An Update Regarding Church Openings in MA - Our Building Remains Closed

Dear Myrtle family,

By now most of you have heard that Governor Baker has begun lifting restrictions that were put in place to stop the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic. As you may recall, the public safety measures that were put in place and our collective efforts to “flatten the curve” were meant to keep the spread of the disease at a level the hospitals could manage so that the rate of infected persons would not exceed the emergency care capacity.

Though we have slowed the virus, our bodies are still unable to resist it, we do not yet have a vaccine or medication to treat it, we do not have adequate testing capacity to properly gauge its prevalence and the virus is still highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets sent out when we cough, sneeze or even talk and sing. Because of these factors we sadly still have thousands of deaths in Massachusetts each day, with black, brown and the most vulnerable people among us bearing the brunt of COVID-19, and because of the effects of years of structural racism, are dying at alarmingly higher rates.

The governor’s phased reopening attempts to balance the interests of business and political constituents with the medical and science community in a test run that we will all watch over the coming weeks and months to gauge the effectiveness of the roll-out. This will be measured in sickness and fatalities until we have universal testing and vaccines available to everyone. At Myrtle, my responsibility as your pastor who loves each and every one of you dearly, is to do everything I can, with the help of our Lord God, to keep us all safe. To wait to see whether one of our Myrtle family members becomes ill because we were tempted by what is popular instead of what is scientifically sound is a chance I am unwilling to take.

This has been a trying and difficult time for all of us but by God’s grace we will make it through. To that end we will continue to gather together in online worship every Sunday morning and at theology school on Wednesdays and Sundays until the science tells us we can gather safely together in person.

In Love,
Pastor