MASKS OPTIONAL as of 2/28
Now that the City of Chicago has removed its indoor mask requirement, St. Andrew’s ministry council has decided that masks will be optional for all attendees at St. Andrew
(https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/reopening-chicago.html#reopeningmetrics )
while at church and/or to keep some physical distance from others. We recognize and respect that some may wish to continue wearing masks. We have ample space in our church building (including our spacious balcony)
for everyone who comes to spread out as much as they would like; so, we hope that everyone will feel comfortable and confident coming to church for worship. Please also see the “Encouragement to all to come to church” note below. … Note from Pastor Gawel “I plan not to wear a mask now in general. However, I would be glad to wear a mask when I interact with you if you would like me to. Just let me know.”
ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL TO COME TO CHURCH: updated 4/8/22
From Pastor Gawel: “I do not intend to pressure you into getting a vaccine or booster if you’re not personally comfortable with it. However, I wanted to share the following information as an encouragement to those who have already been vaccinated, and further information below for those who have previously recovered from Covid.”The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says (as of Feb. 25, 2022): “COVID 19-vaccines are effective and can lower your risk of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines also help prevent serious illness and death in children and adults even if they do get COVID-19. Recent data suggest COVID-19 vaccines become less effective at preventing infection or severe illness over time, especially for people ages 65 years and older. This is why booster shots are recommended […]. However, even as the vaccine’s ability to prevent infection decreases with time, COVID-19 vaccination continues to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death when people become infected with COVID-19” (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine- benefits.html ).
As you can see from these statements, the public health experts at the CDC have a high level of confidence in the protection against severe illness that is provided by the vaccines. Of course, we place our ultimate trust and confidence in God for protection and care (see Psalm 91, etc.). We also use the gift of human reason that God has given to us to evaluate evidence and the recommendations of experts and to assess personal risk and take reasonable precautions.
Additionally, the CDC has also reported data confirming that the immunity resulting from prior Covid infection is also very robust on average. See this study: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7104e1.htm , especially the line-graph at the bottom of the webpage. Additional information from the CDC on this subject can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science- briefs/vaccine-induced-immunity.html . It is very important to meet together in person for worship and to receive the Lord’s Supper together (see Hebrews 10:24-25, etc.). Especially if you are vaccinated and/or have previously had Covid, you can have a high degree of confidence that you can attend worship in church safely. And, given the vast size of our church building, which allows ample space to spread out, including our spacious balcony, and given the drastically lower rates of new Covid cases and hospitalizations in Chicago compared to previous months (see data here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/latest- data.html), everyone can feel safe attending worship in church now, regardless of vaccination or immunity status.
Please give prayerful consideration to this information, to the importance of worshiping together in person, and to God’s promise of protection and care, and please plan to come to worship in church soon.