“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends"- John 15:12-13
Dear St. Andrew's,
The Christian life is one of sacrifice. While none of us hope to be called to make as great a sacrifice as Christ, we do find ourselves sacrificing for our spouses, for our children, for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and for our neighbors in our community on a daily basis. Sometimes we sacrifice our time, sometimes our wants or desires, but any way you slice it, sacrifice is uncomfortable... and absolutely part of our call as Christians.
Today, I am asking you to make a sacrifice. The CDC has released updated guidance for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Regardless of vaccination status, the CDC recommends masking in indoor situations if you are in a county currently experiencing substantial or high transmission. At a weekly positivity rate of 25.7%, higher than even before vaccinations were available, Duval County is currently on the CDC's High Transmission list.
As such, we will be re-implementing some of our Covid-19 guidelines.
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Masks will be required in all indoor spaces. If you need a mask, one will be provided for you.
- We will be returning to communion in one form - the bread.
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As always, whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, if you are sick or feel unwell, please watch from home. Our virtual service is still online every Sunday.
I am disappointed we again have to return to these precautions, but I am even more deeply grieved about the overwhelming number of cases and deaths we are currently seeing in this county, our home. As of yesterday, Baptist Health was reporting over 400 Covid-19 patients, well above the number of patients they've had during the earlier peaks, with 18 of those being children. As of July 21st, 44% of those hospitalized this month were aged 40 or younger. And as of today, Jacksonville hospitals, are reporting that well over 97% of their Covid-19 patients are unvaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, vaccine hesitant, or have questions, please visit with your doctor and/or see these articles from Baptist Health. Please pray about it. Please consider the children and immunocompromised adults in your life who cannot be vaccinated. And frankly, please consider your poor priest who does not want to preside over your funeral any time soon.
As much as it pains me to reintroduce these precautions, these are small sacrifices for the safety of our brothers and sisters. As we hear in Ecclesiastes, "For everything there is a season," and for us right now, this is a season of mask wearing, hand washing, and loving our neighbor well.
God's Peace,
Mtr. Lisa Meirow+
