Courtesy Photo Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, has helped put together a list of liturgical guidelines to prevent the spread of the seasonal flu and H1NI virus.

Plastic containers of anti-bacterial lotion can be found all over the church, said the Rev. Andy Aaron, pastor at St. Timothy's.

"At a Catholic service, maybe more than at other religious services, there is a lot of sharing of food and shaking of hands," Aaron said. "We have a container up on the altar for myself and our Eucharistic ministers. Shaking hands as a sign of peace, also at Communion time, is a part of a Catholic service as well. And, of course, we have greeters at the door -- so we also have plastic anti-bacterial tubs around the church."

The new practice, which began as the early flu season arrived, is in line with liturgical guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese of Baltimore to the deal with concerns over possible flu infection during Holy Communion.

Many hands also touch the chalice, in which the blessed wine is served to Catholics at Mass, and Aaron said an extra effort is being made to clean everything carefully after each service. Similar to other local churches, Aaron said, parishioners who are sick or not comfortable with shaking hands during this flu season are encouraged to nod or smile as a greeting.

"And if people aren't feeling well, they should stay home," Aaron said.

St. Timothy's and other local churches have included reminders, general guidelines in their weekly newsletters for parishioners and their families, about preventing the spread of the flu.

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland set forth similar liturgical guidelines last spring on their website when concern over the H1NI virus surfaced. The Episcopal Diocese liturgical guidelines remind clergy to wash their hands and consider using an anti-bacterial gel. Chalice bearers are to "be sure to wipe the rim of the cup and turn it after every person is served."

According to the liturgical guidelines on the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland's website, "medical experts agree that the danger of transmitting communicable diseases by sharing the chalice is negligible. History has borne this out and we still highly encourage this ancient liturgical practice."

However, the practice of intinction, dipping the bread into the cup, poses a greater threat, especially when the bread is handled with unwashed hands, and is therefore discouraged during this period by the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of Maryland, said he has regularly broken the "no hand-shaking" guidelines -- not that he's too worried.

"I go to different parishes every Sunday and, of course, people want to shake your hand," Sutton said. "Worse things happen. If people cough or sneeze and shake hands and then someone puts their hands in their eyes, they may get infected. But if people are careful and washing their hands often, it shouldn't be a problem."

Other churches are going a step further. St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Poolesville is scheduled to offer seasonal flu ($25) and pneumonia shots ($30) from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with Medicare Part B holders eligible for free vaccinations.

Many local churches offer nursery, day care and religious education for children, and clergy contacted for this story said they are encouraging parents to keep children presenting flu symptoms at home.

The Rev. Portia Hirschman, of St. James Episcopal Church in Mount Airy , recently returned from a six-week pilgrimage in Spain. She said that her church and the school rooms all have been equipped with anti-bacterial lotion.

Hirschman did not believe services or fellowship before or afterward would suffer this flu season because of concern over infection. Neither did Sutton.

"Absolutely not," said Sutton, noting he rarely gets sick and that clergy, overall, tend to be a healthy bunch. "People are not going to stop going to the post office, grocery store or movie theaters. It's the same kind of thing. If they are sick, they should stay at home, that's all."