A year of COVID. Where are we now?
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
It was on this day last year that I wrote to you saying we were going to temporarily close the doors of the church. As the world around us marks a year, so do we. I remember exactly where I was. And I remember agonizing over the decision. We didn't know what was happening. We had no idea how long this would go on. And I felt, and still feel, a sharp responsibility to keep our whole community safe.
A year later, even the weather seems to agree that things are shifting. As the sun stays with us, the days warm, and the season seems to want to change, we also know so much more about what's ahead. We know that cases numbers are coming down all over the state. We know that vaccinations are happening with good speed in Connecticut. And we're delighted that a lot of them are even happening on our campus, helping to keep our local community safe and move us forward into life together as quickly as possible.
I know that many of you are anxious for news of what's coming for us and when. I am, too. In fact, I don't think anyone could want more earnestly than I do to throw the doors open on this anniversary and to believe that all is well. However, we aren't quite there yet. While the Governor is preparing to loosen restrictions, we have to keep in mind that he is responding to the state as a whole. There are many pockets of the state where case numbers have declined almost to zero. That isn't so for us here in Wilton. While they are going down, we are still squarely in the red zone. And you might recall that this is the criteria the Bishops have been using to determine whether or not we can safely gather.
I am hopeful that Wilton will very soon find its way out of the red zone. And in the interim, we are waiting on new protocols from our Bishops and Diocesan leadership that will respond to the announcements the Governor made last week. This is an important puzzle piece for me and for the leadership as we chart a way forward. And the Bishops have assured us those protocols will be released sometime before 3/19. Even now, the Officers and I have had several conversations about what next steps might be and what might be possible. And the Vestry will discuss options at our next meeting so that the fullness of our elected leadership is able to weigh in. So, know that we are working and in process. As soon as there is more information to share, I'll be glad to share it.
I hope you'll keep in mind that thus far, what we've done has kept this community safe. No one has contracted the virus because of their participation in our life at St. Matt's. We have also been good citizens, contributing to the common good and helping to make it possible for schools and businesses to continue to be open. As Christians, this is a part of our living out our faith: a commitment to the health and wholeness of all our neighbors, a refusal to hurt or compromise the safety of anyone.
We will continue as we have begun, thoughtfully considering the health and safety of our whole community and making the best decisions we can with the information we have. We will move forward one step at a time. So we also must prepare ourselves (including me!) for the fact that as we make cautious steps forward, it will be quite some time before things feel normal again. There are a number of moving parts to keep in mind, moving parts I'm sure you're aware of. Like, for example, the fact that even vaccinated folks are able to carry and share the virus with others. Not everyone is vaccinated yet. There is still no plan to vaccinate our kids. And while most kids aren't experiencing difficult symptoms, there are some who are experiencing longterm effects. We have a responsibility to make sure that our life together, our worship, our activities, are safe and accessible to everyone. And we want to be a place of welcome, of generosity, which sometimes means we have to make choices for the sake of the whole that feel challenging. When it's safe for us to do so, all of us will need to be patient and flexible, adapting to what life looks like in a different reality and working together to follow safety protocols put in place to protect us all and especially the most vulnerable among us. And as always in our life together, we must be responsible to those who have authority over us and to the larger Body of Christ. This includes our Bishops, our Governor, and our local Health Department. This is our work and our identity as people who want to follow Jesus.
Despite the many challenges of this year, the distance and the isolation, I'm aware that there were also a great many good things that happened in the lives of our members and in the life of our community as a whole. I am proud of the good work we've done together, of relationships started, of connections deepened, of faith nurtured, Scripture explored, and foundations laid for the road ahead. We have accomplished so much in this last year despite the difficulties and obstacles. And together, we have come to this new place, this new season of hope, this new place of possibility that is just about to be upon us. God is good. And God always makes a way forward.
So, hear the good news: we're getting there. We really are. While I can't fling the doors open today, the time is coming for us to gather safely. I am confident there will be some small steps we can take soon. And in the meantime, I hope you'll continue to do all that you're doing to be careful, to contribute to the common good, to help bring cases in town down. And as this year unfolds, I hope you'll be ready to join us for worship, fellowship, mission projects, celebrations, efforts to welcome the community, and so much more. All of this is on its way. There is so much ahead of us. Thank you for all the ways you continue to be a part of our life and work.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector