Letter from Emily: A Church Grows in Brooklyn
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
-2 Timothy 1:7
Dear Lydians,
Here we are in the middle. That beautiful and terrifying place where we are at our most open to all that God is unearthing in us. St. Lydia’s moving to a new place in Brooklyn, a place that we can begin to make home.
It’s been a full week of moving slowly but surely into relationship with the Church of the Redeemer: the people as well as the building. Sunday morning Rachel and I worshipped there, as the rain poured down outside. We sang and prayed and broke bread together. Monday night we met the Bishop’s Committee, and shared a gracious, honest, and hopeful conversation about what living together this building will look like. After the meeting, members of the congregation showed us all around, generously offering to move furniture to accommodate us, and showing us all those little tricks — where the light switches are and how to work the stubborn lock on the front door. There is a lot of excitement about what’s afoot.
Tuesday I packed all our boxes into a zipcar and drove them across the water to our new home. After we unloaded, Rachel and I sat on the floor in the middle of the Parish Hall and prayed about all about the fear and the possibility of this time. We asked to be reminded that it’s not us at the helm, but God. When we finished, I could imagine tables filling the Hall, covered in bright fabric and glowing with lit candles. I can see that this place will be our home.
Tomorrow I’ll pack a few things up into another rented car and head North for ten days of vacation. And Sunday all of you will gather together at our new home in Brooklyn, with Rachel and Daniel to guide you, and give our new home a good scrubbing!
There is a lot of work to be done as we settle in. I can tell you now that the state of the building will present a struggle for us during our time there. Sunday’s rain demonstrated to Rachel and I the extent of the damage: there were significant leaks in the Parish Hall and in the Pacific Street entryway. Next Sunday’s clean-up will do a lot of good, but there’s still painting and unpacking and building of shelving and trips to Ikea that will need to occur, all in conversation with the people of Redeemer. It might feel overwhelming at times, but we’ll get there.
The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island is planning an assessment of the state of the building, to take place in September, at which point we’ll know much more. For now, our job is to settle into our new home, to build a loving and generous relationship with the people of Church of the Redeemer, and begin welcoming our new neighbors to Dinner Church. My job is to continue to be in conversation with the Diocese about the state of the building and our needs.
Let’s be patient with one another and kind to ourselves as we make this transition. Let’s take things one step at a time. Let’s remember, as we sing so often, that what we need is here.
Sitting around a table with the people of Redeemer at our meeting Monday night, we all agreed that God is up to something on the corner of Fourth and Pacific. We may be in the wilderness for a little while, but we won’t be there alone.
Love,
Emily
Hi there,
Hey I have heard this event from one of my friend and it’s like a miracle.
Thanks,
Adam
Come and join us Adam! We’d love to meet you in person.