A Message from Dean Boston
June 16, 2021

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
-Galatians 6:2

Beloved in Christ,

As I announced on Sunday, our Diocesan COVID Guidelines now offer fully vaccinated people the option of removing facemasks for indoor worship services.

For so many of us, this long-awaited opportunity comes as a great relief. Indeed, spontaneous applause broke out twice on Sunday as I made the announcement, and many masks were removed before I had even finished speaking the words. It takes a lot to make Episcopalians cheer in church! But reaching this milestone is exciting and hopeful, and an occasion for us all to give thanks to God who “hath brought us safe thus far.”

And yet, at the same time, I know that this change is difficult and disorienting for many members of our congregation. Some of us are feeling anxious and uncertain as we consider the implications of entering the Cathedral once again without masks. This is a normal, reasonable, and even wise response to so significant a shift in policy after the last eighteen months.

The reality is that we, together, face many difficult decisions and unknown outcomes in the days ahead. Vaccination rates in Richland County stand at only about 40%. That statistic does not even include our wonderful young people under the age of 12 are not yet eligible for the vaccine. We praise the Lord that children are a large and growing demographic in Trinity’s congregation! But this change means we must consider how our individual choices—including the choice not to wear a mask in services—may influence their behavior and impinge on their health and safety. Furthermore, many members of our community who are eligible to receive the vaccine may nevertheless be unable to do so for health or other personal reasons. CDC guidance and our Diocesan policies are clear: all unvaccinated persons (except those under the age of three) MUST continue to wear a mask when indoors. Again, those of us who are vaccinated and who are excited to forego our masks must give a thought to how our own decisions will make it easier—or more difficult—for our unvaccinated brothers and sisters to follow the guidelines and do what is right.

Mutual trust, self-sacrificing love, and a willingness to bear one another’s burdens even as our Lord has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows—these offer the only path forward for us at this time. If you are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and you wish to come to church in person, you must wear your mask indoors. Other members of our community, especially our youngest members, are depending on you. If you are vaccinated and choose not to wear a mask, you must never shame or sneer at those who continue to wear their masks. We cannot always know the personal situation of our fellow worshippers, but we can always assume the best about them and support them in love. Let this brave new moment be an occasion for us to show more fully and more faithfully the compassion and good cheer we strive to embody in every moment.

Beloved people of God, the Lord in his mercy, grace, and goodness is doing wonderful things in our midst at Trinity Cathedral. May we receive this change as a gift from his hand, and find in the days ahead new and more wonderful occasions to thank and praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—and to love one another as God loves us!

Faithfully,
The Very Reverend Dane E. Boston
Dean of Trinity Cathedral
An Update to Diocesan Guidelines during Worship
During our the services held on Sunday, as well as in his message above in this email, Dean Boston has shared that the Diocese announced new guidelines last week, concerning our safety protocols during worship. The guidelines are as follows:

Beginning Sunday, June 13, 2021, the following diocesan worship guidelines should be followed. These guidelines supersede all previous guidance:

  • Vaccinated persons may worship indoors without a mask
  • Masks are required for indoor worship for unvaccinated persons
  • Only vaccinated persons may sing indoors, whether in choir or congregation
  • Unvaccinated persons are to maintain 3' social distancing

We know that this update will be met with excitement by some, and concern by others. The past fifteen months have brought with them many changes that we as as a congregation have had to adapt to and incorporate in our parish life and lives as individuals. At present, we find ourselves in an "in-between" phase. COVID isn't fully in our rearview mirror quite yet, but there is hope on the horizon. The vaccine has been available for some time now, and we can begin to loosen some restrictions that were put in place back when infections were at a high percentage in our community.

What does this mean for Trinity? The new Diocesan guidelines allow for those who have been vaccinated to not wear a mask if they so choose. If you've been vaccinated, that does not mean that you are now required to abandon your mask. Indeed, there will be many people who have received the vaccine and who choose to continue wearing a mask for many reasons, regardless of these new directives. For vaccinated parishioners, the decision to continue wearing a mask is a personal one, and should not be viewed as positive or negative. Please do not feel pressure to not wear a mask, or assume that any parishioners who are wearing a mask are doing so only because they haven't been vaccinated.

For unvaccinated parishioners, we ask that you please adhere to the guidelines and keep your mask on while indoors at worship. Doing so will protect the most vulnerable in our parish, such as children under the age of 12, who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. Keep in mind that the littlest ones among us, the toddlers and preschoolers, are some of the hardest to keep properly masked during a service for that very reason—they're little! Extending parents some understanding during services will be most appreciated, as they are trying to keep their little ones protected, and trying to worship at the same time. Additionally, any children attending Liturgy Prep during worship will need to wear their mask while in their Liturgy Prep groups, as will the volunteers teaching and shepherding the classes.

We are hopeful and optimistic that COVID cases will continue to decline, and we can inch closer and closer back to normal with each passing day. In the midst of these practical considerations, let's not fail to give thanks to God that we are reaching this point. The road has been much longer than any of us anticipated, and so difficult in so many unexpected ways. But praise the Lord that we have had so many blessings even in a hard time, and are now coming to a place of new hope!

If you have any questions regarding these new guidelines, please click here to contact Trinity's clergy.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral | Website