Important COVID-19 Update
Dear Beloved Saguaro,
We hope this finds you doing well. The last 14 months have been some of the most difficult months we have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this time, you have done an amazing job keeping our community safe and healthy by loving your neighbor in some incredible ways. Thank you for still being CHURCH!
We’re encouraged by the CDC’s recent announcement that vaccinated people can go without wearing masks in most indoor and all outdoor situations. This marks a significant and positive shift in our country since the beginning of the pandemic. Your In-Person Return Task Force (IPR-TF) met this week to discuss the CDC’s most recent announcement.
Beginning Sunday May 23,if you have been fully vaccinated you can choose to not wear your mask or practice distancing at indoor or outdoor gatherings on campus. If you have not been fully vaccinated you will still need to wear your mask and practice distancing on campus.
We will not be asking you about your vaccination status, so please be honest. Many of us have grown accustomed to mask wearing. While this has become a politicized and disheartening point of public debate, it may take a while for many people to feel comfortable going without a mask. This is okay and should not be a point of contention. We are still in a pandemic and we are still children of God.
We are a community of both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. We are mindful of our young people who are just now eligible for vaccination, and our children, who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
Throughout the pandemic, we have done our best to listen to science and trusted experts in how to keep each other safe and well. We, at Saguaro, have always leaned on the side of caution as we sought guidance from CDC in our decision-making efforts.
We are grateful to be able to offer both in-person and online worship opportunities for the foreseeable future. Worship begins at 10am each Sunday (or whenever you watch the recorded service after it’s been live).
In an effort to continue loving others as Christ loves us, a few notes:
Rev. Kelley Dick has been fully vaccinated; however, she will continue to wear her mask when she is not speaking.
Your worship team has been fully vaccinated; however, they will continue to wear masks when not speaking or leading worship.
If you are sick or not feeling well, please stay home.
Your greeters will continue to wear a mask as they assist you to your seat.
We will begin adding in additional elements of worship over the next few weeks and months.
These new guidelines will also apply to other on-campus events such as meetings.
We have lost over half a million people in our nation and many more around the world. While we can rejoice at how far we have come, this past year has been one the most painful and disorienting years we’ve ever experienced.
Be gentle with one another as you let love continue to lead the way, even now.
We will still be church!
God's Peace,
IPR-TF Cathy Stern, Dave Coatsworth, Doug Petersen, Kerry Swindle, Michal Griffin, Merle Jensen. Patricia Casey, Susan Keenan & Wende Gonzales
Church Staff : Keith Koster, Fran Johnson Keith Koster, Tanima Lawrence & Kelley Dick
Worship and Technology Team: Bethany Keenan, Tim Steehler, Pedro Valladarez, Jay Deskins, Mychael Jackson & Lorna Lawrence
Church Leadership: Moderator: Tony Gonzales, Vice Moderator: Lucretia Free,
Director of Elders: Donna Gustafson & Director of Deacons: Patricia Leong