Bridging Differences in Community: An Evening with Pádraig Ó Tuama
Take part
Upcoming Events
Holy Week approaches! To see more details on the schedule for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, check out our Instagram page and mark your calendar!
The best way to stay on top of what's happening at St. Lydia's is to join the congregants Facebook page or check our Instagram page.
Past Events
The Great Vigil of Easter
Saturday April 16, 2022
Fire. Water. Feasting.
A bold celebration of new life in Christ. This week we enact the central story of the Christian faith!
All people of all ages are invited to participate. Parents: do what’s needed to make this service work for you and your children! Kids can come in PJ’s, and you’re welcome to duck out early if needed.
When?
Saturday
7:45 p.m.
Where?
Old First Reformed Church
729 Carroll St. in Brooklyn
(near the corner of 7th Ave)
Enter through the garden gate on Carroll St.
What are the COVID-19 safety protocols?
Full vaccination required except for children under five and those with medical exemptions.
Masks required during the indoor portions
of the service.
As ever, please stay home if you are sick
or displaying symptoms of illness.
What to bring?
If you wish, you may bring a jar of water from your home (to contribute to the baptismal font during the blessing of the water) and/or fresh potted flowers to help decorate.
Bring layers and a comfy coat! We’ll be outside for portions of the service.
You are very welcome!
Poetry @St. Lydias—An Evening with Poet & Priest Spencer Reece
Currently based in New York City, poet, writer, and Episcopal Priest Spencer Reece has published several books, including two volumes of poetry, The Clerk’s Tale and The Road to Emmaus. His two just-released books include a book of reflections accompanying his own watercolor paintings (All the Beauty Still Left: A Poet’s Painted Book of Hours), and an exquisite memoir (The Secret Gospel of Mark: A Poet’s Memoir), from which he will read.
His reflections on his journey as a gay man, as a person of faith, and as a writer and artist, will spark conversation about the intersections of faith, art, and our lives. You are very welcome, Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7 p.m. EDT on Zoom.
Casper ter Kuile’s “The Power of Ritual” book launch gathering
Book-loving Lydians, it’s Debbie here! I am so excited to announce that St. Lydia’s will be hosting podcaster, author and Brooklynite Casper ter Kuile on Tuesday June 30th at 7pm ET for a special online gathering in honor of his debut book The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices which releases June 23rd.
I know there’s a lot of important work filling our screens these days, but I also think perhaps there’s no better time to examine our rituals and routines than when our world is changing so quickly and drastically. So whether you’re a fan of his “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text Podcast,” you enjoyed How We Gather with Sacred Design Lab, or you’d just love to settle in with a drink and a snack for a joyful and reflective hour of singing, reading, poetry, and noticing with our beloved community, please mark your calendars for Tuesday June 30th at 7pm ET! Stay tuned for registration details, and preorder the book now through Community Bookstore, Greenlight Bookstore, or Books Are Magic!
June 30, 2020
7 p.m.
the usual Zoom REGISTER HERE
For All Who Hunger Launch: A Song and Story Festival
It’s finally here! Next Tuesday at 7pm is Emily’s book launch — or should I say Song and Story Festival!
Here’s the link to attend on Facebook.
Here’s the link to sign up for the Zoom call. You can use that link to preorder the book from Greenlight Bookstore, and to buy the books of others who are part of the festival. The event will be streamed on Facebook Live for overflow beyond the 100-person limit on Zoom.
