Mask Off, Mask On
19 May 2021
Graduation festivities abound these days. In fact, we celebrate “Senior Sunday” at COS this weekend as part of our Pentecost Festival. While everyone rejoices at the ceremony, the graduates’ timelines vary. At the collegiate level, some used four years to finish course work while others maybe five or six. If your last name was Ables or Andersons, you walked across the stage to shake the university president’s hand and receive your diploma a lot sooner than all of us waiting in the W (Wiese), X, Y and Z section! Despite the variety of timelines, we all rejoiced for and with each other.
- Same is true for our mask situations these days. Last week, our national leaders shared science-based recommendations which modify protocols for mask-wearing as our whole country and world work together to emerge safely from the Covid pandemic. Our staff and council have affirmed adopting and applying those CDC guidelines for usage at Christ Our Shepherd, beginning this weekend:
- If you are vaccinated, you do not have to wear a mask on campus.
- If you are not yet vaccinated, we ask and expect you to wear a mask for your safety and that of others.
- Social distancing will be maintained in our seating strategy in love and honor of those not yet vaccinated.
- As Christians, we are people of honor, truth, and love of neighbor. So, while we will not be asking for vaccination verification, we simply trust all worshipers to play by the rules. In the 8th Commandment, God calls us to tell the truth in word and deed, to not bear false witness against our neighbors, so we trust that all those not yet vaccinated will honor the guidelines.
- David Beecher reminds us that singing is one of most dangerous ways to spread the virus, so again, if you are not vaccinated, we ask you to wear a mask before participating in worship.
- These modifications begin this weekend.
We affirm the prayerful discernment and decision making for all our faith family members at COS. Some families have children, special health situations, or still have not had a chance to be vaccinated. So, we respect and honor their decision to keep wearing masks. Others are fully vaccinated and struggle with talking or reading with glasses and masks. Likewise, we respect and honor their decision to participate safely in our faith community with masks off. Just as these new CDC guidelines are being debated at the national level, we know these corresponding new COS guidelines might be received with different emotions and opinions.
On behalf of council and staff, let me emphasize a huge word of gratitude for the love, grace, and mutual respect and support, demonstrated by all COS worshipers for each other throughout this challenging year. Well done! Just like those graduates, the details of our timetables might vary just a bit. But we are on course to celebrate and move into a bright future . . . together!
Moving forward with Jesus and you,
Pastor Fritz