Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
The recent recommendations of the CDC concerning wearing of masks indoors for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people has prompted the question: Do I have to wear a mask at St. James?
Since the opening days of the pandemic, St. James has followed the wisdom and guidance of national and state health officials. We have allowed the science, not the politics, of virus transmission to inform our congregational response. On a daily basis, our Return-to-In-Person Ministry Team carefully monitors virus stats and public health recommendations. Their charge is to keep us as safe as we can be while moving forwards in engaging ministry. I continue to appreciate their diligence, skill, and discernment.
So do we have to wear masks or not?
The answer is that we are ENCOURAGING the use of mask-wearing as we gather indoors for all ministry including worship whenever the community transmission risk is high or substantial in either Scott or Dakota County. Beautifully handmade masks are available on a table as soon as you enter the narthex. They are there for the taking and the using.
Since both Scott and Dakota Counties are currently in the substantial category of community transmission risk, I have started to wear a mask in worship. I remove the mask to preach and preside because, in both situations, I am at a significant distance away from others at those times (2 to 3 times the social distancing recommendation).
Why am I doing that?
The first reason is that it is important to lead by example. I want to encourage others to pay attention to and follow the CDC recommendations for the overall health of our community. Even though I am vaccinated and the risk of being hospitalized or dying from Covid is highly unlikely, there are folks in our community that remain at substantial risk of infection. I am thinking of the children, those who can’t get the vaccination because of health reasons, those whose immune systems are compromised, and those who choose to remain unvaccinated. The mask on my face is out of love for them. I don’t want them to get sick, hospitalized, or die from this deadly disease.
Masks are not the sole answer to ending the pandemic. But, they offer a layer of protection that delays transmission, allowing more time for vaccination efforts to take effect. Along with wearing a mask, I encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Vaccination is for the good of the whole community as it will push away the overall threat of covid.
Whether you wear a mask or not this coming Sunday in worship at St. James is your choice. That said, I do encourage you to join me in donning one of the colorful masks that we are making available to you (these are available not only in the narthex but also in a bin outside Door C of the church so you can pick one up at any time).
Whatever your design, I look forward to greeting you in worship in the parking lot (8:00 a.m.), in-person inside the sanctuary and live-streaming (9:30 a.m.).
In Christ,
Pastor Walt