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Dear GLC members and friends,
If you're traveling for Thanksgiving ahead, remember that God goes with you (and join us for worship on Zoom)! If you'll be in town for the holiday, join us Wednesday for the pre-Thanksgiving dinner, or donate some food to share (details below)!
This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, and the last one of the church year before we begin again with Advent on 11/27. Consider the last year - or right now:
- what are the gifts of God you notice?
- What are you hoping for in the year ahead?
- What are you waiting for, that Advent will resonate as we wait and light candles?
- Where have you felt triumphant, like this Sunday's themes will lift up, even if it was in the midst of things falling apart?
Thanks to all who attended our annual meeting Sunday 11/4! If you missed it or want to review something, you can view the minutes here, and the meeting materials here.
This Sunday, don't miss:
8:30: brief, spoken worship
9:00: choir practice, Sunday School
10:00: worship (onsite & online: Zoom here)
Sign up to serve at the 10am service this or coming Sundays!
Upcoming and below:
Click here for Sunday's bulletin and more on our worship page!
Peace+
Pastor Brett Wilson
(202)830-8996 (cell)
Here for you - schedule a meeting with me directly here on my calendly page!
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Pre-Thanksgiving Community Dinner
Mark your calendars now to join us for our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Community Dinner, on Wednesday, November 23. We share a meal with anyone in need or seeking community and fellowship: a full Thanksgiving spread with all the fixings! So, sign up now to volunteer if you'll be in town, or provide a pie. We cook and set up throughout the day on Wednesday, and serve the meal in the evening. Please sign up for volunteering and to donate food items. Questions? Contact Sophie (sophie.guiny@gmail.com)
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Being part of a church is like owning a really old house together! That means being good stewards of our property so that it can welcome and serve our community. There have been a number of significant repairs and upcoming costs due to moisture issues, repairs, and deferred maintenance. The good news is, thanks to you, we're able to tackle them!
- Earlier this month we had mold remediation downstairs due to moisture issues after our HVAC replacement. This is the second mold remediation project this calendar year in our basement (where NCDA, a professional acting school rents), for which the total cost of both projects will be over $10,000.
- We switched to new insurance carriers earlier this year, for a slight savings and a more appropriate level of coverage. The new insurance required a visual inspection and provided recommendations of needed repairs, updates, and inspections. We're currently undertaking these projects, some of which are significantly deferred maintenance and will require costly electrical upgrades. Thanks to John Henry, property team members, and council, we're seeking bids and learning what we need.
- On capital projects and restoration side of things (which Charles Bushman leads), some exciting things ahead! We submitted plans to the Old Georgetown Board (for their 12/8 meeting) detailing restoration of the bell tower, steps, walkways, and other areas. This set of plans brings together the two grants we've received. The Anacostia Watershed Society plans for permeable paving, sustainable plantings, and a cistern on our site, will help with moisture issues like we see above. Our grant from the DC Historic Preservation League will help cover the bell tower restoration, as well as funds raised from our 2019-2020 250th anniversary capital campaign. We'll be sharing these plans soon - stay tuned!
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Advent is coming! Sunday 11/27 through Christmas Eve is this special season of waiting, watching, lighting candles, and looking and listening for God's promises even while the days grow darker. In the video above, Pastor Brett invites you to a meaningful Advent at GLC and at home, with some resources you can pick up at church!
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Sunday school and Parents & littles' group
We're excited to resume Sunday school! Sunday school meets on the first and third Sundays of each month, 9:00-9:45, Sunday school for grade schoolers meets in the fellowship hall. Please let Pastor Brett know if your child plans to participate so that we can plan and possibly group students by age. We're also starting something we're calling Little Lutherans, a gathering for parents and littles, infant to Pre-K. Little Lutherans meets on the second Sunday of each month, (this Sunday) 9:00-9:45. Little Lutherans will provide fellowship for parents and some simple ways to talk about and start growing faith in your little ones.
If you are an adult who might be interested in leading, helping, or teaching (or learning how) adults, kids, or youth, please also reach out to Pastor Brett.
If you haven't already, parents, if you'd like for your children to attend or for all parents, infant through school age, please complete our parent survey here, to help us plan for group sizes, children's ages and interest. This fall for all ages we'll be using the excellent Manna and Mercy curriculum, which uses excellent theology, engaging lessons, and real-life application, to learn the story of the Bible and our faith.
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Weekly Bible Study: Thursday Nights on Zoom!
Weekly Bible study is weekly on Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm on Zoom.
We're reading together the book of Acts from the New Testament. Zoom link here or also linked at glconline.net/social--learning. Feel free to join in whenever you can - no prior experience or continuity is required! You can use any online Bible to follow along (a simple NRSV, same translation we use in worship, is here: bible.oremus.org), or recommended print Bibles include the Harper Collins Study Bible and Lutheran Study Bible (with the blue cover, published by Augsburg Fortress).
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Puerto Rico & Hurricane Relief
When we see tragedy strike in the world, or even in our lives, remember that God is there. The church is often there too, in other congregations, people on the ground, communities of care just like ours. Did you know there's a Caribbean Synod, and 27 ELCA congregations in Puerto Rico, that are a part of it?
This week, as again the people of Puerto Rico reel from the devastation of a storm, needing water and recovery, we're reminded that the church - and importantly, God, is there and all places where people are struggling - from war, from disaster, from grief, from whatever it is.
Click here for a special email from our own Metro DC Synod Bishop Ortiz (for whom Puerto Rico is home), about how we as church together can help, and an invitation to give to our siblings in the Lutheran churches affected.
As this week we now pray for folks under the path of Hurricane Ian, Lutheran Disaster Response offers a way to give and 100% of gifts will go to use on the ground, often routed through congregations, local relief, and social service. Click here to learn more.
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