Dear Church,
I hope this finds you well. While I am definitely missing our normal gatherings, I am also deeply encouraged by the ways you are responding and continuing to live as the church during this difficult time.
My family was one of 22 households on the North Slope Virtual Home Church meeting on Sunday and it was truly beautiful to hear our voices unite in praise even as we were all confined to our homes. I want to encourage you to connect with one of these gatherings. I also wanted to share some additional resources and updates for this week included below.
Grace and peace,
Josh and the TGC Team
Virtual Gatherings
Join a Virtual Home Church on Sundays and to explore our Life Groups and Prayer Groups that are meeting virtually throughout the week. Building new routines and keeping up essential life-giving and faith-building practices are crucial in these days. This is a time when we need to be even more intentional in pursuing meaningful connections with God and with one another.
Mental Health Resources
We are all going through a stressful situation right now and this helpful article offers some simple resources on how to tend to your mental health during this time. The assumed audience is families but the principles are applicable for all.
COVID-19 Financial Tools and Assistance
Our Benevolence and Financial Counseling Deacons have compiled resources and general guidance for those grappling with or preparing for the economic effects of the pandemic.
Meet Needs through the Deacons Fund
Trinity Grace has a dedicated fund for meeting practical needs that arise within our community. We are anticipating a heightened level of needs in the weeks ahead as people grapple with the economic implications of the pandemic.
If you have the means to do so, please consider making a special offering to the Deacons Fund to help address the needs of those in our community who have been most affected by this situation.
Service Opportunity: Food Pantry
TGC members Patricia and Gareth Manwaring own and operate Roots Cafe in Greenwood Heights. As this crisis unfolded, they felt led to create a food pantry they could run out of the cafe to offer provisions to those in need during this time. Some of you have already contributed to the GoFundMe where they raised the resources to start this effort.
They are now looking for food donations and volunteers to help run the food pantry. They are thinking carefully about how to do this safely given the social distancing guidelines. If you are interested in helping in some way, please contact Patricia.
TGC Kids Digital Lab
TGC Kids Digital Lab is an experimental space to share content for kids and resources for parents. Stay connected with the families of Trinity Grace and join us as we explore ways to connect our children with the love of God.
TGC Students
Our middle school and high school students are continuing to meet virtually in small groups and there will be some additional programming being introduced as well. Visit our site to reach out to small group leaders for virtual meeting links.