Greetings all and welcome back from the Feast!  I pray that everyone had a spiritually profitable and physically enjoyable Feast and is rejuvenated and excited to implement the things they have learned!

As you are perhaps aware, there are a couple things we need to consider before returning to services tomorrow.  While at the Feast, it became mandatory to wear a mask at all indoor gatherings in Mecklenburg County, including worship services.  Because the Charlotte Friends Meeting hall is in Mecklenburg county, and using Romans 14 as our guide, face masks will be required to be worn at all times while in the building at Charlotte services.  Also, no coffee or snacks will be served until further notice.  The exception to this rule is for those who are speaking at the lectern.

Also, it seems that COVID was present at virtually every Feast site this year.  Please be wise in deciding on whether to attend services tomorrow.  If you know or suspect you were exposed to COVID during the Feast or in the past few days.  There are some notable exceptions to this however based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html ) :

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms.

People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease and show no symptoms.

In other words, even if you were exposed to someone who has COVID, if you have already tested positive for COVID and recovered within the past 3 months or if you are fully vaccinated, you are not required to quarantine, as long as you have not developed any new symptoms yourself.  Obviously, if you do feel sick, fatigued or have a fever or any cold like symptoms, you should stay home tomorrow as well.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to write, text or call.

With love to all,

Dan