We hope to share regular newsletters with our GAF community to keep everyone updated with our events and activities, what we’re meditating on, and how you can join into creating relational communities wherever you are. Learn more about us here, and feel free to send any feedback to us by emailing us!
June Celebration Service
‘Love Starts With You.’ What a concise point Daryl made in her message. Daryl shared how she was broken in heart, mind, and spirit from unwelcoming ways fellow classmates had treated her during her elementary school days. Through words and actions, she felt devalued by others. Many who have experienced this move on in life are silently traumatized, depressed, or hopeless. Daryl turned this downgrading experience into an opportunity to create a better world. Praise God for the teacher who showed her love and made her feel like a person of worth. She imagined herself being a teacher that models for children how to be welcoming and encouraging to others through words and action encouraged in Ephesians 4:29.
Imagine how your life might be different if the people around you spoke words of kindness.
Sunday JOG: Inner Transformation
Our Sunday JOG time has become a safe place to reflect on God’s truth, relevant questions about life, and to share our stories to connect and learn. Recently, Kevin led us to share our personal stories of transformation, go forward. In Christ we are a new creation (1 Co. 5:17). Here is a summary of what it takes for inner transformation, which is inner growth to usher us forward in our lives.
Transformation takes place when:
We align ourselves with a new structure that will enable stronger support for more freedom of movement.
We adjust to a new environment.
Intentional in staying connected relationally.
Reflected on whether ways of others are just as plausible as my own.
Absorb, explore and learn from the rich and vast information available to us.
Desire to see God’s glory in our everyday circumstances.
Learn from each other, build teamwork.
In what ways have you experienced inner transformation?
Praying for our LGBTQIA+ Family
Even as the month of June & Pride month ends, we invite our community to pray specifically for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults living on the streets to find safe homes. Pray for healing, especially for churches to be move to welcome LGBTQIA+ community members, especially those who left the church for these reasons.
Other resources:
Q Christian Fellowship: National ministry that is cultivating radical belonging for LGBTQ+ Christians and allies.
Kaledioscope: An intentionally local and multiethnic ministry that seeks to be a bridge between the Christian and LGBTQ+ communities by challenging churches to love sexual minorities both within their walls and outside.
Brave Commons: Ministry seeking to elevate the voices of LGBTQ+ and marginalized students within and beyond religious universities. Brave Commons is an intersectional, queer organization provoking a movement of faith and justice. Through retreats, spiritual support, and advocacy resourcing, Brave Commons works to provide equitable and holistic faith engagement for all.
PFLAG NYC: Local chapter of PFLAG whose mission is to create a better future for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth and adults through a partnership of parents, allies, and LGBT people.
Join us for our upcoming virtual / in-person events!
GAF Fun @ Governor’s Island
Sunday, July 25 • 11AM - 2PM
We are hosting an in-person gathering before we break for our annual August Sabbath. Let us know if you’re attending at this registration link! If you’re planning on going via ferry, reserve your tickets in advance through this link.
Chinatown Community Block Party: Love Strong
We’ll be joining an upcoming Chinatown Block Party at Seward Park for the community. Activities include basketball, volleyball, yoga, music, prizes, & games!
Saturday, July 31 • 10AM - 4PM
Communion Fridays
*We’re moving our prayer Friday’s to every 3rd Friday of each month. This is a time of fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
Friday, July 16 • 7PM - 8:30 PM
ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
JOG (Journey of Grace) Small Group
Weekly on Sunday • 11AM - 12:30PM
ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
Offering / Donations!
Now that we are an official 501(3)c, we have a bank account! For administrative purposes, please fill out this Google Form each time you donate to GAF.
Donate via ACH/Wire: Use Account #: 875101564230; ABA #: 031101169; Alternative ABA #: 031101279 (ACH payments only).
Donate via Check: Mail your donation to Manni Lee, 275 South Street, Apt 19D, New York, NY 10002.
We currently allocate 90% of tithes towards our staff stipend and 10% towards an organization supporting our community during this time.
For June, we donated to NQAPIA, a national organization that seeks to build the capacity of local LGBT AAPI organizations, invigorate grassroots organizing, develop leadership, and challenge homophobia, racism.