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!
No need to supersize it. just open our imagination to grasp what God has given us. When we open our hearts to Jesus and let him make our heart his home, all we need is a mustard seed sized faith to experience the effective and powerful work love can create. The belief that we only use 10% of our brains is a myth, and so is the belief that we can can’t do too much to make a difference. Fighting the tide of injustice bringing diversity into our communities require us to see beyond human limitation and earthly realities. When we live in faith and love we will discover that there is much more to our lives than the way we know it. For the next 12 months, GAF will be exploring 2 Peter 1:5-7, where Peter gives us insights on how to weave faith into our lives so that love can yield its potential. Let’s live this supersized faith and love in our ordinary lives. For our November Celebration Service, we will be pondering on what it would be like for us to stir some goodness into our lives.
Thank you all for the surprise Birthday dinner in celebrating this milestone in my life. God also brought surprises running into other friends at the restaurant. Hey, turning 60 is not so bad. I feel excited, wondering what plans God may have yet to unveil for me. It’s interesting this year that I received for the first time from friends who proudly announced the celebration of their senior birthdays (65, 68, 70, 80). One friend who turned 65 said God is giving her a new start in life. Another said she is feeling more life energy than ever before. God is doing something wild among the seniors.
Shout out birthday blessings to two other October babies, Liz, forever 27, and Annie, forever 22.
Pastor May Lee
My Experience at the Mega Towers Rally
by Tobi Lee
Why did I decide to go? For once, I believed that I could do something for my home in Chinatown. I was not doing this alone, but collectively alongside my neighbors, young and old. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood gave me a visual sense of community and shaped my mindset with rules. We came to believe that we do not get nice things here. If they are nice, they are not for us. The new quality of living created may be good for the rich but bad for the poor. Many will be kicked out of their home because they are not able to afford the rent. Something needs to change.
Being at the rally gave me a sense of God’s hope and grace. The young and old speaking up and watching out for each other. I felt a sense of justice for the future. Yet, I was bugged with the thought, what if all this doesn’t work out? What if we don’t win this fight against the developers? What kind of impact would this have on the people? How do we praise Him in the valley? How can we make sense of God’s plans and timing?
Thank you, Tobi, for sharing your experience and insight from this rally. These are great questions for all of us to ponder with God. I wonder what God would say. Feel free to share with us.
Corky Lee - A Modern Day Prophet and Watchmen
by Manni Lee
Prophets and watchmen refer to men and women chosen and set apart by God to guard, watch over, protect and help people stay close and enjoy their relationship with God. Many modern-day prophets and watchmen are committed to ending the injustices using their talents, skills, and networks. They might not even have the Christian faith, yet God still uses them to point out injustices.
I’ve had the honor to cross paths with a modern-day prophet and watchmen - Corky Lee. Corky is gentle and humble, yet, recognized as a powerful advocate in his photo-storyteller/journalistic documenting stories of injustice Asian Americans faced during the past five decades. As Asian Americans were being ignored, erased, and made invisible in American history, Corky is putting the Asian American story back into recognition in history. He calls generations after generations to pay attention to the injustices with his photo-documentary work. In his commitment to bring injustice to the public eye, Corky worked unceasingly to be a voice advocating for our community. With this commitment, he lost his life in the pandemic doing the right and loving thing for our community. I want to acknowledge what a privilege it is to have met a modern-day prophet and watchmen in the life of Corky Lee.
I’ve only had brief conversations with him, but I was able to learn so much about him at a private memorial at 21 Pell Street. I praise God for him.
SPECIAL NOTE:
In keeping this newsletter short, Pastor May Lee will be sending out a separate blog to continue sharing our LGBTQ+ journey as mentioned in our September issue, as well as some food for thought to ponder on. Please be on the look out for it in your email.
Upcoming Events for November
Join us for our upcoming virtual / in-person events!
Monthly Celebration Service
Friday, Nov. 5th • 7PM - 8:30 PM
ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
Come celebrate the love of God that has been poured out to each and everyone of us. Through songs, sharing from God’s word, we are receiving and expressing God’s love as a community so that people can have the opportunity to know more about the sweetness of life with God.
JOG (Journey of Grace) Small Group
Weekly on Sundays • 11AM - 12:30PM
ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
Join us for a time of inner reflection through contemplative questions, listening for the Spirit’s voice, journaling and sharing our stories and insights with each other. We want to help each other notice God’s presence in our daily activities growing our faith and love.
Communion Fridays
This is a time of reflection on the meaning of communion and embody Christ’s hospitality caring for all people through fellowship, breaking bread, and stand in the needs of others through prayer.
Monthly - Nov. 19th • 7PM - 8:30 PM
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.