COVID-19 Masking Impacts on St. Francis

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control redesignated Brazos County as Substantial Risk for community transmission of COVID-19.  The Vestry discussed this redesignation at our July 25th meeting and how we can best balance worship safety and comfort.  The Vestry decided that we are going to try a hybrid version of masking.  Unvaccinated persons are still required to wear a mask.  If you have been vaccinated, and you are in your socially-distanced seat or standing at your seat during worship, masking remains a personal decision and is not required.  This includes the choir, anyone providing Communion Meditation and lay readers/intercessors while at the pulpit.  When not at your seat and inside the church, particularly before and after the worship service, masks are required for everyone.  As always, fellowship opportunities are requested to occur outside St. Francis to promote safer interaction.  Church signage is being updated to reflect this change.
It is not really much of a change from what we have been doing, we just need to be more diligent about social distancing and mask use during this surge.  The Vestry is closely monitoring this situation and will make adjustments to the mask policy as conditions change.  The Vestry continues to pray that this surge is temporary and that this inconvenience can be removed as soon as possible.

Daniel Rudge
Senior Warden