| Dear Friends in Christ,
Thank you for the love and care you have shown one another over these past two months. You honored the “Safer at Home” order and helped reduce illness, suffering, and loss of life. You made difficult and necessary sacrifices to help protect our communities by practicing physical distancing, masking when in public shared spaces, and paying attention to necessary hygiene practices during this pandemic. Your efforts, alongside the heroic efforts of our medical professionals, first responders and front line essential workers helped save numerous lives. This has been an extraordinary coming together of community for the health and well- being of all of us. Thank you!
We are mindful that because of the recent decision by our state supreme court, there is a temptation to relax these efforts and practices which have been life-giving to us, our family, friends, and neighbors. Our public health officials tell us, based on the science of this pandemic, it is not time to relax best health guidelines or practices. Many of our city and county governments still have “Safer at Home” orders in place. The Badger Bounce Back Plan is still in effect. We urge you to continue to pay attention to your local health departments, the CDC and the World Health Organization guidelines. We show our love of God by loving our neighbor and doing what is in the best interest of the common good, even when it comes at great personal cost to us as individuals, families, communities and businesses. We recognize the strong desire to move toward living in less isolation and hardship.
Thank you for continuing to make these sacrifices, including not gathering in church buildings until it is safe to do so. Thank you for reaching out to love and support one another at safe distances. Thank you for continuing to be mindful of how your life impacts the life and well-being of others and for doing what is necessary to maintain communal health.
Thank you for thinking about how we can do our part to be life-giving in a time this virus is life- taking, as many of you know this loss first-hand. We urge you to press on toward the high calling of God to love yourself, your family, friends and neighbors by continuing your efforts to be the Church by living by the guidelines that keep us all well and safe.
In Christ,
The Rev. Jane B. Anderson Associate Conference Minister
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
The Rev. Sarah Moore-Nokes General Presbytery Winnebago
Presbytery Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Rev. Gerald Mansholt Bishop
East Central Synod of Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter Bishop
The Diocese of Fond du Lac Episcopal Church
The Rev. Kate Croskery Jones District Superintendent
North East District
Wisconsin Annual Conference United Methodist Church |
