Pause Grieve Stand Together
Together in Pain, in Grief and Fear. Together to Heal, Connect, Bring Change
The month of May witnessed a string of senseless hate crimes and mass shootings of innocent people. Such violent crimes are taking place at salons, supermarkets, subways, churches, and schools. People of color, of various faith, gender identity, and age groups have been targets. The latest devastating shooting took the lives of 19 children and 2 adults at an elementary school in Texas. What has become of our home? This has been a month of painful pauses to grieve, lament and stand together.
Prayers to guide us
Prayer in the Face of Gun Violence - The Rev. James Martin, S.J.
Let the Shooting End - Sisters of Mercy
Is it true that an idea that’s not true
​​​​​​​     Has enslaved many minds
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​   Causing them to see
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ themselves as superior
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​   and others
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​       as inferiors?
A National Conversation on Racism —James A. Forbes Jr.
The contribution to this growing expression of hate and violence runs deep and is complex. Yet the one basic underlying problem is that we’ve lost sight of who we are as relational beings. We have somehow embarked on a trajectory of disconnect. We’ve become absent to one another. This leaves us with anxiety, exhaustion, and dissatisfaction. We find ourselves alone in navigating through a world that defines life as superior/inferior, good/bad, poor/rich, and exonerated/marginalized. Any community divided will fall apart (Mathew 12:25). Covid-19 exposed our basic need for relational presence. Racism exposed our resistance to being interconnected.
Jesus came to move us out of this unhealthy path of relational resistance. He took down the divisive wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14) and opened up a new path of interconnected oneness. Jesus is inviting us to join him as co-creators of this new community. We can get a glimpse of what this can look like in Acts 4:32-37 (see our April newsletter).
Relational connectedness is the air we breathe. It produces life energy that sparks faith, love, and hope. It is when we are present to each other that we can experience the vitality of life.
A MONTH OF SOLIDARITY
NYCAAPIC Coalition / God Squad / Interfaith
What we are hearing through all the grief is the declaration that we need to stand together and create a movement to change things around. Grace Alive Fellowship is launching its new theme Social Solidarity - Liberation Within Ourselves and in Collective Liberation to spark a movement to renew our relational narratives taking a deeper look at God’s kingdom and reflecting on what it means when Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within each one of us. We are by nature interconnective beings. Social solidarity is about being present to one another and reciprocating with listening hearts. GAF is an all-inclusive, non-denominational, independent community where leadership is shared. Come and do life together. Our formal gatherings are still virtual, but our relationships are deepening.
Upcoming Events for June
Happy 5th Birthday Grace Alive Fellowship! - June 5th Pentecost Sunday
Monthly Celebration Service (Every 1st Friday of the month)
Social Solidarity - Liberation within ourselves and in the community (Acts 4:32-37)
We come together to grow in the community for inner transformation and social integrity.
Come celebrate the love of God that has been poured out to each and every one of us. Through songs and reflections on God, we are refreshed! In sharing our stories we bond in friendship creating a community where all are welcome and taste the sweetness of life with God.
Friday, June 3rd • 7PM - 8:30 PMZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 895281
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 self-care in community through moments of personal silent times to reflect, listen for God’s voice, and journal. We come together to help each other quiet ourselves down in a world filled with noise and exhaustion. We come to help each other make sense of God’s presence in our daily lived experiences.
Friday Friendship (Every 3rd Friday of the month - formerly Communion Friday)
Jesus calls us friends. Come and be part of God’s commutual community deepening our spiritual relationship with Jesus and with one another. Through fellowship, prayer, and breaking bread we nourish a deeper connection with God, with our social circles of influence, and with the wider global community.
Monthly - June 17th• 7PM - 8:30 PMZOOM Link | Meeting ID: 327 601 274 | Password: 895281
Bible Reflection (Every Saturday Evening 8:30pm - 9:30 pm)
Our souls need solid truth to nourish our souls and guide our way of living. Together we listen to God’s word allowing it to pour over us, Lectio Divina style, as the Holy Spirit speaks uniquely into our lives. We share our insights and gift each other with words of encouragement.
We are currently reading the gospel of Luke, chapter 6 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:Â Use Account #: 875101564230; ABA #: 031101169; Alternative ABA #: 031101279 (ACH payments only).
Donate via Check:Â Mail your donation to Manni Lee, 275 South Street, Apt 19D, New York, NY 10002.