To the First Presbyterian Church Family,

Do you remember the first few weeks of the Covid pandemic? Way back in March of 2019 when most churches stopped worshiping in person? In those weeks I began imagining the party we would have when we returned to in-person worship. We thought there would be a moment when the all-clear would be sounded and there would be no more Covid worries. I had vivid dreams about a packed sanctuary filled with rejoicing and singing.

It’s not been that way, of course. There hasn’t been (and likely won’t be) a moment when we can declare “We're safe!” We all have different health care situations, family configurations, and ways we need to define “safe” and “wise.”

What we hold in common is the commitment to love our neighbor and do what is best for the community – not just for ourselves. 

All of this is to say that, starting this Sunday, November 14, masks will no longer be required inside the sanctuary or buildings of First Presbyterian. Some gatherings or classes may choose to continue to wear masks, but they will not be mandated for them or for our in-person worship services.

Your Session and the Worship Commission believe that, given the decreasing infection and hospitalization rates in Craven County, this is an appropriate decision.

There are many of you who will feel it is still wise for you to wear a mask- 

I hope that you will feel comfortable doing so.

There are many of you who will feel it is wise to not wear a mask –

I hope that you will feel comfortable doing so.

What is the appropriate level of risk for you and for your immediate community? 

I trust you to answer to pray and discern that answer.

What your church leadership asks of you is an understanding that if the local infection and hospitalization numbers rise, we may decide to go back to mandating masks.

And, we ask that you continue to monitor yourself. If you have had a known exposure or have any health symptoms that would be considered suspicious for Covid, please consider worshiping with the online service or getting a negative Covid test result before worshiping in-person. And, likewise, if we are aware of people who test positive after being on campus, we will communicate that to those who might have been in contact with that individual.

What I do know is that it has been Wonderful, Hopeful, and Promising to worship with so many of you on Sundays. The Holy Spirit is truly in this place, and I am grateful for the ways in which we are a community- we are a family held together by baptism.

So…. Whether you are worshiping in the sanctuary or through video or podcast, it is good to be together.

Peace,