The Gallery

A Gallery Summer

Gallery, imagine the following:

Next Thursday, June 2 you arrive somewhere between 3:00 and 7:30 to take your shift at the Obama School's Spring Fling. Maybe this is your first time having an opportunity to volunteer at the school. As you receive your assignment to go take tickets at the dunk tank or do some face-painting or sell food, you marvel at all the different cultures that go to that school. You get to see the huge smiles on the kids' faces as they laugh with each other playing games. You see God's kids, made in His image, running everywhere. Perhaps Jesus is closer than you think that day! What's more, you look around the campus and you see Gallery volunteers showing up all over the place, and you're reminded we really are reaching out to the community we serve. You think, "I'm glad I'm here."

I hope you'll be there. To register your interest, go to the Connections Table this Sunday morning or email Rita Lindstedt at ritalindstedt@gallerycovenant.org.

Or imagine this...

It's Sunday morning, June 19th at 9:00 AM. Instead of driving to Steppingstone Theatre, you drive to the Obama school's playground area. As you do, you begin to see signs: Absolutely Free Garage Sale (No kidding!). It's The Gallery's first Be the Church Day! Your car is packed to the gills with items you were going to sell at your own garage sale, but now you can't wait to simply give the gifts away! You park on the street (far enough away so guests can easily find a spot) and make your way over to the crowd of Gallery people already there. You grab some coffee and a donut. "What do I do?" you ask. Our new intern Julie Capel points to some tables and asks you to organize your stuff among the goods already there. You can't believe how much stuff is there ready to be given away!

10:00 AM rolls around and suddenly neighbors start to show up. How did they hear about this?! Oh, that's right, last Sunday, June 5th after church you helped pass out grocery bags with invitations to the Free Garage Sale to 2000 homes. You thought it'd be a pain, but it went so quickly :-)

One woman approaches you and seems confused: "There aren't prices on anything! How are we supposed to know how much stuff costs?"

You smile, "It's all free!" 

"Oh, that can't be. Take $5.00. Give it to the church."

You shake your head. "Sorry, ma'am. No donations accepted. It's all free."

The woman can't believe it. "Why in the world are you doing this?"

"Consider it a reminder of God's free gift of love. Enjoy!"

"How much may I take?"

"As much as you want."

She shakes her head and smiles.

1:00 comes sooner than you'd thought. Most everything is gone, but not everything. You take the few things of your own that weren't given away and put them in your car, then help others load the truck with leftovers to be given to Goodwill. You help pack up the tables and pick up some trash. You drive home with a smile on your face thinking, "Now that was fun!"

 

 

A Historical Sunday!

Gallery, 

This Sunday is a historical Sunday for our church. It is our official Charter Sunday--the Sunday when all who call The Gallery home will sign a charter document declaring themselves the founding fathers and mothers of this new church. It is upon our commitment to Christ that future generations will build this church and share Christ's good news. This is big time stuff!

In addition, it is our monthly Masterpiece Sunday. We are going to celebrate all God has done this past year through our new church. Videos, photos, stories, an interview with the principal and leaders from the Obama school. It will be a profound celebration of God's great actions among us.

It will also be a great Sunday to invite a friend for in it the mission and calling of The Gallery will shine brightly. Pastries and coffee pre-service! Hope to see you there!

In addition, here are some ways you can join us in living God's masterpiece:

 

SPRING FLING AT THE OBAMA SCHOOL 
The Obama school holds an annual Spring Carnival for the students. This year's event will happen the afternoon and evening (3:00 to 7:30 PM) of June 2nd. If you haven't had an opportunity to help out at the school this year, this is a great first step. There will be afternoon and evening time slots for everything from face-painting, to ticket sales to games, to dunk tanks! To register your interest, go to the Connections Table this Sunday morning or email Rita Lindstedt at ritalindstedt@gallerycovenant.org.

