Dear People of St. James’,
As of this week, we are back in Stage 3 by Austin Public Health’s risk measures, which are primarily based on hospitalizations. You can see that Travis County, like many parts of the country, has experienced a fairly quick uptick in cases and hospitalizations in the past couple of weeks.
The good news is that a tremendous percentage of our congregation is fully vaccinated, and the vaccines have been good at thwarting even this COVID-strain, especially moderate and serious illness due to COVID. However, we always want to shape our common life in ways that welcome and create safe space for the most vulnerable in our community. So, remembering that children under the age of 12 do not yet have access to the vaccine, and that the immunocompromised might desire to be more circumspect about contact, we are pumping the brakes on taking further steps to ease COVID-related precautions.
We will continue to ask everyone above the age of 2 to mask during public worship services, and we will continue to reduce contact with high-touch items (like offertory plates), and receive communion in one kind, bread alone. We will also continue to have sections for those who would like to remain socially distanced. Our practices for outreach and Christian formation gatherings will stay the same for the time being, but we will keep paying attention.
I know masking is a hassle, but it seems a small price to pay to be together in order to strengthen each other’s hope, to welcome each person to the table, to share in struggles and joys, and to give thanks through the Spirit that brings us into community with each other and with God.
The Vestry and I will strive to keep you updated about any changes.
Peace,
Rev. Eileen