Live via Zoom:
Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 PM
For All Who Hunger Launch: A Song and Story Festival
Featuring Pastor Emily M. D. Scott
With fellow authors Pastor Nadia Bolz Weber, R. Eric Thomas, Pádraig Ó Tuama, The Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes
And musicians Dr. Sandra T. Montes and Rachel Kutz
Sponsored by Judson Memorial Church and St. Lydia’s Dinner Church
Seven acclaimed writers, theologians, and singers come together to celebrate the launch of Emily M. D. Scott’s debut memoir, For All Who Hunger. Through poetry and music, humor and scholarship, each will share a reflection on the theme of “hunger,” a driving theme of Scott’s work. Hear a reading from For All Who Hunger, stories and reflections from the life of her unlikely congregation, St. Lydia’s Dinner Church in Brooklyn. Throughout her work, she articulates the value of church as a place where people can hear not only that they are loved but that they are good. In addition to music and readings, the evening will include dialogue among the presenters, questions from you, the participants, and even a song to carry home with you. For All Who Hunger is a story about a God whose love has no limits and a faith that opens our eyes to the truth. There’s a place for you at the table.
Brought to you by Greenlight Bookstore, and sponsored by Judson Memorial Church and St. Lydia’s Dinner Church
May 12, 2020
7:00 p.m.
on Zoom and Facebook Live Link for event and to preorder book
POSTPONED—Community Meeting
We’ll gather to share stories of our life as a congregation, past and present, and to think about what lies ahead for us. There will be pie!
More information will be forthcoming, but for now, please save the date.
MARCH IS CANCELLED—UPDATES TO COME——Brackish: A Monthly Performance Series at St. Lydia’s
Brackish is a monthly performance series showcasing live art music (improvised/composed), visual art (installation/video/
monthly on a Thursday eve at Saint Lydia’s – 304 Bond St., Brooklyn NY
$10-20 suggested donation – 100% goes to the artists
no one turned away for lack of funds
drinks available by donation
March 19, 2020
MARCH IS CANCELLED 8pm
304 Bond Street, Brooklyn Brackish on Facebook
“From Me To We” Release Party
Join Rebecca Stevens-Walter and some of the best musicians in the City for a live performance of her debut solo album!!!
Opening Act: OPEN JAM, hosted by the Femmes of FEMJAM
Bring your stringed instruments and your voices!
FREE
February 29, 2020
4 p.m.
Le Chéile, 839 W. 181st St, New York, New York 10033 Facebook event page
Ash Wednesday Service
A beautiful service focused on prayer, song, poetry, and an acknowledgement of the brokenness and beauty of our humanness–our being made of dust and breath. (No meal.)
Contemplative Winter Wednesdays
On Wednesdays, St. Lydia’s will be open in the morning for contemplation—a soft start to the day, sitting, surrendering to silence again and again, reflecting on the practice and sharing conversation over tea. Come rest in the season, for the hour, or as long as you are able. We’re continuing for a while longer, at least.
February 26; March 4, 11
February 26, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
St. Lydias, 304 Bond St.
Ashes All Day Wednesday
Church is open, Christian will be present, with any Lydians who want to stop by and join in, offering presence and offering ashes to passers-by.
Waffle Church
Joining Christ Church Cobble Hill for Christmas services
This year, instead of having a Christmas Eve service at 304 Bond, St. Lydia’s has been graciously invited to join in worship services at Christ Church Cobble Hill (326 Clinton St. Brooklyn, NY 11231).
There will be a family-friendly Christmas Eve service from 5-6pm, a more traditional Christmas Eve mass from 10-11:30pm, and a Christmas Day service from 11am to noon. More info here: https://christchurchcobblehill.net/events
Thank you for extending the welcome, Mark Genszler!
December 24, 2019
5:00PM
Christ Church Cobble Hill (326 Clinton St. Brooklyn, NY 11231) https://christchurchcobblehill.net/events
Pants-Off Dance-Off!
YES: Holiday Treats! Decorating the Tree! Dresses! Silliness! Kilts! Dancing! Skirts! Whatever-holiday-feeling-you’re-feeling! Shorts! Creativity! You! Your Friends!
NO: Pants
7pm-9pm(ish) — soft start @6:30 for the school night crowd.
