Dear Members and Friends of Westminster:
New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) significantly eased mask recommendations as part of updated guidance for dealing with COVID-19. Their new metric indicates Chester County is in the “Moderate” community level, so the Task Force on Campus Use recommends, and Session has approved the following:
- Change signs on facility doors from “Masks Strongly Recommended” to “Masks Optional.” For those who are more comfortable wearing a mask during in-person worship or gatherings in the building, please wear one. For those who would prefer not to wear a mask, it is not required. If you are still uncomfortable with in-person worship, we continue to offer remote options for both 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.
- People at high risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
- Vaccinated choir members can sing without masks if they elect to do so.
- Food service can start in the facility beginning March 1; e.g. funeral luncheons, outside groups catering, youth snacks, etc.
- Open Café 10 West on Sunday, March 6th.
- Everyone should be mindful that members and visitors in high risk categories remain vulnerable, and that vaccination/boosters, along with remaining home if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19, will decrease vulnerability to COVID-19 and increase our ability to welcome all.
- For your information, our KidsConnect and childcare leaders have elected to be masked out of consideration for the safety of our youngest members, some of whom are unable to be vaccinated. If other children want to mask out of similar consideration that is fine, but masking will not be required.
We know that for some this is welcome news. For others it may be a cause of concern or worry. And there may be many who are somewhere in between. Whatever your response to these changes, let us continue to grant each other grace and rejoice in our common mission as a congregation. Whether you worship, learn or serve online or in-person, we are blessed to be one church of disciples following Jesus Christ together.
As this coming Sunday (March 6) is the first Sunday of the month, we will be celebrating the sacrament of communion. For the first time in two years we will invite members to come forward to receive the elements by intinction. Those serving the elements will be masked. We will also have baskets of pre-packaged communion available up front if you prefer to receive the elements that way.
We are looking forward to seeing more and more of you in worship!
-Don
