Executive Order 2020-147 (Masks)

As you may have heard or read by now, Michigan Executive Order 2020-142 (July 10, 2020) – Masks, has been issued. Effective immediately (beginning July 10, 2020), any individual who leaves their home or place of residence must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth. This includes when you are in any indoor public space; and, when you’re outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of your household.
For our purposes at St. Paul, the requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to individuals who: 1. Are younger than five years old, 2. Cannot medically tolerate a face covering, or, 3. Are officiating at a religious service.

In addition, to protect workers and the community, no business that is open to the public may provide service to a customer or allow a customer to enter its premises, unless the customer is wearing a face covering as required by this order beginning Monday, July 13, 2020.

However, no individual is subject to penalty for removing a mask while engaging in religious worship at a house of religious worship. Nevertheless, consistent with guidance from the CDC, congregants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings during religious services, especially while singing.

What this means is that, as a business that is open to the public, you must wear a mask to enter St. Paul for any reason, unless you meet one of the three above exemptions. Signs will be posted at the doors as a reminder. A limited number of masks may be available if you forget yours. Our worship service rules and practices remain unchanged by this Executive Order.

We realize that this Executive Order is cheered by some and booed by others. We understand the constantly changing rules and practices are frustrating to all of us. All we ask is that you respect our leaders and staff as they apply the ever changing rules and practices we are given to work with.

Finally, heed the words of St. Paul: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:3-7)
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Let us, by the Spirit’s power, imitate the humility of Christ Jesus while we suffer for a little while. For the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).