“It’s emotion that’s taken me over. Tied up in sorrow lost in my soul.” Recognize these lyrics by the Bee Gees? Have you ever been overtaken by emotion? A young woman was overwhelmed by the death of her 7-year-old cat. After 2 weeks she was still weeping. When she took a day off from work to grieve, her co-workers couldn’t understand why. “It’s only a cat.”
Emotions, whether they are pleasant or painful, they often take over our thoughts and our bodies without our awareness. They interrupt our regular routine. They can be mysterious, elusive, and downright annoying. They can come on strong or rise up subtly. What are they? What purpose might they have? At times, we pursue them at all costs. Sometimes we shut them down, or avoid them. More often than not we aren’t even aware of them. Yet they are there. What are we to do with them? What about Jesus and his emotions? What did Jesus do with them? Would our emotions have anything to do with Justice Within and Collaborative Liberation?
We pause for a moment here to remember our LGBTQ friends in grief, pain, and fear
Thank you for the courage of the bystanders who took action to stop the shooting.
HOLDING THE TEARS OF JESUS
Jesus wept (Jn 11:35), best known for being the shortest verse in the bible. What was the significance of capturing an emotional portrait of Jesus with just 2 words? Do we go over it like a speed bump or do we stop for a scenic view? We often don’t pause to process our emotions. Seldom are we encouraged to do so nor taught how to. Emotions expressed are often greeted as weakness or shunned. Let’s stop for a view of Jesus and hold his tears. What were these tears about? He didn’t need to grieve right? Wasn’t he there to perform a miracle? He is going to turn their mourning into dancing. He could say to them “stop crying,” or “be strong, have faith” and assure them, “everything will be okay! I’ve got this.” He will then amaze them with the resurrection! So why these tears? Why was he “once more deeply moved,” as he stood at the tomb of Lazarus (v.38)?
Holding these tears of Jesus is holding the heart of Jesus
The faith or hope Jesus had did not keep grief away. No words were recorded. Only his tears were collected. What were they about? Was he taken over by the pain of being robbed of a loved one? Could this be that Jesus’s connection with people is also emotional? Might these tears be a natural protest against the injustice and cruelty of death? He lives in the here and now despite the coming glory of God. he lives in oneness with the mourners.
Jesus is a man (and God) in touch with emotions. Unpleasant ones as well. He is a man of sorrow, familiar with pain brought on by this world (Is 53:3). Jesus can be trusted with our emotional life. Bring them to Jesus, and let him help us name them, and discover what they mean to us. Understanding our emotions is vital to our mental health. It is a key component to caring for our souls (justice within) and being a channel for collaborative liberation in your circles of influence. Holding the tears of Jesus is holding our own true being.
SUNDAYS@ JOG (Journey of Grace)
Coming alive is the central focus of Grace Alive Fellowship. We liberate ourselves and each other as we do life together through twists, turns bumps, and barriers. We aim to build relational communities. One major way to do this is to JOG together. JOG is a place of refuge to find rest in a world that drives us to exhaustion depleting us of our relational health.
Each Sunday, we spend quality time by being still before God at the flowing river of life. Here we sit quietly together in person and on zoom to slow ourselves down and reflect on questions that help us collect our thoughts, and learn our stories, as God reveals them to us. Story collecting and storytelling are both healing and empowering so that our faith can come alive.
2 Questions we reflected on in November:
What is discipleship? How are you being discipled? Who are you discipling?
How has faith made a difference in your life? How do you hold on to faith?
Food for Thought:
Discipleship: Matthew 11:28 - Learn from Jesus by getting to know how he lived his life, what values he taught, and how he handled life’s toughest challenges. Jesus will give us inner rest and help us discover our genuine selves.
Faith: We all need something to anchor us so that we are not blown away by the powerful whirlwinds of life, but be rooted together in love to embrace the depth, width, and height of God’s breath of love.
If you know anyone who would enjoy these nuggets of Grace Alive Fellowship
COMING IN DECEMBER
19th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROLING on Christmas Eve
Saturday, 12/24, 3pm - 5pm
In-person Christmas Caroling is back. Each year, we host a time of celebrating peace, hope and reconciliation at a local residential building. Come and join us for great time of community building, caroling, sip hot chocolate and giving out goodie bags. Email gracealivefellowship@gmail.com for more information.
Monthly Celebration Services are now 1st Sundays of each month
Sunday, 12/4, 11AM - 12:30AM @ 21 Pell street 4th floor. | ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
We gather monthly to celebrate the wonders of God’s love poured out to us. Life can get so messy, that these celebrations nourish a healthy mindset of gratitude that energizes us.
JOG (Journey of Grace) Small Group
All other Sundays • 11AM - 12:30PM | ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
Join us for a time of community soul care. Here you will find a safe space to reflect, listen for God’s voice, and journal. We tell our stories and listen to each others’ stories so that we can learn and journey together. We were not meant to journey alone.
Offering / Donations!
We currently allocate 90% of tithes towards our staff stipend and 10% towards an organization supporting our community during this time.
Your donation is tax-deductible. 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: Make checks payable to Grace Alive Fellowship. Mail your donation to Manni Lee, 275 South Street, Apt 19D, New York, NY 10002.