As you may have seen, the CDC is recommending everyone to wear facemasks in counties with substantial or high COVID transmission. Their recommendation comes after data shows that the Delta variant can be as transmissible from an infected vaccinated person as in an infected unvaccinated person. It needs to be noted that what is called breakthrough cases, when a vaccinated person becomes infected with COVID, are very rare. The data continues to show that the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help those who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated is to wear a facemask. Rather than going to the CDC’s Data Tracker to know if Chittenden county, on any given day, is categorized to be in a state of substantial or high transmission, at this time and for the foreseeable future, we are strongly encouraging everyone—vaccinated and unvaccinated—to wear a facemask when attending worship or other events on the church property. The Heavenly Food Pantry continues to require all volunteers and clients to wear a facemask. As the Body of Christ, which we are all members of, as Paul wrote, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). See you at church!