Community Meeting
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 2:00pm
St. Lydia’s Community Meeting is a time for the community to gather, listen to one another, and make important decisions. All are welcome, even if you have only attended church once, but you must sign up to attend by placing your name in the sign up box on the welcome table. Please contact info@stlydias.org for more information.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
2:00pm
304 Bond St., Brooklyn, NY 11231
Community Meeting
September 22, 2019, 2:00pm
St. Lydia’s Community Meeting is a time for the community to gather, listen to one another, and make important decisions. All are welcome, even if you have only attended church once, but you must sign up to attend by placing your name in the sign up box on the welcome table.
At this meeting we will be voting on the proposal to move to the Park Church Co-op in Greenpoint (129 Russell St.). For more information, please contact info@stlydias.org
September 22, 2019
2:00pm
St. Lydia's, 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn 11231
Being a Queer Church
Sunday, September 15, 2019, 3-5pm
The Rev. Liz Edman, an Episcopal priest, political strategist, and author of the book Queer Virtue, will lead a discussion at St. Lydia’s about being a queer church.
September 15, 2019
3:00pm
St. Lydia's, 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn 11231
Community Meeting
August 25, 2019, 2:00pm
St. Lydia’s Community Meeting is a time for the community to gather, listen to one another, and make important decisions. All are welcome, even if you have only attended church once, but you must sign up to attend by placing your name in the sign up box on the welcome table. If you have any questions, please reach out to The Leadership Table (leadershiptable@stlydias.org).
August 25, 2019
2:00pm
St. Lydia's, 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn 11231
Dinner Church at Park Church Co-op
We will be having a Dinner Church worship service at the Park Church Co-op (129 Russell St.) on Tuesday, August 6th at 7:00pm.
Please email info@stlydias.org if you would like to help out with this special service.
August 6, 2019
7:00pm
The Park Church Co-op (129 Russell St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
2019 Summer Matching Grant Campaign
| This summer, St. Lydia’s received some very exciting news: An anonymous congregant has donated $20,000 to our church, in the form of a matching grant! We’re knocked over by the generosity and potential of this grant. It means that every dollar we raise this summer will be doubled. Our goal is to raise an additional $20,000 to support our ongoing work connecting neighbors, feeding hungry souls, and bringing healing and justice to our community and world. Click here to donate now. |
Community Meeting
Community Meeting: THIS SATURDAY
January 26, 2019, 11:30am
St. Lydia’s Community Meeting is a time for the community to gather, listen to one another, and make important decisions. All are welcome, even if you have only attended church once, but you must sign up to attend by placing your name in the sign up box on the welcome table. If you have any questions, please reach out to The Leadership Table (leadershiptable@stlydias.org).
We will gather at 11:30am over bagels and coffee, and the meeting will begin promptly at 11:45am.
January 26, 2019
11:30am-1:30pm
304 Bond St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Give to St. Lydia’s Year End Appeal
A message from Pastor Elsa
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.
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.
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:
- We will expand Waffle Church (our Sunday morning worship service for families and children) from monthly to weekly.
- 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.
- We are renovating our garden into a beautiful and accessible place where the congregation and community can gather for worship, rest, and celebration.
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.
Donate Here
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
St. Lydia’s 10th Anniversary Service and Elsa’s Installation
St. Lydia’s 10th Anniversary Service and Elsa’s Installation THIS SUNDAY!
Feasting, celebrating, storytelling. All are welcome.
Make sure this date is in your calendar, and spread the word!
***PLEASE NOTE This will take place at Trinity Lower East Side, and there will be NO Dinner Church Monday December 3***
December 2, 2018
6pm-9pm
Trinity Lutheran Church, 602 E 9th St, New York Facebook Event Page
Introducing St. Lydia’s New Pastor!
Following a unanimous congregational vote this weekend, we are DELIGHTED to announce that St. Lydia’s will be calling Elsa Marty to be our Pastor!
Elsa is originally from Minnesota. She is finishing her PhD in Theology through the University of Chicago Divinity School. Her dissertation is about Indian Christianity and contextual theology, and she has spent several years in India working with tribal Christians. She is passionate about a theology of grace and Christ’s love as the foundation for social justice and the healing of the world. She and her partner, Matt Veligdan, love the outdoors, making music with friends, and dollar pizza.
