August 10th Rector's Blog

Dear Parish Family:

As Paul preached to the Church in Ephesus, putting on the new self, (our new life in Christ) is not easy. Getting rid of the old self requires us to put away old, sinful ways. And Paul reminds us how to stay focused: To use one's gifts for the Church's benefit (4:7-13), to speak honestly and purely (4:25, 29), to do what the Spirit leads us to do (4:30), and to walk in love (5:2). The life Jesus shares with us comes with life sacrifices while keeping the Faith.

As a Vestry, we discussed last evening that we're going to be dealing with COVID-19 and its variants for the foreseeable future. Herd immunity is a challenge with a current 45% and now stagnant vaccination rate.

The CDC & DHEC recommend indoor masking for everyone in public settings, regardless of vaccination status, in areas with substantial and high transmission. Recent statewide data shows that, in the month of June, more than 90 percent of COVID-19 cases and deaths, and 86 percent of hospitalizations, were among individuals who were not fully vaccinated. The Recovery rate for SC is 95%.

Despite these statistics, I am encouraging three things for everyone to be mindful of starting this Sunday:
1) Wear masks indoors, and sanitize your hands frequently. (Masks and sanitization stations are provided)
2) Respectfully Social Distance, especially if you choose not to wear a mask. (Every other pew)
3) Clergy will take precautions (mask and gloves) in Administering Communion. Additionally, we will Administer the Sacrament in One-Kind only (wafer and no wine) for the foreseeable future.

The life of Christ reminds us that a shared life is a sacrificial life. I encourage everyone to join me in "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:20-21)

In His Love,
Rags+