A Letter from Pastor Don Regarding Reopening
Dear MAG Family,
After eighteen months apart we are looking forward to again being together in-person! Long before now, we had hoped that we would be back together with much more certainty than we have currently. But despite the uncertainties, we know that it is right for us to be returning to in-person services.
Many of us have been vaccinated, others have not. Many of us have resumed life as normal, while others of us are still, with valid reasons, very cautious. For Baltimore City, the mask mandate for all indoor gatherings remains in effect. Our children have returned to school, required to wear masks.
I want to highlight a few measures and precautions that we have taken:
- With the exception of door handles, we have endeavored to make everything touch-free throughout the church.
- We have automatic hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the foyer.
- Two of our largest areas of congestion — the foyer and the area outside the church doors — have been opened up so that we can have more space among ourselves.
- Based on CDC recommendations and studies by Johns Hopkins, one of the lessons learned is that improved ventilation and air circulation is key to reducing transmission rates. To improve the indoor air quality we are installing several ventilation and air cleaning mechanisms to our air conditioning and heating system.
Throughout the pandemic we have watched with dismay the disregard that people — including many Christians — have for one another. Unquestionably, that is not true Christlikeness, and it is not the spirit that we have here towards one another at Moravia. As we come back together we want to model the words of Philippians 3:3-5,
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interest of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Some of us are looking forward to hugging one another, others of us will be hesitant to do so. Some of us are comfortable being close to one another, others will want to continue to maintain social distance. Let us make no judgement, but accommodate one another, “in honor preferring one another above ourselves” (Romans 12:10). I believe that Spirit-filled followers of Christ should be the most considerate and gracious people, and I believe that we at Moravia have that kind of spirit.
I am looking forward to seeing you at our picnic on Sunday, September 5th, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, and at our first in-person Worship Service on September 12th. Please visit the church website for updated information and guidelines.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Don Campbell