The success of the vaccination programme has been a massive answer to prayer, but, while it has transformed the outlook of the pandemic, it has not eliminated all risk. We still need to carefully manage the risks from Covid-19.
Over the past 18 months, we have endured unprecedented restrictions on the way we practise our faith. The virus has affected our ability to meet together, to sing together and to celebrate communion together. The pandemic is not over as our three recent cases have demonstrated. None of those people were infected in church.
It would be a pity if mask-wearing were to become an issue. We wear our masks for other people, not for ourselves. That is a profoundly Christian principle.
So we still ask the congregation to wear masks while singing.