(Update 3/10/2022)
Previously our Bethel Council, along with our Parish Nurse Edie McGoff, and I met with Dr. Mercedes Abbat, the head Epidemiologist for the Lord Fairfax Health district. We met to discuss next steps for masking in indoor congregate settings.
Through conversation with Dr. Abbat, the Council set the following protocols for masking based on the Virginia Department of Health metrics:
When Frederick county is at the High/Substantial level, we will require masks at worship.
When Frederick county is at the moderate/low level we will recommend, but not require masks at worship.
After our meeting, the CDC changed their protocols which showed Frederick County with a LOW level of transmissibility, while the VDOH still had Frederick County in the Substantial/High range.
As of today, however, the VDOH has updated their recommendations to align with the CDC and so we are now below the threshold for requiring masks! Hallelujah!
Therefore, per our congregation council, we are now MASK OPTIONAL for all gatherings at Bethel.
If you are unvaccinated, we still highly recommend masking. If you are vaccinated, it is your choice to mask or not, dependent on your comfort level and personal decision.
I want to thank our council for their steadfast leadership and their willingness to put health and safety at the forefront of each and every decision we have made at Bethel during this pandemic.
Onward and Upward toward the “next right thing”!
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Dave
(Update 2/26/2022)
Friends,
Our Bethel Council, our Parish Nurse Edie McGoff, and I met with Dr. Mercedes Abbat, the head Epidemiologist for the Lord Fairfax Health district. We met to discuss next steps for masking in indoor congregate settings. Currently, there are four Transmission Levels that are tracked by the Virginia Department of Health — High, Substantial, Moderate, and Low. Currently, Frederick county (20% positivity) and Winchester (15% positivity) remain at the High transmission level. Through conversation with Dr. Abbat, the Council has set the following protocols for masking:
When Frederick county is at the high/substantial level, we will require masks at worship.
When Frederick county is at the moderate/low level we will recommend, but not require masks at worship.
The good news is that Dr. Abbat did say that the transmission levels are going down, cases are going down, and deaths are going down. She feels we are near the end of required masking and because she and Edie have been in consistent communication, she verbally commended Bethel for our faithfulness, diligence and thoughtfulness during the pandemic.
Onward and Upward toward the “next right thing”! Peace and Blessings, Pastor Dave
(Update 2/2/2022)
Friends,
Bethel is now back to “in person” worship at 9:30am beginning Sunday, February 6. Masks/shields are required. We will continue to “livestream” worship on Sundays via our Facebook page and our YouTube channel (which you can watch here on our website).
(Update 1/07/2022)
Friends,
We have moved to “virtual” worship through the month of January (2022). Each worship service will be pre-recorded and uploaded to our website by Saturday morning each week.
Because of the outbreak of the highly-contagious Omicron variant, we are being cautious with any “mass gathering” experience. We plan to return to “in person” worship – with masks/face shields required – on Sunday, February 6, 2022.
*We are allowing outside groups to meet at Bethel as long as they are masked. Bethel groups can also meet as long as they remain masked.
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