1/13/2022

1/13/2022

Dear Friends in Christ,

NOTE: The following contains new guidelines for worship during COVID. Please read carefully.

Yesterday the task force previously-known-as-regathering and now titled COVID, met to discuss the new upsurge of the coronavirus due to the omicron variant. This is what we decided.

We will continue to meet for in-person worship at this time. To keep everyone as safe as possible we are instituting some changes based on county, CDC, and diocesan recommendations. We also cannot impress upon you enough the importance of staying home if you feel unwell.

1. As of January 23rd we will begin requiring people to be vaccinated in order to attend worship. The lag is to allow people to provide their proof of vaccination. I have already received this proof from many of you, and I will be emailing everyone else individually to ask for proof of vaccination. If someone shows up who is not vaccinated or cannot prove it, we will provide them with the link to join us on zoom.

2. We are requiring everyone to wear KN95 masks or better for worship. Beginning in a couple of weeks we will have KN95 masks available for people who do not have one. In the meantime we are asking people to double mask with a paper mask (available at church) if they are wearing a cloth mask.

3. We are asking people to use hand sanitizer (provided) when entering the church, and before receiving communion.

4. There will be no social gatherings allowed in the parish hall.

5. We will continue to have the doors and windows open for good ventilation. Dress warmly!

6. We will be taking note of everyone who attends in-person worship for contact tracing.

These practices are the best way we know to keep everyone as safe as possible. However, this is a particularly persistent variant. We recognize that no one is completely protected when in the company of others. Therefore, we are asking each of you to do whatever you need to do to minimize the risk to an acceptable comfort level for yourselves. If you feel more protected staying home that is perfectly understandable. We will continue to offer worship on zoom for as long as we need to.

There is scriptural precedent for this. The story of the people of Israel is one of a people who entered into a covenant with God that put the community above individual needs. Wearing a mask, washing your hands and using hand sanitizer, staying home if you feel unwell, and above all getting vaccinated and boosted, are all behaviors that not only protect ourselves but demonstrate care for each other and for the world God created. Jesus himself told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We all want to stay healthy and well, safe from this virus, while living our lives as best we can, and so we are called to provide that same level of concern for each other and for the community as a whole.

I know that you all care deeply about doing the right thing, and have demonstrated your wiliness to sacrifice for each other and for Saint Anna’s. I appreciate your cooperation and consideration so much. Hopefully one day we will be able to return to something we

understand as normal. Until then. Let us follow the example of the one we call Lord and Savior and take care of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Jane