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July 30, 2021
Dear friends in Christ,
Zoar’s Vacation Bible School for preschool through sixth grade, “The Knights of North Castle,” is on the horizon! The dates are August 10-12 (Tues.-Thurs.), 9 am–12 pm. Information on how to register may be found in the links at the end of this letter.
First, however, a clarification is in order. On Wednesday, July 28, I sent out an email to Zoar members in response to an inquiry I had received about mask policy at Vacation Bible School. Because VBS is happening in less than two weeks, I sent my email “on the fly,” and, unfortunately, it contained a number of inaccuracies. So, I would like to apologize for my part in sowing further confusion in an already confusing time.
After receiving some helpful feedback from two of Zoar’s preschool board members, I would like to try to clarify where things stand currently regarding masks at VBS. At the same time, we should all keep in mind that the situation with regard to COVID is rapidly evolving, and it’s possible that we may have to shift our response again in the next ten days. So, please watch your email for further updates.
As of today, July 30, 2021, here is where things stand with regard to keeping children and adults safe at Zoar’s Vacation Bible School:
- In the spirit of our Lord Jesus, who freely offered compassion and healing to God’s children, Zoar’s VBS volunteers and staff will strive to protect the health and well-being of all participants.
- Preschoolers will NOT be required to wear masks.
- Given the rapid increase in local COVID cases over the past three weeks, older children (Kindergarten-6thgrade) are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
- Adult and teen helpers will wear masks in order to help protect our children and their families.
There is still much that is unknown about COVID, and now we’re dealing with a variant that confronts us with further unknowns. Unfortunately, we’re also surrounded by a lot of misinformation. On top of that, our unique backgrounds and personalities lead us to hold different views, and, as we’re all aware, in some cases this has caused damage to our relationships.
Here at Zoar, we’re well aware that no matter what we do, we aren’t going to meet everyone’s wishes or expectations. Please know that we’re doing our best to find a way to make VBS safe, meaningful, and fun for everyone.
In this difficult and confusing time, we ask for your prayers, your understanding, and your patience, as we try to adapt to the ever-shifting circumstances of COVID.
Grace and peace be with you all!
Pastor Michelle Manicke
PS—You can register for VBS by clicking on this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf12_MRKMzwDJQczMoaV9LCKoF35lAFc2Aqe3nr_6xtcTuqag/viewform
You can also find the link on the “Community” page of Zoar’s website: www.zoarlutheran.org.
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