Joyful News for the Weary
Living in weariness of heart, soul, and body parched of any good news, Christmas is the timely life rejuvenating news that the God we need is here.
DECEMBER
THE JOY OF KNOWING THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH
ADD to Goodness Knowledge, because Faith is Bigger than Life
The next ingredient to a life size faith is knowledge. Symphony led us into a time of exploration and we discovered together the life-giving function of knowledge. Peter was not talking about head knowledge, but meta moments of seeing the way God sees. We gain a perspective that gives greater clarity, reveals what we may have missed, what is beneath or what is beyond us. It is in this knowledge that faith is experienced and love is poured out. We add knowledge by being in that safe space called holy ground where we can open our hearts and minds to align with God’s perspective.
What are some meta moments you’ve experienced with God? What did that feel like? How did it affect your faith and the way you love others?
I Found My Community
When I first heard of Doing Life Together triad groups, I was very excited. I was seeking the support of community. God answered my prayer. There were challenges I didn't expect. We are different. We have different expectations. We have different schedules. That's ok because it was all part of transition, adjustment period and process of being a group. As long as we remember the purpose of DLT - "God created us as relational beings with a huge capacity to love. Our greatest purpose from God is to care for needs of others. Together, we can create communities that are welcoming, and caring."
Our group has been praying together. We are supporting one another. We are encouraging one another. We are accepting each other’s differences. We are intentional in getting know one another. Most importantly we’ve allowed ourselves to be vulnerable with one another. I’ve learned to trust in God's time to build the community as He intended for us to be - doing life together.
DLT Member
The Magnificat Connection
This month we sat together reading Mary’s song and observed many heart warming moments of Mary’s joy as she excitedly expresses her deepened faith and knowledge of God through this miraculous pregnancy. Together we discovered a God that was highly relatable, personal and worth getting to know. We closed by taking communion with hearts of thanksgiving and cheers of praise. Go and read the Magnificat again. What is it about God that draws your attention? How does it magnify your soul to the Lord?
To Love is to Know
A Christian mother left her church when her daughter came out of the closet. My spirit was moved. This was a mother’s love in action. Just like the love of a father who did not rescue his son from the cross. It is also like the Savior who left this throne to make a home in a troubled world. If I was the mother in this situation, what would I do? Out of desperation and love for my daughter I would go to God and intercede for her. I’d be like a lawyer pleading my daughter’s case. I would search the scriptures to support my pleas.
That’s what I did. I searched the scriptures. I wanted to know God’s heart and God’s thoughts so I could plead in alignment with his thoughts. God took me deep into his plan of salvation. His love and grace is bigger than what I’ve experience here on earth. It is a mystery. God’s love is incomprehensible and uncontainable justice and grace. There will always be tension between the divided views. At Grace Alive Fellowship, we hold that tension by providing safe space for conversation, learning, healing and relationship building, rather than win a conversation.
Marginalizing LGBTQ folks only led the creation of a people marginalized, wounded, deprived of justice, live in poverty and isolation. The very kind of people God wants us to love.
Although it was a difficult the last minute decision to cancel the Christmas Caroling at 54 (2nd year in a row due to the pandemic), we were still able to bless all 160 tenants with goody bags. Thank you for the many volunteers who gave financially, donated goody bags, packing the bags, designing the Christmas card, printing the card, cutting the ribbons, tying the cards, decorating the lobby, buying the supplies, and going door to door to deliver the gifts. Many tenants were very thankful for these gifts.
The purpose of this annual church-wide event is to create a fun space for tenants to gather and connect as neighbors and take down any fears or racial barriers and unite as one community through the love of Christ. We are praying for 2022 to be safe and a full blast of Christmas cheers, singing and feasting over hot chocolate and yummies.
Upcoming Events for January
Join us for our virtual events!
Monthly Celebration Service (Every 1st Friday of the month)
Supersized Faith - Enliven Faith - Add to Knowledge, Self-Control 2 Peter 1:5-7
Friday, Jan. 7th • 7PM - 8:30 PMZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 895281
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 - 12:30PMZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 429125
Join us for a time of inner reflection through contemplative 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.
Communion Fridays (Every 3rd Friday of the month)Come and be part of God’s commutual community deepening our spiritual relationship with Jesus and with one another. Through fellowship, prayer and breaking of bread, we will learn to live, laugh, lead and love the world with Jesus.
Monthly - Jan. 21st• 7PM - 8:30 PMZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 895281
Bible Study (Every Saturday Evening) The gospel of Luke ZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 895281
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: Mail your donation to Manni Lee, 275 South Street, Apt 19D, New York, NY 10002.
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