Please Consider Getting Vaccinated
Dear Friends in Christ,
We have just come through our second Easter in this pandemic. Surely, this is not what any of us expected a year ago… or even 6 months ago. Some of you may have received the vaccine to protect you from the serious illness of COVID-19, and I know many of you are eagerly awaiting to know when you can get vaccinated. Still, others are wondering if you should get the vaccine at all.
I urge you, as members of the Body of Christ, to seriously consider receiving the vaccine. We are not through this pandemic yet. There continue to be daily reports of individuals who are testing positive for the virus, and we continue to lose members of our Oregon community to death from this virus. The best chance we have of protecting each ourselves and each other is to get vaccinated. My second dose will be administered later this month and I look forward to being fully vaccinated.
There are unfounded rumors circulating in some of our communities that the vaccine is dangerous or ineffective. Neither is true. The CDC and our state health authorities have continually assured us of the medical safety of the vaccine. As I write this letter, the state of Michigan is reporting an alarming increase in Covid infections and deaths. Health authorities there are concerned that two things are working against prevention: 1) not enough people are being vaccinated, and 2) people are beginning to relax their practices of physical-distancing and mask wearing.
We must do everything we can to prevent COVID-19 from spreading and causing more illness and deaths. Please talk to your physician about receiving a vaccine, and talk to your priests, many of whom are now vaccinated, about the importance of the vaccine for our community.
The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner we can all come together in worship to sing together and to receive Holy Eucharist in both elements.
Finally, please join me in prayers of thanksgiving for the scientists, laboratories, and medical workers who continue to work tirelessly to rid us of this virus.
Yours in Christ,
+Diana