We are so excited for all that Elsa brings to St. Lydia’s, and for this new season that is beginning.
Please share this wonderful news!
Call Sunday
Call Sunday – Meet St. Lydia’s Pastoral Candidate
On Sunday October 7, at 4pm there will be a special Dinner Church Service with St. Lydia’s Pastoral Candidate. The congregation will have the opportunity to meet and get to know the Candidate and her partner, and to hear her preach during Dinner Church.
After the service the Congregation will vote on whether to confirm the candidate as St. Lydia’s next Pastor!
This is an important and exciting day for St. Lydia’s! All are welcome. Spread the word.
*Please note: There will be NO Dinner Church on Monday October 8!*
Families Belong Together Rally and March
Save the date for the NYC rally and march against family separation at the border. There are several rallies happening throughout the city with talk of some merging. Join St. Lydia’s Resists Hate! for information about where and when to meet. The march will be led by children and their families – parents are encouraged to attend with their children.
Waffle Church: Sticky Faith for Friends and Families
A service that lifts up children’s leadership and participation and invites everyone to get a little messy along the way. Waffle Church is made of songs, stories, construction paper, maple syrup, and the love of Jesus.
The service includes singing, a bible story, craft, and of course, waffles, and lasts about an hour.
Waffle Church takes place every Second Sunday of the month.
June 10, 2018
Coffee's hot at 10:30am, service at 11am
304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Holy Week 2018
March 31, 2018
Easter Vigil Event Page
Lent Sermon Series
The season of Lent is a time to turn down the noise and listen to God’s voice. We have heard: “me, too.” When these stories travel towards the cross of Christ’s death and resurrection, what is revealed?
Over the six weeks of Lent, the women of St. Lydia’s will trouble the waters of #MeToo and the church’s paltry response, dismantle patriarchy, reclaim women in the Bible, rupture male-female binaries, and bring Jesus’s voice back into the conversation.
This Lent the discussion on power, love, and Christian witness is more important than ever. You are very welcome here.
If you can’t be at St. Lydia’s in person, you can read all the sermons in this series on our blog.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, February 14, 7pm
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, remembering that we are dust and will return to dust. St. Lydia’s will observe Ash Wednesday with a simple service of singing, readings, and the imposition of ashes (tracing the sign of the cross on ashes on the forehead) on February 14.
Christmas Eve!
Celebrate the coming of Christ at St. Lydia’s!
Through Advent, we waited for God’s in-breaking. Now, we celebrate in joy that Christ has come to live among us.
St. Lydia’s will celebrate a joyful, informal Christmas Eve service at 5:00 on December 24.
There will be caroling, an impromptu pageant, and celebratory food and drink! Little ones (and big ones too!) are invited to bring their own angel wings, sheep or shepherd costumes, or use the ones we provide.
All are welcome!
Please note: there will be no services on Monday, December 25 or Sunday, December 31. Dinner Church returns on Monday January 1, 2018 at 7pm.
Annual Report 2017
We are pleased to share with you St. Lydia’s Annual Report for 2017, a year of big changes for us!
St. Lydia’s Annual Report 2017
Give to the Year End Appeal
A Season of Expectation
Advent is a season of waiting. For our congregants, Advent is even more poignant than usual this year, as we step into the future of this ministry, full of hope and expectation for all that God has in store in our first pastoral transition.
St. Lydia’s Call Committee is working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Metropolitan New York Synod to find our next full-time pastor. As we move through this call process, we are committed to continuing our work: to resist hate, fear, and discrimination in all its forms, to grow as a place where all are welcome, and to reflect the love of Christ in all we do.
Our goal is to raise $40,000 by the end of 2017 to enable us to call our next full-time pastor. We are delighted to announce that we have received a year-end gift of $10,000 from a congregant to kick off this campaign!