 

Ministry Partner update from Quest Mazique. 
The official launch of the 9 month Regal program has begun with 13 young ladies embarking on their journey of discovering their true identity in Christ. The group will meet April to December on every other Thursday evening. We are in need of people to donate meals for our young ladies on class nights. If you would like to cook, donate food, or give a monetary gift please contact ritalindstedt@gallerycovnent.org.

 

OBAMA SCHOOL BOOK DRIVE 
A big thank you to all helped donate books to the Obama school book drive. At present The Gallery has donated over 2600 books. We should have a total count of the number of books that were donated as the books are sorted and organized for distribution to the students. If you are able to help with the book distribution on June 1st during school hours please contactritalindstedt@gallerycovenant.org. 

 

ABSOLUTELY FREE GARAGE SALE
On Sunday morning June 19th The Gallery will be holding its first "Be-the-Church-Sunday" where instead of meeting for a typical worship service, we will worship by serving others. On this particular day we will be holding an Absolutely Free Garage Sale at the playground of The Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning School. This garage sale is an absolute blast because nothing will be sold! Everything will be given away! So when you do your spring cleaning, be sure to set aside items for the Absolutely Free Garage Sale.

 

Giving Update:
Month-to-date:  $9,901.00
Monthly Budget: $15,594.00 
You can give online to The Gallery by clicking here. 

 

A Generous People, A Generous Trust

THIS SUNDAY--A GENEROUS TRUST
Generosity is not only a value. Generosity has power. A generous word, a generous gift, a generous life brings light to darkness. The power of God is not only in God's miracles but in God's generosity. Join us this Sunday as we step into week-two of our series--A Generous Community. 

 

MAY BIBLE READINGS
A big thank you to Pastor Jane for posting our May Bible readings. Join us in diving deeper into God's story. Readings can be found here.

 

OBAMA SCHOOL BOOK DRIVE--Deadline this Sunday
Our Goal: 5000 books! The Gallery has been asked by the Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary School to participate in their end of the year book drive. As you may know, children in poverty are the least likely to have access to reading material at home, and yet reading material at home is one of the best indicators of future academic success. Suggested titles and themes can be found here.

 

ABSOLUTELY FREE GARAGE SALE
On Sunday morning June 19th The Gallery will be holding its first "Be-the-Church-Sunday"where instead of meeting for a typical worship service, we will worship by serving others. On this particular day we will be holding an Absolutely Free Garage Sale at the playground of The Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning School. This garage sale is an absolute blast because nothing will be sold! Everything will be given away! So when you do your spring cleaning, be sure to set aside items for the Absolutely Free Garage Sale.

• Needed Free Garage Sale Task Force. If you'd like to help implement this great event, contact ritalindstedt@gallerycovenant.org.

 

SPRING FLING AT THE OBAMA SCHOOL (spring)
The Obama school holds an annual Spring Fling party for the students. This year's party will happen the afternoon and evening (2:00 to 7:30 PM) of June 2nd. If you haven't had an opportunity to help out at the school this year, this is a great first step. There will be afternoon and evening time slots. To register your interest, go to the Connections Table this Sunday morning or email Rita Lindstedt at ritalindstedt@gallerycovenant.org.

 

MASTERPIECE SUNDAY--Life in Christ in Art (May 22)
Begin praying now for whom you might like to invite to this May's Masterpiece Sunday. It is going to be extra special for 2 reasons:

1. We are going to celebrate all God has done this past year through our new church. Videos, photos, stories, an interview with the principal and leaders from the Obama school. It will be a profound worship of God's great work among us. 
2. It will be The Gallery's Charter Sunday! The Gallery is being officially welcomed into our denomination (The Evangelical Covenant Church) this June. Part of that process is to have a Charter Sunday where all those who call The Gallery home sign a charter document as the founding fathers and mothers of this new church. It'll be a profound moment for us as a church. And actually a great introduction of your friends to our church.