Prayer Requests from this Parish: Mother Margaret McMurren,  Mother Janet Waggoner, Karla Erovick, Julie Pannell, Susan Hawkins, Martina Sierra, Coralie Peterson, Kerrie Harwood, Fr. Bernie Lindley & St. Timothy’s Church (Brookings), the people of Ukraine, victims of the pandemic and all who care for them, Jed & Kim Johnson, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries

For the Departed: Liz Kirk, all victims of the war in Ukraine 

For Those with Birthdays this Week: Anne Whitney, Ron DeWilde

For Teachers and Students, especially in this parish

For Ruth Kreuger, postulant for Holy Orders and field placement intern at St. Timothy’s

In the Diocese of Oregon: Church of the Ascension, Riddle; St. George, Roseburg

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Province of Alexandria

The flowers at the altar this coming Sunday are given by Sue and Larry Bergquist in thanksgiving for their wedding anniversary.

Word from the Rector…

Pandemic "Update" and Masking at St. Timothy's

The CDC's recent protocol revisions are about as clear a signal as we will ever get that, from the governmental side of things, the pandemic has shifted to a different level of concern. Gone are the days of mandatory quarantine upon exposure -- let alone compulsory masking in public. This is a signifiant moment and I want to think about it for a bit.

Covid is now joining influenza as one of the common and ongoing infectious diseases we have to deal with each year. Unlike the flu, Covid has yet to become a seasonal virus; its mortality rate is also much higher and cannot be minimized as "just another cold bug," but it is increasingly being viewed as a risk many people are willing to take due to increased immunity through vaccination (and, to a lesser extent, prior infection) and better treatments for those infected.

There is a great deal about this disease we still do not know, and there is a real possibility a more dangerous variant will arise; however, many people feel ready to "move on" from the pandemic's grip in spite of legitimate medical and public health concerns. Even in our own parish, where we have been extremely careful to observe masking for the common good as well as personal safety, a growing number of people are telling me they are weary of this precaution -- especially in warm weather. I can sympathize with this.

Wearing a mask, along with glasses, and trying to use an over-the-ear microphone system is quite difficult and frustrating. At the early Eucharist on Sunday the mask really gets in the way of communication.

We are now at a point in the pandemic where the basic rate of illness in our community is not likely to drop much (indeed, the re-opening of schools in a few weeks will likely drive it up for a time, just as it does various other communicable diseases). Expecting the populace to keep to protocols from the early Omicron Wave is unrealistic.

The evolving pattern is one where vulnerable persons mask in church while those who are less vulnerable are dropping masking. Those who are feeling unwell -- even a bit -- are staying home, which is always the right choice.

The most vulnerable among us -- the immunocompromised, in this case -- are the people who must take the greatest precautions. In some cases I am bringing the Holy Sacrament to these parishioners on a monthly basis; in others, they are coming to church on Wednesdays when there are fewer people in the building; in others, online worship access continues to be their choice until better or safer arrangements can be made.

The point I am trying to make is that we are gradually moving into yet another "next phase" of the pandemic -- one where real risk continues and reasonable precautions should be taken, but where more people are ready to take some additional risk. For some this will mean coming back to church for the first time or attending the midweek Eucharist. For others, it will mean wearing a good-quality mask while in the building, and for yet others it will mean laying aside the mask unless the community rate of disease or a new and troubling variant changes the picture dramatically.

This phase was eventually going to come. It took us two and a half year to get here, but it could change on a dime (as we have seen before); we know how to deal with it should this happen -- by going back to universal masking or, God forbid, online worship in the worst case scenario. Again: the pandemic isn't over; it (and our response) is changing.

For now, however, we are embracing even more intentionally the official policy our parish has used for some time with regard to masking: "All may, some should, none must." No one -- and this must be our practice -- places a judgment on you about what choice you make in this matter.

I am proud of how you continue to navigate this confusing journey; the creativity, focus, and flexibility you have shown has been exemplary. As new people are being brought to the parish they are finding an open, respectful, and healing community in a time where these are in short supply.

The main thing, as always, is to love God and each other and to share to the maximal way possible in the common life of the parish as "we gather to experience the Holy Trinity through Scripture, worship, study, and fellowship" and "share the Gospel by the example of our everyday lives."

Brandon+

Also...

St. Mary's Day attendance and offering

We had a very good turnout for St. Mary's Day, especially when one considers it was a Monday evening and quite a warm day.

The spirit was joyous. Having all ages out for a mid-week Eucharist was a first for a long time. Fr. Powell's preaching wise and engaging, the liturgy beautiful, and the fellowship afterwards a welcome renewal of past patterns in new forms. Thank you ALL -- and there were many hands involved -- for the work put in to helping this be a great St. Mary's Day.

The offering taken up that night (for Simonka Place in Keizer) amounted to $345.00. Thank you for giving to such a valuable and important cause in our community.