Updated Guidelines and Children’s Discipleship
Yesterday city officials made an announcement. Essentially they're matching the statewide lift on indoor masking as well as lifting vaccination requirements for many indoor spaces. While these guidelines continue to avoid direct language and recommendations for "houses of worship" our staff, elders, and deacons agree these latest changes (set to take effect February 28th) bear direct implications for our gatherings.
What's this mean for us?
Starting Sunday, March 13th we will no longer require masking for vaccinated people in the main worship gathering. However we will ask everyone participating in children's discipleship to wear a mask during class (this includes children and volunteers). We realize there may be some additional questions to this approach, please see some FAQs below or feel free to email one of our elders or deacons to find out more.
What's the latest with children's discipleship?
After taking some time to settle back into in-person gatherings, reconnect with volunteers, and welcome Rachel to our team (!!) ... we're ready to relaunch our Sunday morning kid's class. Starting Sunday, March 13th our children will be dismissed after communion (before the sermon) to grow in the gospel and worship God together. As mentioned above, vaccinated children do not have to wear a mask during the main gathering, but when they transition to their class time we're asking that everyone wear a mask.
As always these changes are subject to augmentation on a daily basis. Yet we are hopeful and remain prayerful that the Lord is guiding us and protecting us through it all.
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FAQ's
Why wait until March 13th if the mask requirement ends February 28th? We want to provide ample time for this important change to be communicated and understood by our whole church family. Everyone's situation and story is different and so when we make a change like this we don't want to shift as quickly as possible, but care for everyone as best as possible. It's also the difference of one Sunday gathering, so it seems well within reason to take our time.
Why can't unvaccinated people stop wearing masks? The threat of the virus is still very real and studies show that unvaccinated people are particularly vulnerable. And while the city and state are no longer making vaccination distinctions in some of their recommendations, churches are unique gatherings that share characteristics with schools, restaurants, trains, and office spaces. Considering all these nuances we believe it's best for unvaccinated people to remain masked at church.
Why does everyone have to wear a mask in the children's class? Two reasons. The one remaining age group which is unable to get vaccinated are children under five. Many of our children are within this age range. Additionally the space in which our children gather is poorly ventilated, so additional measures are prudent in order to gather as safely as possible.
What's this mean for groups? In our last update we left in-person group meetings up to the group leaders. With smaller numbers and uniqueness throughout we found this to be a life-giving approach. Similarly then we're leaving masking expectations in groups up to group leaders. However, as with our Sunday gatherings, we'd recommend unvaccinated people remain masked during in-person group time.
