|
 Dear GLC members and friends,
Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for you - each person in our GLC community, you reading this email, each volunteer and recipient at our meal tonight. I hope that this week brings even simple moments of a break and exhale for you - praying safe travel, nourishing meals, and conversations that remind you that you are loved. If this holiday is hard or you are missing someone, know I'm praying for you - and trust that God is with you, every day.
Upcoming and below:
Click here for Sunday's bulletin, ZOOM link, 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!
|
|
 Thanksgiving Prayers
A couple prayers for your Thanksgiving meal (feel free to use or adapt, use your own words, or just pause in a moment of thanks!):
Loving God, all that we have
comes from your goodness
and the work of those who love us.
Bless us and the food we share.
Watch over those who care for us.
Open our eyes to the needs of the poor during this time of harvest and thanksgiving.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A prayer/reflection of giving thanks, by Walter Bruggeman.
|
|
Advent Devotions
This Sunday, 11/27, begins the season of Advent! Pastor Brett will be sharing by email and on social media a weekly Advent devotion - inspiring resources, and a brief video reflection.
It's not too late to pick up your at-home Advent candles (in the church entryway), and Advent devotions resources. For those who may not be local, here's links to print them on your own: The "Less is More" devotional and calendar/poster; the Advent and Hygge, the Art of Coziness, table tents and intro/instructions. Both have one devotion for each week as well as further things to reflect on, discuss, or do. Set some time apart for nourishing your faith in this busy season of preparing for Christmas joy!
|
|
Click here to order a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone/something, to adorn our church this Christmas! Paper order forms are also available in the church entryway.
|
|
Advent & Christmas Schedule
Plan and join us for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany at GLC! Invite a friend, and note our Christmas Eve and special worship services below.
Sunday, Nov. 27 - First Sunday of Advent
9:00: Kids (all ages) Advent crafts & lesson
Sunday, Dec. 4 - Second Sunday of Advent
9:00: TBD Christmas tree decorating
Sunday, Dec. 11 - Second Sunday of Advent
9:00: Kids (all ages) Advent/Christmas stories with skits and songs!
Sunday, Dec. 18 - Third Sunday of Advent
All ages/family activities 9:00-9:45;
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 - 5:00 & 8:00 Worship with candlelight and holy communion
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25 - 10:00 Service of Lessons & Carols (no 8:30 worship)
Sunday, January 1 - First Sunday of Christmas
Sunday, January 8 - Epiphany Sunday -
Brunch & Candle-making after 10:00 worship
|
|
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!
|
|
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).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
