Dear Christmas Gatherers:

These are uncertain times, and with the advent of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the stewardship of our congregation's members' health requires added vigilance.

The extreme transmissibility of this iteration has caught many public health experts off guard, leaving somewhat ambiguous how best to proceed with public gatherings. It is unclear if current protocols remain sufficient to protect ourselves and one another in the days ahead. More definitive data analysis remains to be done before clear guidelines can be established, especially for predominantly vaccinated communities such as our own.

What we do know is this: