Greetings Dear Church,
Grace, Peace, and Mercy are yours from the Triune God. Amen. As I mentioned this week, I have an abundance of thanks to give for the invaluable time of parental leave you’ve afforded my family and I. Emmett, August, Becky, and I are doing great, and the boys are growing, so fast! The experiences had in these last eight weeks will remain for a lifetime. Thank you.
We are approaching an anniversary I’d rather not celebrate, however. We are nearly two whole years into living life alongside the COVID-19 Pandemic and are still continuously figuring out how to live and navigate forward with it. From the beginning, we have followed the litany of guidance from all levels of governance and health officials; we continue to do so and will continue to do so.
As you have most likely seen, Governor Pritzker’s plan to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement effective today, Monday, February 28th. Combined with the CDC recommendation of “Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk” where community risk level is low (DuPage County is currently low), and how local school districts are implementing these guidelines, the Council has decided to transition LCM from masks required for indoor activities to masks recommended but not required beginning Monday, February 28th.
As we at LCM have followed guidelines in this manner from day one, there hasn’t been a case of COVID-19 that has been traced back as spread from any activity here. That tells me that the decisions we’ve made and the actions we’ve taken have been effective. Thank you for helping to make that so.
We will continue to do all in our abilities to ensure that our public worship is open and safe for all. You are welcome here. But the good news of God, which we celebrate and tell, demands that we as individuals work towards the greater good and maintain an open and welcoming community. Part of that work is to ensure that you take any necessary precautions to protect the most vulnerable around us. Quite simply, it is the way we can show our neighbor love and care.
With this change in mandate, there are those who can’t yet receive or have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. It is up to us to maintain a safe and welcoming worship environment. Specifically, I greatly desire for August and now Emmett to continue their presence in worship and for any child to feel safe coming to worship. But for that to be the case, we need to provide a safe, loving, and caring worship environment. We can most clearly do so by being honest with one another, distancing yourself if you are sick, and wearing a mask if you have been compromised.
I know that all of this has been an unbearably long and arduous road. And with all that said, I remain as grateful as ever for you, our congregation, and our community. You have continued to show strength, grace, and compassion amidst one of the most strenuous events of our lifetime. Thank you for continuing to answer the gospel’s call to service and for saying, “Yes, we will.”
God’s Peace & Blessings,
Pastor Dave