Rutland United Methodist Church


The Season of Advent

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MASKS ARE REQUIRED IN

THE CHURCH BUILDING

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Dear Friends,

            I am well aware that Covid 19 and its fallout have taken a toll on all of us. For me, the toll relates to my sense of Christian care and compassion, and how we cannot seem to agree on what this looks like. Politics and other divisive factors have confused things, and yet what remains is the need, hopefully the agreement, that as Christians we must prioritize the care of those who are vulnerable.

            This week Dr. Mark Levine reiterated that the bottom line for dealing with Covid and even the Delta variant is “vaccination, vaccination, vaccination.” When addressing the concern about children who are not yet eligible for vaccination, Dr. Levine went on to say, “… the thing that rises to the very top of the list and is the most impactful is masking.” Speaking to the Rutland Herald yesterday, Dr. Rick Hildebrant, director of hospital medicine and chief medical information officer for Rutland Regional Medical Center said, “Based on how contagious this variant is, and that’s one of the main differences — it’s so much more contagious — chances are, if you haven’t been vaccinated, you’re going to get COVID.”

            God’s love has been a central tenet of my 34 years in ministry. How we express that love may be different, depending on who we are and how we see the world. Sometimes we disagree, and yet our love for God and neighbor is what unites us. Lately, this sense of unity has been strained. I question if we are still centered on this compassion and love, in the midst of the confusion and pain so many of us are feeling.

            My request is that we each take time to examine our hearts and our minds to see if we are operating from a place of caring for the vulnerable in our midst. Are we earnestly seeking to show Jesus’ compassion for those who are disenfranchised, for those who have no voice? When I asked what God required of me, I knew I had to get the vaccine (even though I rarely got the flu shot prior to this). This simple act helped me feel that I was doing what I could to protect especially the children and elders with whom I interact. To me, this was an act of love. I understand that some folks are still hesitant to get vaccinated and I encourage you, if you are in that boat, to ask your doctor what they recommend for you, and talk with them about your concerns.

            Every day you and I are faced with the choice of how to express our love for God and neighbor. With the rise of the extremely contagious Delta variant, I pray we can agree that wearing our masks at church and in other public places is one simple way we can let others know we are Christians. Let’s see this as an expression of our love and of our unity in Christ. It will do my heart good, and I hope it will lift up yours as well.

In the Unity of Christ,

Pastor Shirley

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LOCATION

WE ARE LOCATED AT 60 STRONGS AVENUE IN RUTLAND, VT

Our building is fully handicap accessible and large print materials are available from the ushers for those who desire them.