Even though our building is closed, we give thanks that our Open Arms Preschool continues to serve our community by offering an online summer camp and playgroup. Each week has a different theme and children will sing, dance, read stories, and get art project ideas to do at home.
On Sunday, August 2, we will lift up the ministry of Lutheran Ministries in Higher Education of NYC, in the Vine’s first Digital Campus Ministry Sunday. They will present the sermon and a “Mission Minute” as they share the good news about local campus ministry. We will also collect a special offering to support this important mission partner of GA.
Read more: Lifting up the ministry of Lutheran Ministries in Higher Education of NYC -7/26
Rite of Healing in this Sunday's liturgy: with so many ill, so many suffering, the rite of healing offers us a time to pause, to pray for healing for our members and the world in need. The theological basis for this rite will be provided, as will descriptions for doing this digitally. You will be invited to name individuals in need of healing in the chat window during the worship service.
The Reopening Task Force has been busy collecting and sifting through data, recommendations, guidelines, and protocols to both determine best practices and a timeline for re-entering GA's building. Given the current circumstances, the Task Force has recommended that for safety, we will keep the building closed until after Labor Day. But your inupt is needed this Sunday, 7/5/2020.
Read more: Re-Opening the Building Task Force - 6/21 Update
We encourage you to check in with neighbors who might need some extra encouragement right now. We will support each other as we navigate this new reality.
We trust that God brings life out of death and hope out of uncertainty. And we pray this beautiful prayer adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book:
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to us
as we wait in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make us the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.
Amen.
Support GA! We now can accept your donation online. Support GA with a one time or recurring donation from our page at Vanco Services. Or you can support GA via Paypal or Venmo. Read more here.
As church we are called to confess the sin of racism, condemn the ideology of white supremacy and strive for racial justice and peace. Beyond statements and prayers, we are also called to act and respond to injustices. We invite you to commit to anti-racist actions at ELCA.org/RacialJusticePledge.
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34Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." 35Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.