August 2021 Update: Delta Virus Edition

Ah, summer in New York. The heat shimmering on the sidewalk, the kids splashing in public pools, the weddings in Central Park. For the last two months, we at Vineyard One NYC have celebrated summer and the waning of the covid virus by holding hybrid in-person + virtual meetings at the Errigo-Rosen home in Staten Island.  They’ve been a joy, with our attendees about evenly split between those on-site and those joining us via Zoom. We’ve connected with new visitors and old friends and seen God work in some amazing ways. We’ve been able to hug people we haven’t seen in the flesh for over a year.

Unfortunately, now we have the Delta variant, which can infect and be transmitted by even vaccinated people and is causing a resurgence of infections and hospitalizations.  Given this game-changer, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause our in-person gatherings for the time being. Even though everyone teen and adult that came in-person has been vaccinated, we don’t want to risk transmitting the virus to those in our circles with fragile health, not to mention children under twelve who are not able to receive vaccinations yet. Ultimately, in order to protect our church family and our communities, we think returning to exclusively online services is the best thing for now.

We continue to be so thankful for the technology that allows us to stay connected and for the flexibility and resilience of our church family all over the world. And for all who continue to support us through these rocky and uncertain times. And we pray for those who are ill and those who care for them, whether medical professionals or loved ones. (A quick PSA: Please get vaccinated if you haven’t already! This is a tangible, practical, quite likely lifesaving way to love your neighbor as  yourself.)

Our sermon series is “Inner Peace Through Friendship with Jesus.” This Sunday, August 15th, we’re talking about God’s generous sharing of his love and resources with us – and through us. We hope you’ll join us at 10:30 am on Zoom at  https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9983878948.

And, if you need a moment of quiet encouragement, please listen to the new contemplative reflection at soulspace.center on 1 Peter 5:7-10, “An Invitation for Restoration.” We hope you will find encouragement in Jesus’ promise to be with us in suffering and to take on all of our worries and cares.

Always in the hope of Christ,

Carrie Myers

Spiritual Director, Vineyard One NYC

 

 

Photo credit: Charles Parker from Pexels

 

Finding Inner Peace in 2021

Here in New York City, we’ve had signs of spring: tree branches sporting a few leaf buds, 60 degree days, lots of sunshine. Then today, it was 21 degrees. So we may have to hold on for a few more weeks of winter!

At Vineyard One, we’ve been continuing our weekly Zoom church. We’ve become quite international in our scope! For a few Sundays now, we’ve welcomed friends from Germany, Columbia, and Ireland, as well as from all five boroughs of New York City, Pennsylvania, and California. We’ve found that the live Zoom format – particularly with breakout rooms for a social “Coffee and Bagel” time and for prayer time – has really helped us to stay connected as a community even though many of us haven’t seen each other in person for much of the past year.

Our focus for 2021 has been on seeking and maintaining inner peace – not an easy thing to do at any time, but especially during a pandemic. We’ve been seeking to experience the love of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit  – and through that, develop a deep and lasting interior peace and freedom. Our Scripture teaching, worship music, and contemplative prayers are all centered around this pursuit. Our first sub-theme, which we started in January and will continue for a few more Sundays, is “Inner Peace Through Divine Love.”

In the meantime, we continue to partner with our friends at Love of God Ministries. They just sent several barrels of supplies to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and St. Lucia, with three more barrels set to arrive around Easter. Our missions fund helps support this ongoing work at local women’s and children’s shelters. Our benevolence fund has also provided support to several in our community who have lost work or had extra expenses due to covid. We are so grateful to everyone who supports Vineyard One NYC and makes these services at home and abroad possible!

Finally, my partners and I at Soul Space have been continuing to release one guided contemplative prayer a month. Check out soulspace.center for the latest: a meditation on trust based on Isaiah 43:1-4. There is also a daily examen to help you find awareness of how God has been present in your week; and an imaginative prayer based on Matthew 11, inviting you to bring your burdens and worries before Jesus. We truly believe that contemplative prayer can help each of us grow into our true selves before God – to connect deeply with God as our source of life, love, and purpose and to find freedom and joy in that relationship.

When will we meet in person again? Much depends on how quickly the vaccinations continue, and whether they are sufficient to keep in check the various strains of covid that are out there. We’re tentatively hoping by the end of the summer we can start having a house-church-type gathering in Staten Island. We’re also seeking to begin or join some kind of community service effort in the Elmhurst or Jackson Heights area of Queens – perhaps ESL classes or a food pantry. We’re not sure yet, so we’re keeping our eyes open to see where and how the Spirit is leading and what opportunities might be in front of us.

Please keep us in your prayers as we explore, dream, and listen to the Spirit to see what might be in front of us! And please let us know how we might pray for you!

Carrie Myers

Spiritual Director

Vineyard One NYC