I hope you are having an amazing week. I hope you are leaning into rest and renewal. I hope that amidst all the anxiety and things that scare you, you know that this community loves you and is here to support you. I know that the public school system in NYC doesn’t start for a few more weeks but my heart is especially with those parents navigating the road of safe and equitable learning for their children. We are called to love our neighbors and care for the vulnerable, and I believe the best way for us to do that is to follow the CDC safety guidelines to vaccinate, mask, and distance. Prayers for each of you and for our global community. I also hope that you will join us for the Disciple’s Virtual Gathering. I am one of the hosts for the day and we have a great lineup of education, fellowship, and worship. While we obviously wish we could be together, we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Speaking of nothing separating us…that is the theme of Virtual Gathering AND our scripture this week, which comes from the letter to the Romans about what it means to be members of the body of Christ. We know that our God is still speaking to us, because this scripture was chosen almost 2 years ago, and it is as relevant now as it was when it was chosen. Let’s read together verses 38 and 39 of Romans chapter 8.
38 For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither heights nor depths—nor anything else in all creation—will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Savior
[Romans 8:38-39]
Over the past two years I have done a lot of reflecting on what it means to be connected. Connected to our names. Connected to our God. Connected to each other. We have grown and lost people we have loved and yet we know that we are connected through love. Also, this past week in class, we had an assignment to draw a holy woman from our context, for me that is The Park, and talk about the ways she continues to be a source of connection. After some prayerful discernment, I thought of our beloved Ima Jean Kidd. A woman whose Spirit reminds us daily to connect and stay connected.
So, I drew her in the style of Dr. Angel Yarber’s Holy Women Icon’s project, drawing on things that remind me of her. Some things are more tangible like mail to represent the notes she used to send or her favorite flowers (sunflowers). And in her heart, I colored a rainbow and adapted a phrase that she once said when speaking up for the full inclusion of our queer siblings. Ima Jean was on my search committee and her final resting place is in our sanctuary. Ima Jean is gone but very much present. Her Spirit is a loving embrace and a gentle reminder that nothing can separate us. Not death, not technology, not generations or time. We are connected always, through the love of Christ Jesus found in each other.
So, friends, may this week be one of connection and love. May we call on our saints when necessary and the power of the Holy Spirit always. And may you always feel connected, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God or the love we have for you in this community.
Shalom Y'all,
Rev. Stephanie
Simple Prayer: Nothing can separate us, O Holy One. Amen.
Children and Youth Ministry Update
from Kelsey Creech, Resident Seminarian
We will take a break from weekly meetings for Children’s Worship this August, but we will have a small bit of programming in our weekly Children’s Worship Newsletter. This programming will always align itself with our scripture for the week, and I encourage you to engage with it for yourself or alongside whatever children might be in your life.
After reading this week’s scripture (Romans 8:38-39), discuss the following questions:
1. What does this scripture make you think of? Do any people or places come to mind?
2. What questions do you have about the words we read?
3. Does any part of this passage stand out to you?
4. Have you ever felt lonely or like you were not loved?
5. What does this passage promise us about God’s love for us?
6. What can you do to show other people God’s love for them?
I look forward to hearing how your conversation goes! I look forward to hearing from you and wish you all meaningful conversations about this passage and God’s infinite love.
Joyfully yours,
Kelsey Creech
Resident Seminarian
(The illustration above is from Page 71 of Tiny Truths Wonder & Wisdom)
Join Rev. Stephanie at the 2021 Disciples Virtual Gathering! Registration is now LIVE! Join Disciples from across the US and Canada for this one day, live event on August 7. Featuring Bible study, workshops and worship as we celebrate that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.
Well, it isn't food for your stomach (though when we are able to meet again in person, we will share a brown bag lunch right after church), but it is food — almost a banquet — for your soul.
SoulFood Fellowship is a gathering of The PARK members and friends who get together from near and far after worship on the third Sunday of each month. We engage in conversation that is bound to get you thinking and talking. We discuss and reflect on books, articles, documentary films, or plays —in light of our faith, Bible Study, and concern for social justice.
We have concluded our study of Juan Gonzalez's Harvest of Empire, and on July 18 we'll be taking up a new social justice focus—beginning with a review and commentary by one of our participants and followed by our response with regard to what God requires of us. We would love to have you join us and share your perspective, experience, hopes, and concerns.
SFF will meet next on July 18--but not in August.
For more information, please contact either Richard Sturm or Stephanie Wilson.
Pandemic of Love is a mutual aid community of care that was started in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. It humbly began on March 14th, 2020 by one person and was intended to help her own local community. But, like an epidemic, the act of love and kindness spread quickly and is now a beautiful movement helping those in need throughout the world.
What is a mutual aid community? It connects people in need with patrons who can help with that need. This is a tangible way for people to give to each other, quickly, discretely and directly.
What’s the catch? There is none. Kind people are introduced to kind people which results in an act of kindness and human connection.