Any gift you give will help us fund a new full-time pastor. Recurring gifts make it possible for us to better predict and manage our accounts and expenses. Please donate today.
Give to the Year End Appeal
For those who have supported us in the past, and for you who support us now, we are so thankful. Please keep us in your prayers.
With gratitude,
Bob Wollenburg
-Interim Pastor
It’s Official! St. Lydia’s is looking for our next pastor.
Could that be you, or someone you know?
St. Lydia’s is a progressive, Queer-affirming congregation in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. We work together to dispel isolation, reconnect neighbors, and subvert the status quo. Worship takes place around a meal that we cook together. We explore scripture, sing, tell stories, and pray together. We seek a pastor who is able to connect with the traditions we have established while helping us innovate and grow.
You can learn more about us on our website, and read about us in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and Sojourners (linked in comments below). For more information about the position, go to http://www.elca.org/Call-Process/Current-Openings and search for “Lydia.”
To express interest, contact Margy Schmitt Ajer, Assistant to the Bishop for Congregations at the ELCA MNYS, at mschmittajer@mnys.org.
We’re very excited to take this next step. Please spread the word!
Peace and blessings,
St. Lydia’s Call Committee
Hannah Soldner – chair, Ula Barrack, Betsy Cannon, Burke Gerstenschlager, Angela Morris, Elizabeth Nelson, Drew Peterson Roach, and Phil Fox Rose
Gowanus Open Studios at St. Lydia’s
Open Studios runs from 12-6 pm on Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22.
St. Lydia’s will be exhibiting Art from the Gowanus Houses Art Collective. Located in the Gowanus Houses, GHAC connects local teens with the arts and local artists. Stop by to listen to the voices of this neighborhood at 304 Bond Street near Union.
Goodbye Emily… Hello Bob!
A Season of Transition and a Sturdy Table
This summer St. Lydia’s said goodbye to our wonderful founding pastor, Emily Scott, and welcomed our new interim pastor, Bob Wollenburg.
During this season of transition, our community continues to thrive. Each week we gather at the table – breaking bread and sharing our stories. This is a time of both opportunity and challenge for our young congregation.
Thanks to donor and congregant generosity, we have raised over $10,000 for the Sturdy Table campaign this summer.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 by the end of September.
We’re inviting you to make a two-year pledge to St. Lydia’s, for the 2017 and 2018 year. Please donate today, and write us at stlydias@stlydias.org to inform us of your two-year commitment.
Give to the Sturdy Table Campaign
Paperless Songleading with Paul Vasile
Spend an afternoon honing your song leading skills with Paul Vasile. First-timers welcome! Bring new or well-loved songs that you’d like to practice; receive gracious and supportive feedback from the group.
Free and open to all.
And you’re welcome to stay for Dinner Church at St. Lydia’s that evening. (Arrive between 5:30-6pm; service begins at 6pm).
Songleading Workshop with Paul Vasile:
Sunday May 28 2:30-4:30pm
St. Lydia’s – 304 Bond St. Brooklyn, NY
St. Lydia’s is wheelchair accessible – we just need a couple minutes to set up the ramp.
May 28, 2017
Facebook event
St. Lydia’s 2016 Annual Report
We’re pleased to share with you St. Lydia’s 2016 Annual Report. Take a look at all we’ve accomplished together this year.
The page may take a moment to load.
Annual Report 2016
Emily’s Last Service and Blessing
Pastor Emily’s final service as St. Lydia’s pastor will take place on Sunday, April 30, 2017.
Arrive between 5:30 and 6:00pm to help prepare the meal.
There will be singing, and praying, Emily will preach and preside, and we will bless her as she departs.
All are welcome.
*Please note there will be no Dinner Church on Monday, May 1
April 30, 2017
Arrive between 5:30 and 6:00pm
304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Holy Week and Easter at St. Lydia’s
This is the week we enact the central story of the Christian faith. These are challenging stories that invite us to re-pattern our lives. All people of all ages are invited to participate in the rich stories and symbols of this week. Parents: do what’s needed to make these services work for you and your child. Kids can come to later services in PJ’s, and you can leave early if needed.
