Yesterday the CDC released “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People” which can be found at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

My biggest takeaway is that for our outdoor worship services, if you have been vaccinated, they feel it’s safe to not wear a mask (except in “large” gatherings.) I will probably continue to do so during the time of communion distribution, but forgo it for the other parts of the service. Of course, I’m not sitting near anyone so your choice may differ. And I expect that dynamic to continue for the foreseeable future.

Different contexts call for different responses. Everyone has their own comfort threshold and many have different personal or home situations to also consider. I’m not sure if my Ethics Professor taught me this, or I just heard it, but I believe he said that a Lutheran Ethic is rooted in “How does my action/inaction affect my neighbor?” Notice this isn’t, “What do I want to do?” or “What do others tell me I should do?” It’s a question I have to ponder as to how my action/inaction expresses love towards my neighbor. Compound that with God’s clear words through the prophets and the addendum could well be, “…especially my neighbors who are most vulnerable.”

It has been great gathering for worship outdoors and this past weekend to meet a few people who have connected with University Lutheran these last fourteen months through our online worship and devotions. This Sunday May 2 we will begin the process of re-introducing people into the sanctuary by having up to 30 people present during the 9 AM online service. We emailed the link to sign up this past Monday afternoon and as of Wednesday morning at 8 AM 10 of the 30 slots had been reserved. If you are interested (masks are required, we’ll spread out in the sanctuary and not have in person singing just yet) then follow this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c45acaf28a0fec34-sunday

If you have any questions or problems with Signup genius please contact me. If the 30 spaces are filled, please let me know and I’ll make sure that you are signed up for May 9. You can text or call me at 843-304-5664 or email me at [email protected]. In the meantime, we continue to try and be creative in expressing our love for God and our neighbor.

God’s peace & hope,

Pastor Jon