In-Person Gatherings
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by Rev. Eric Folkerth
At their Monday meeting, Kessler Park’s Trustees voted to move toward a reopening of our building, with the caveat of urging everyone who attends events at KPUMC to follow CDC guidance.
Some of you are no doubt cheered by this news.
Perhaps some of you are also wary.
As with the beginning of this pandemic more than a year ago, these months of opening back up have also been filled with confusing advice and political intrigue. So, let’s be sure we understand the science behind this decision by our Trustees because we now have several months of data not just from clinical trials, but also from the real-world experience of all of us who are vaccinated.
First, as you hopefully have heard, many of those vaccinated are shown to be 95 percent safe from contracting COVID. Additionally, those vaccinated are shown to be less likely to transmit the disease to others. And, finally, those vaccinated —should they transmit any disease— appear to spread a much less lethal version of the virus.
All this is incredibly good news, based on the real-world experience of the millions of us who are already vaccinated.
There’s one other data-point that we should all be aware of that is specific to our neighborhood. Our church’s zip code (75208) has exceeded the 80% vaccination rate!
EIGHTY percent!
Way to go, Kessler Park neighbors!
(It should not go unnoticed that having Methodist Hospital in our zip code no doubt greatly helped us achieve this milestone…)
Taken together, these science-based facts have led our Trustees to approve the opening of our building. Our worship will be indoors and many regular meetings may well resume in-person.
Please note: We are making plans such that every event sponsored by our church (worship and meetings) will continue to be live-streamed for the foreseeable future. It could be that some committees and small groups choose to remain totally virtual for now. Our weekly support groups (AA, for example) will each decide on their own when they will return to “in person.”
The Trustees discussed, for example, some combination of “totally virtual” and “in person” meetings. It might be some of our groups only meet in person every-other-month, for example. Some may not meet in person for a while yet. We’re going to leave it to each group to make their own decisions.
Those who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks, but most obviously still may if they wish. Those who are not vaccinated are asked to mask, or stay home. But, more than this, anyone not yet vaccinated, we are strongly urging you to do so!
For now, the Trustees are still asking us all to maintain family-member group distance in worship. They have arranged the seat cushions in the sanctuary in a way that should help us to do this easily, by simply sitting on the cushioned parts of the pews and avoiding sitting on the bare wood.
Friends, it’s a lot to take in.
As I said at the start, no doubt some of you are cheered by this, and some are wary. I’ve said for months now that our primary goal would be to “do no harm,” and to also follow the science. That’s what we’ve been doing for all these months; or, what we’ve tried to do. And I think that’s what we’re doing now.
Another reality check.
We’re about to hit the summer season. And, realistically, our attendance will be down. (I know, I’m not supposed to admit that to you…) So, this should also help us as we ease back to “in person.”
One thing I will absolutely continue to insist upon: Let’s please be kind to everyone, regardless of their own personal decisions.
No one should be shamed for wearing a mask, or not wearing one.
No one should be shamed for staying home, or for wanting to meet in person.
Let’s continue to show kindness and grace to everyone…the same kindness and grace you've all manifested to each other for all these many months.
Given this week’s rain, it’s very likely that we’ll worship indoors (despite having previously announced we’d be outdoors…) and it’s likely that our “picnic” *may* be in the Fellowship Hall. Either way, know that you are welcome and invited to both events. (It’s BYO-Food for the picnic…)
Finally, I’ll share how great it was to see our High School Seniors and their families on Senior Sunday. We had several families that hadn’t been with us since the pandemic began.
And at least one person said to me, “I hadn’t realized how much I missed this until I walked back in the door.”
I’m going to bet that will be the case for many more of you in the coming weeks.
We know we won’t see all of your faces all at once.
But just know that it will be such a joy when we do.
We’ve missed you all.
Grace and Peace,
Eric Folkerth