We need your help (from people of all ages!) for set up and clean up! If you’d like to help out, email Julia!
Palm Sunday and Monday Dinner Church
with palms, procession, and footwashing
Sunday April 9, 6pm; Monday April 10, 7pm
304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Once a year we do what Jesus did and kneel to wash one another’s feet. Remember to wear socks, not tights
Good Friday
with song, story, stations
Friday April 14, 7pm
304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
A solemn, service with music and silence, as well as movement and exploration of the themes of the day. A short portion of this service will take place outside; please dress warmly
Easter Vigil
with fire, water, and feasting
Saturday, April 15, 8pm
Old First Reformed Fellowship Hall: 729 Carroll Street near 7th Ave
A bold celebration of our new life in Christ. You are invited to bring a potted daffodil to decorate the space. This service will begin outside; please dress warmly
*Please note: there will be no Dinner Church on Sunday, April 16 or Monday April 17 . The Easter Vigil is our church for that week!
Foster Care Informational Forum
Please join Miriam Malcolm from the New York Foundling for a foster care informational session.
Miriam will answer any and all questions and speak to attendees about the foster/adoption process in NYC.
This event is open to EVERYONE who has ever considered becoming a parent through foster/adopt.
Thank you for helping us spread the word!
Letter from Emily: A Change in Season
When he was at the table with them, he took bread,
blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…
Luke 24:30-31
blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…
Luke 24:30-31
Dear Lydians,
I am writing to share news with you today that marks a new season in the life of St. Lydia’s. Over the past months, I have been feeling a tug at my heart. It is a tug that I know well: it is God telling me that something is changing, and I am being led in a new direction. After much prayer and discernment, I know that it is time for me to step down from my role as Pastor of St. Lydia’s.
This is a hopeful moment because you, the congregation of St. Lydia’s, are ready to fly. You’re ready to step out into the future that God is calling you toward, discovering more about who you are as a congregation, how you are called to be a place of hope and healing in the world, and who is called to lead you forward in this next, shimmering stage of life.
It’s also a sad moment, because we love one another. Over the past eight years, you have taught me to be a pastor and a preacher. I have been privileged to serve as a shepherd to this community, and I have loved each of you deeply. We’ve made a community together, sitting around the table, sharing the stories of how that mysterious presence we call God does mysterious things in our lives. Those tables are where I learned to tell my own stories, and I was privileged to be asked to hold yours. You are my heart. I will carry you with me wherever I go.
The good news is that we are a people of the resurrection. Each week we tell a story of a God whose life is buried inside death. We trust that in every loss we encounter new life is waiting, ready to spring up.
A Path Forward
There are many questions that I’m sure you have about how things will unfold as St. Lydia’s moves into this next stage. I will depart from St. Lydia’s at the beginning of May. The Leadership Table and I have been working in relationship with the Metropolitan New York Synod (our local denominational body) to create a transition plan. This will involve an “Interim Pastor,” who will come to shepherd the congregation during this time of change. The interim’s job is to help the congregation learn from this in-between time, explore your congregational identity, and navigate the call process for the person who will be your next Pastor!
There will be a lot of change and some uncertainty. However, St. Lydia’s is a strong congregation. Our practices are deeply rooted and our identity is well-formed. As we often sing at St. Lydia’s, “what we need is here.” You have all you need to continue to be a congregation of love and welcome.
Next Steps for You
So what’s next? How do take in this news as a community? Here’s what you can do:
–Come to Church this Sunday or Monday. We’ll be together, and after church we’ll stick around, drink some wine, and just have a chance to chat.
-The Leadership Table will be hosting several Community Chats that will give you a chance to speak with them about this change and share your hopes and concerns. Chats will take place Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday March 14 at 7:30pm at Building on Bond, and Saturday, March 18 at 2:00pm at St. Lydia’s.
