01.14.2022

On my way home from work yesterday, I was listening to the radio and heard the most recent numbers regarding the surge of Covid-19 infections.  The news was sobering.  At the present moment, Minnesota is at the highest level that it has been all year for infections. As I am confident you have heard, researchers are finding that the Omicron variant of the virus is much more contagious, albeit seemingly less deadly, than the other variants through which the world has suffered.  Even if one is vaccinated, the risk of becoming infected is extremely high at the present time.

Discerning a proper course forward for our parish family has been challenging.  Please know that we are doing the best we are able to attend to the physical safety of each individual while also keeping our faith community healthy.  As you know, the manner in which we worship in church necessarily puts people at risk of exposure and the decision whether or not to keep worshipping in person is a difficult one. 

Upon receiving the counsel of many, I have made the decision to keep worshipping in person at the present time.  We will do so, however, with the following measures in place:

• We will wear masks at all times while inside the church building.
• Households will distance themselves as much as possible in the pews.
• There will be no congregational singing and the choir will sing with masks.
• There will continue to be no coffee/fellowship time either prior to or following our worship.
• All non-worship parish meetings are encouraged to gather online rather than in-person.

I realize that some of you would prefer that we offer no in-person gatherings at all at the church while others would prefer that we relax the safety measures that we have felt important to impose.  The strategy that we are employing is clearly one of compromise that is our best attempt to do what we are called to do in our baptisms… to respect the dignity of all.  As we continue to monitor the situation, our plan may once again be altered. I appeal to your patience and persistence as we move forward.  

I have said this so many times, but it bears repeating many more…. we are not alone. The God who has spent and promises to spend eternity in faithfulness to us and to all of creation walks with us.  Faith is holding to this truth.  And faith is living this truth by walking with each other in these difficult days.  

So, be patient. Be persistent. Stay connected to each other. Keep praying for each other and for the world. Take time to be quiet and still and know that God is with us. This is a grueling marathon of a journey, but we’ve got this. Through the power of the living, loving, liberating God, we’ve got this.  

~Father Art