bottomline, and the economy than on the quality of our lives, Mother Nature, and the welfare of every person on Earth.  We need leadership dedicated to the restoration and preservation of our ecology, including air, water, and soil.

We are witnessing a public display of lesser minds in powerful positions.  On the one hand we need to pray for sound leadership rooted in compassion and good judgment.  On the other hand, we need to discern the voices and seek the truth without compromise.

This is the time when the past is behind us, the future is ahead of us, and only now is what we have and when we are living with reality.

Spread knowledge, compassion, love, and kindness.  Be gentle and stay safe!

Committed to Faithfulness,
​
Arthur 

Rev. Dr. Arthur Lawrence Cribbs, Jr.
Pastor
Los Angeles Filipino American UCC
Ethics Instructor for Law Enforcement Executives
California Department of Justice
Executive Director Emeritus
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
Former Broadcast News Director and Journalist

Dear Friends,

Despite the continuing gloom from being locked down and at risk of serious illness, today had two bright spots.

The Paycheck Protection Plan that was supposed to offer small businesses loans that became grants when used to help employees, has been fully funded for a second time.  Despite the abuses of the first round - money given to large corporations rather than small businesses and non profits - this round seems as if it will actually help us and our communities.  Never say never, but the public outcry was sufficient that several large firms gave their money back.  Your voice does matter here.

If you have an application in or need to start one, it will be through your bank or (I'm unsure of this, sorry) credit union.  They will have the applications and will walk you through them.  Remember, if the money goes to your employees, the loan converts to a grant. And that is very good news!

Second good bit of news is that the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act at this point by authorizing (demanding, but we're being polite) that the federal government pay insurers for the coverage they provided the last few years for people with pre-existing conditions.  The petitioners who wish ACA to die claimed Congress had ended ACA. That is not actually true, and the justices upheld the continued operation of the ACA.  That's particularly good news for states that continued to enroll and support their residents. It means the states, already stressed from covering pandemic costs, will not have to pay insurance companies themselves.

Small steps. But big ones in their way. 

Take heart from success.  It's too easy to miss it these days!

But still - wash your hands.

Peace.