-Save the date for a Community Meeting on Saturday, March 25 from 1-3pm, which will give us an opportunity to talk together about the changes St. Lydia’s is negotiating.
–Keep showing up. Transitions are hard on congregations. Things are changing! Your presence at worship, welcoming new-comers, serving in roles, and just being part of things means more than you might realize. It’s your steadiness, commitment, and consistency that will be the basis for a strong transition for the congregation.
–Remember we’re all human. My departure will mean different things to different people. It might bring up some other losses you’ve experienced, or you might be disappointed or angry. All these feelings are part of this process, and I am experiencing this loss as well. Let’s offer each other grace and forgiveness as we navigate these waters.
What’s Next for Me!
I do not have another position waiting for me after I depart from St. Lydia’s. I am feeling called to spend some time resting and reflecting on the eight-year adventure we’ve been on together. I also have an opportunity to work on a writing project, so I’ll be digging in to some quiet time outside New York City to dedicate myself to that work. A big part of my discernment process is asking how I’m called to be a voice and witness during this moment in our nation’s history. I would like to continue to be involved in community organizing and justice work, and continue to share the story of the God who invites us across borders and boundaries, into relationship with one another, and toward justice-making.
The context isn’t quite clear yet, but I’m sitting with the questions, knowing there is much in store. As my friend Ana said once, “leap and the net will appear.”
*
Though there will be much to grieve during this time, there is also so much to celebrate. Throughout the founding of St. Lydia’s, we have worked together to ensure this is a congregation that can thrive after the departure of its founder. This, your first pastoral transition as a congregation, will be a unique process. It speaks to our congregation’s maturity and capacity to grow beyond what anyone could have dreamed that first night we gathered for Dinner Church in a friend’s apartment. God has so much in store for St. Lydia’s.
With so much love,
Emily
Support St. Lydia’s Year-End Campaign
We’re going to need to be like weeds.
Over the next four years, the progressive Church will need to be scrappy, tenacious, and impossible to get rid of. Like a weed pushing up through the cracks in the sidewalk, we will need to find insistent ways to thrive, rooting ourselves in love when hate has become all too commonplace.
The fact that St. Lydia’s exists is more important now than ever. Our nation needs churches who will be beacons in the coming years. We need to show people what following Jesus looks like. We need places that will welcome extravagantly, lay a table for everyone, work intentionally to connect people across boundaries, and actively resist hate, fear, and discrimination in all its forms.
This work takes place every day at St. Lydia’s, and it only happens with your participation.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 by the end of 2016 to allow us to be a place of justice-making every day.
As of December 29, we have raised $21,090, passing our goal and headed for our stretch goal of $27,000!
We hope you will consider a year end gift of $50, $100, or $500.
Support St. Lydia’s
Together, we are holding fast to what is good. Thank you for being a part of this work.
What Can I Do? First Steps for Resisting Hate
In the wake of our presidential election, it’s urgent that every one of us steps up and plays a part in resisting hate-based rhetoric, practices, and policies. It can feel overwhelming to try and figure out how to get involved. So…
…here are some simple steps and suggestions for how to get started, based in my participation in the #GetOrganizedBK in Brooklyn led by Council Member Brad Lander. It’s early days, and we’ll be learning more about what organizing will look like, but this is a good place to start!
Read “What Can I Do?”
Stand for Justice with St. Lydia’s
We believe that every person is made in the image of God.
As such, we believe that every person deserves freedom, dignity, and human rights and that we are called to act in solidarity with those whose lives and rights come under attack.
After our nation’s election, we stand in opposition to discriminatory and hate-based ideals, policies, and practices that claim that any humans are lesser-than based on the color of their skin, their religion, their nationality, or their gender or sexual identity.
We will stand for justice together and work together in love.
Join the Work
Receive “Stand for Justice” Emails
All are welcome to participate, of any faith or no faith.
