Holy Communion will again be offered at the altar rail at the Hazel Dell campus and in the round at Messiah North. Refreshments will be served before and after worship.

March 12
Masking becomes optional inside Messiah's buildings and worship spaces, including the Dorothy Link Building that houses Messiah Preschool.

The Details
As many of you know, Governor Inslee announced that the statewide indoor mask requirements end on March 12. In addition, the governor shared that public health models indicate that cases and hospitalizations from Covid-19 have dropped dramatically over the last few weeks and will continue to do so.

The Church Leadership Team (CLT) is grateful for what this good news means for Messiah. After a thoughtful discussion that included information from the Vancouver School District about its masking plans for students, preschool through high school, the CLT voted to make masking optional for all indoor meeting spaces used by the church beginning March 12.

Until the mask mandate is lifted on March 12, the CLT and pastors request that masks be worn indoors.

Once the statewide mask requirement is lifted, barring any new conditions from our local health department, wearing masks will become optional inside Messiah's buildings and worship spaces. As Messiah has always prioritized the creation of a safe and supportive space for members, guests and children, the CLT and pastors hope that everyone's choice, to mask or not to mask, will be respected. We already know that some people will continue to mask for the coming months or longer for a variety of reasons.

A little more about Holy Communion and refreshments starting Sunday, March 6
On March 6, Holy Communion will again be offered at the altar rail, and refreshments served before and after worship. Worshippers will also continue to have the option to receive Holy Communion in their pews with a Communion pack.

Thank you.

Together, we have navigated federal, state, and local authorities' requirements and guidance. You have all adapted your practices for worship, meetings, and preschool education. The CLT and pastors, thank you! Thank you for your generosity of spirit that has allowed Messiah to be a place where people have felt comfortable and safe throughout these challenging two years of the pandemic.