Give to St. Lydia’s Year End Appeal

<a href=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266.jpeg” data-mce-href=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266.jpeg”><img class=”alignleft size-large wp-image-737″ src=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266-1024×683.jpeg” alt=”” data-mce-src=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266-1024×683.jpeg” /></a><br /><br /><strong>A message from Pastor Elsa</strong>A decade ago, ten people gathered in an apartment in lower Manhattan, shared a meal, and worshipped together for the first time. Those ten souls grew into a community called St. Lydia’s. Ever since that first meeting, we have cooked, prayed, and sung together each and every week.The last year and a half has been a season of expectation for the congregation of St. Lydia’s. After the departure of founding pastor Emily Scott, and with the guidance of a wonderful interim pastor, Bob Wollenburg, congregants continued to gather together over dinners and song. They waited and listened for God to reveal the path forward.<strong>On December 2nd, St. Lydia’s took the first step down that path. That day, the church celebrated its 10th anniversary, and installed me as pastor! I am so excited to lead this congregation into its second decade, and I invite you to support our ministry as we deepen and expand the work we do in our church community, our neighborhood, our city, and beyond.</strong>St. Lydia’s is a church where all are welcome. Every week, we come together to encounter God in bread, water, and the fruit of the vine. We hear the good news of God’s love and forgiveness, which sets us free to be servants to our neighbors, and to share a message of hope that is desperately needed in this troubled world.We have big ideas for how to share that message with those around us in the coming year:<li>We will expand Waffle Church (our Sunday morning worship service for families and children) from monthly to weekly.</li><li>We plan to strengthen our partnership with the Gowanus Houses Arts Collective, a program that empowers young people living in public housing in our neighborhood through artistic expression.</li><li>We are renovating our garden into a beautiful and accessible place where the congregation and community can gather for worship, rest, and celebration.</li>
<strong>As we plan for the future, we need your help. We are raising $40,000 before the end of the year to strengthen the ministry of St. Lydia’s, so we can touch the lives of more people and share the Gospel in unique, creative ways.</strong><a href=”https://pages.donately.com/stlydias/campaign/st-lydia-s-10th-anniversary” data-mce-href=”https://pages.donately.com/stlydias/campaign/st-lydia-s-10th-anniversary”>Donate Here</a>Thank you for being a part of the community of St. Lydia’s. We are so grateful for your prayers and support, and we invite you to worship with us whenever you find yourself in our neighborhood. Our doors are always open.Stop by. Share a meal. Build relationships. Receive God’s grace.Blessed Advent,Rev. Elsa Marty

December 20, 2018

Give to St. Lydia’s Year End Appeal

<a href=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266.jpeg” data-mce-href=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266.jpeg”><img class=”alignleft size-large wp-image-737″ src=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266-1024×683.jpeg” alt=”” data-mce-src=”https://stlydias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3266-1024×683.jpeg” /></a><br /><br /><strong>A message from Pastor Elsa</strong>A decade ago, ten people gathered in an apartment in lower Manhattan, shared a meal, and worshipped together for the first time. Those ten souls grew into a community called St. Lydia’s. Ever since that first meeting, we have cooked, prayed, and sung together each and every week.The last year and a half has been a season of expectation for the congregation of St. Lydia’s. After the departure of founding pastor Emily Scott, and with the guidance of a wonderful interim pastor, Bob Wollenburg, congregants continued to gather together over dinners and song. They waited and listened for God to reveal the path forward.<strong>On December 2nd, St. Lydia’s took the first step down that path. That day, the church celebrated its 10th anniversary, and installed me as pastor! I am so excited to lead this congregation into its second decade, and I invite you to support our ministry as we deepen and expand the work we do in our church community, our neighborhood, our city, and beyond.</strong>St. Lydia’s is a church where all are welcome. Every week, we come together to encounter God in bread, water, and the fruit of the vine. We hear the good news of God’s love and forgiveness, which sets us free to be servants to our neighbors, and to share a message of hope that is desperately needed in this troubled world.We have big ideas for how to share that message with those around us in the coming year:<li>We will expand Waffle Church (our Sunday morning worship service for families and children) from monthly to weekly.</li><li>We plan to strengthen our partnership with the Gowanus Houses Arts Collective, a program that empowers young people living in public housing in our neighborhood through artistic expression.</li><li>We are renovating our garden into a beautiful and accessible place where the congregation and community can gather for worship, rest, and celebration.</li>
<strong>As we plan for the future, we need your help. We are raising $40,000 before the end of the year to strengthen the ministry of St. Lydia’s, so we can touch the lives of more people and share the Gospel in unique, creative ways.</strong><a href=”https://pages.donately.com/stlydias/campaign/st-lydia-s-10th-anniversary” data-mce-href=”https://pages.donately.com/stlydias/campaign/st-lydia-s-10th-anniversary”>Donate Here</a>Thank you for being a part of the community of St. Lydia’s. We are so grateful for your prayers and support, and we invite you to worship with us whenever you find yourself in our neighborhood. Our doors are always open.Stop by. Share a meal. Build relationships. Receive God’s grace.Blessed Advent,Rev. Elsa Marty

December 20, 2018