Belated Advent Reflections
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!
Advent Reflections
Technically, we are still in the ‘Advent Season’ with Epiphany coming up this Sunday. For this newsletter, we asked our Core Team members to share snippets of their reflection from the Advent season.
God you are beyond comprehension.
Why would an almighty God come
Snuggle peacefully in our arms
Play peek-a-boo, put band-aid on boo-boos
Learn our ways and attend our schools
— Pastor May Lee
Sharing a cookie, a mother-daughter bonding moment. This is how God has blessed me with Grace. God's extraordinary in my everyday.
— LIZ
This Advent, I'm invited to call out for strength to embrace all that's taken place. To hold what has happened as God holds us in Christ Jesus when he entered our world and embrace us just as we are and as things are happening everywhere. The hope is that God's arms are always stretched far and wide, high and low to assure us that She is always ready to take us into her bosom, keeping us close and listening to her divine heartbeat for humanity.
— Manni Lee
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Romans 15:13, NIV]
I am reminded of God’s joy and peace in the world during this Advent season. I try to look at the good in my everyday and hold onto it. Treasuring what I am given and learning to show appreciation. I am glad I got to see the beautiful lights in the dark at Dyker Heights. God is the same that God is the light in this world and that gives me hope!
— Daryl Truong
“There is radical vulnerability and intimacy between God and Mary’s body. Jesus is held inside a uterus for almost a year and afterwards is nursed by Mary’s breast, held in her arms, and shaped by her leadership. Mary’s body is a good, beautiful, and powerful part of the co-creating process of bringing the creator into this world. What is more in the image of God than the ability to hold and create life? [from Erna Kim-Hackett’s Liberating Advent Series]
—Symphony Chau
Join us for our upcoming virtual events
JOG (Journey of Grace) Small Group
Sunday, January 17, 24 • 11AM - 12:30PM
ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
Monthly Friday Activities
Friday, January 15, 22 • 7PM - 8:30PM
ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 375 203 749 | Password: 895281
Announcements
Donations: We are now accepting tithes / donations virtually via Venmo (@may-chin-5). During this time as we are not meeting in person, we will allocate 90% of tithes towards our staff stipend and 10% towards an organization supporting our community during this time.
December: Our neighbors in the East Village, Middle Collegiate Church experienced a devastating fire in their building earlier this month. For last month’s tithe we wanted to support our neighbors in their time of need, and donated $100 to them. You can support their efforts to rebuild their space and continue their amazing programs and ministries, by donating to them here.
GAF Prayer Board: We have created an ongoing google form for you to write up your prayers and your concerns; as well as any good news you are seeing at work. Please join us in filling out this form with more of God's narrative during this unprecedented time. May the grace and mercy we long to see take place with daily miracles.
Ways to Support our Community & Additional Resources
Support: Welcome to Chinatown’s Longevity Fund, a small business relief fund with the goal of $200,000 for Manhattan Chinatown businesses
Pray: If you are finding it difficult to pray these days in these stressful pandemic times—try reading and contemplating on these liturgies from Cole Arthur Riley and Sacred Ordinary Days.