St. Mark SMARTER Stuff

 Friends, 

 

Today’s missive is about two things: Our COVID policy and our forthcoming Text Study. 

 

This week, following a motion by our Health Ministries Commission, the Session voted to continue the COVID policy at St. Mark that is currently in place. The policy requires masks for those who have been unvaccinated and recommends but does not require masking for those who have been vaccinated. Of course, there is no perfectly right answer to this challenge. You can enter a medical plaza and facemasks are required. Then, you can go into a restaurant and see your doctor there without a mask. It’s not hypocrisy. It is simply that each decision-making body is looking at the science and then making choices based on a balance between the data, the context, and the various states of mind at play. Your Session is one of those decision-making bodies, listening to our health team as well as concerns that others have, and making the best decision we can. Thank you all for understanding that this is not an exact process and for bearing with it. 

 

One thing I’ve really appreciated lately is our Parish Nurse Ann Scott’s acronym of being SMARTER: Shots, Masks, Awareness, Reaction, Testing, Education and RX (treatment). Significantly, the Session’s decision is to invite you to be the one who ultimately decides your best way of ensuring that others are safe. For the Session to offer you that power means that they trust in the common sense and good will of each of our members and guests. I really appreciate their decision-making process and I hope you do as well. 

 

Second thing: Many of you have reached out with interest in participating in our Text Study that begins in September. The first 30-minute video will go up on Monday, September 5 (Labor Day), with the first discussion following on Wednesday, September 7 at 9:30 AM in the Bonhoeffer Room. We will be taking a detailed look at the first portion of Luke’s gospel all the way through our Advent season. I will give out a full schedule of each week’s scripture readings and theme in our first class and email it to those who are on the list. 

 

I am combining the previous email list that we have been using, and adding some of you who have contacted me since last Friday. So, again, if you want to be added to the email list that will alert you to when the videos are ready for viewing, as well as how to view them, please drop me a note here.

 

Third thing (Bonus!): I cannot tell you how delightful it is for each of us when someone finally feels free to return to gathered worship after an extended time away during the pandemic. It is wonderful to see you and I hope you know that. And, if you are still hesitating on making your way back, please remember that when you are ready to do so, we are ready to welcome you with open arms safe gestures of welcome. And we are anxious for you to meet the nine new members that we have received into our church, along with their children, over the last few weeks. 

 

Mark of St. Mark