Most opportunities will be local to the New York area.
Post-Election Open Hours
Come to St. Lydia’s to chat, connect, pray, or just be in the company of others.
304 Bond Street will be open from 8am to 7pm. Lunch will be served at 1pm. Please come be together, use our wifi, chat with the pastor, and pray for our nation. Staff will be on call to talk and pray with you.
At 8:30 pm we will pray evening prayer. Please come and be in this space of quiet and consolation.
Annual Report, 2015
We’re pleased to share with you St. Lydia’s 2015 Annual Report. Take a look at all we’ve accomplished together this year.
The page may take a moment to load.
Join St. Lydia’s at the LGBTQ Pride March
St. Lydia’s will be marching in the 4th Section, near the front of the March!
Here are the details:
Lineup location: 41st Street between Madison and Park.
Estimated step off time: 12:30 p.m.
Please arrive at 11:30 a.m. (once we step off, getting to our group will be super challenging).
We are SECTION 5, GROUP 9.
Also note: if you come from the west, walk along 42nd Street and enter 41st from Madison. Fifth Ave will be closed to cross traffic, including pedestrian traffic, starting at 11:00 a.m.
Vespers: Song Space Silence
We gather to grieve with LGBTQ kindred, to make our lament, and to pray for the strength and perseverance to be agents of change and to reject hate of all kinds, living in love.
This month’s Vespers service will feature musician Tica Douglas. We will sing Psalms, sit in silence, and remember all those who died in the hate-rooted attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Come and worship at St. Lydia’s Vespers service, led by members of St. Lydia’s community! There will be singing, silence, scripture, and thoughtful reflection. This short contemplative service is just under an hour.
We invite you to offer a $10 suggested donation to support the musicians and the work of St. Lydia’s.
Vespers takes place every third Thursday.
People of Faith Against Hate and Gun Violence
St. Lydia’s grieves with LGBTQ kindred in the wake of the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
As Christians, we follow a God of love, not a God of hate, and are called to live in ways of love in the world, rejecting homophobia, islamophobia, racism, and hatred of all kinds.
We are called to be agents of change in the world, protecting those who are vulnerable and working to create a nation in which all people might live in safety and security, freely living out their God-given identities.
Click here to resist hate and gun violence!
Make Busy Better
MAKE BUSY BETTER
wellness workshop & yoga session
Wednesday, June 15 – 6:45pm to 8:45pm
St. Lydia’s – 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Please RSVP to warrior2wolfe@gmail.com by June 5
Free Admission
Want to increase your productivity and refine your communication skills? Want to up your EQ? Want to get better at time management? In the midst of busy days and busier brains, taking time to recharge your inner battery improves all areas of your life. We’ll begin with a vinyasa yoga class (beginners welcome!) to engage our body, connect with breath, and quiet the mind. The second hour will focus on gathering tips and tools for taking better care of yourself every day.
Amy Wolfe is a New York City-based yoga teacher, passionate about sharing the joys of yoga with her fellow New Yorkers. Born and raised in Mexico City, Amy first started practicing yoga (often in Spanish) at the age of fifteen. Many years later, after having moved to New York for law school, Amy deepened her own practice and enrolled in a Yoga Alliance-registered 200-Hour Teacher Training Program. Ever learning, Amy has since done further training programs and cultivates her own knowledge through everyday practice, both on and off the mat (i.e. in formal classes and through practicing yoga throughout the day).
Daisy Robinson is a Balancer based in Venice, California who specializes in life coaching professionals by having them look at their whole life from personal to professional, friendships to finances to see what’s working and create success strategies to improve the rest. By mixing Eastern philosophies with Western real life application and employing strategies and exercises from both NLP and ICF accredited trainings, Daisy is able to help you transform your life. Daisy believes everyone deserves and is capable of achieving emotional fulfillment. By learning to live in the wonderment of every moment you can move from suffering to celebrating and to reignite your spark for life.