It’s sad to see such a great man go, but we wish him the best of luck! Thanks for everything Griffin! You rule.
Dear Friends,
On Monday evening at the Congregational Council meeting, I submitted my resignation as the pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Messiah. It has been my honor to serve you for the last seven and a half years. You have been my teachers and friends. For that, I am eternally grateful. Together, we have worked to reach out to the community in innovative ways — being a beacon of hope to our neighbors and beyond.
As I enter a new decade in my life, I am feeling called by God into new adventures in my personal and professional life. I will be moving to Boston. At this time, I do not have a pastoral call or a job secured, but I have several possibilities in the mix. I am looking forward to what God has in store for me!
I have spoken with Bishop Rimbo about my plans. He and his staff are committed to walking closely with the congregation through the upcoming transition. The work accomplished by the Messiah/St. John’s dialog committee has laid the groundwork for moving forward together. Messiah is a resilient congregation, and I know that the future is bright even though it is a bit unclear at this time.
I plan to serve through the end of June, and my last Sunday will be June 24. I look forward to making the most of these final days with you.
Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your on-going prayers and support.
Nicole Reed, who began petitioning for a Farmer’s Market in McGolrick park sent me some positive feedback and updates:
The first meeting on 1/30 to discuss the possibility of a Farmer’s Market at McGolrick Park, with 709 signatures in hand, along with the support from District Leader Lincoln Restler, Morgan Pehme of the Friends of McGolrick Park, and Rev. Griffin Thomas of the Church of the Messiah was a success.
Community Markets is on the agenda to present tomorrow night, Thurs., 2/23 at 6:30pm, before the Parks and Waterfront Committee of Community Board 1 of Brooklyn. Location: 435 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211. This meeting is open to the public. Please attend to show your support.
Guests were raving about all the great gifts and delicious sweets & savories they enjoyed from local vendors, and there was a real African Grey Parrot for the kids to feed! The space was decorated so lovely by Julie of J.Hollis Styles and the artwork on display was gorgeous.
Thanks to Cara from Write by Hand and Jessie, from Sadie Magazine for the love letter writing station, to Miguel of Marofoto for his love nest photos, Eric from Sidereal Signs for doing astrology readings and the ladies of Holler for putting on a great show. Special thanks to all the local businesses who made the raffle and surprise gifts fun and exciting.
Thanks to our awesome contributors Hilary, Yana & Peter for helping to set-up the market and Griffin for letting us use the church! I would also like to thank my special Valentine Jon for all of his support, problem solving and encouragement. This great event could not have happened without everyone’s love, brawn & great attitudes! (has the music started?)
The Love Birds Valentine’s Market this Saturday, 2/11 is going to be amazing! Aside from a long list of talented food and gift vendors, local artwork, $1 raffle prizes & $10 surprise gifts, there will be a FREE Bird’s Nest Photo Booth, Free Astrology Readings, a Love Letter Writing Station, plus the band Holler performs at 3:30pm. Here is a sneak peak at all the great things you may find or win this Saturday!
For an updated vendor, artist and prize list, click here. RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends!
Greenpointers Lover Birds Valentine’s Market
Saturday, February 11, 2012
noon-5pm
Lutheran Church of the Messiah
129 Russell St
Greenpoint, NY 11222
Mark your calendars for Greenpointers Love Birds Valentine’s Market! On Saturday February 11, 2012, food, gift & craft vendors will take over the Lutheran Church of the Messiah (129 Russell St) from noon-5pm. The interiors of the space will be transformed by a professional set designer and local artists will be showcasing their work. There will be live music, a FREE birdy photo booth, a love letter writing station, $1 raffles, and a $10 surprise gift table, free astrology readings, plus more! Check back as we update our list of vendors, prizes and happenings…
If you bring in a recipe for the Greenpointers Community Cook Book, you will get a *free raffle! Just print this out and fill it in. *Limit one raffle per person.
I spotted this amazing poster at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah. I’m bird obsessed and have a poster fetish so I was extremely hyper about this find. I tacked it to my fridge then upon closer inspection discovered it’s for a martial arts class called White Crane: Unity of Body and Movement from the Island of Java. And it’s right here in Greenpoint (129 Russell St) on Thursdays at 7:00pm for $5. Dreamy.
The description of this beginner “no experience necessary” class is promising, with “self-cultivation opportunities appropriate for everybody – independent of age, gender and physical condition,” that “will work on learning balance, coordination, strength, and endurance, so if you don’t have those skills yet, no problem.”
Yet? I have been working on these elusive skills my whole life, especially balance and coordination. Sometimes I wonder why I even have hands with all the dropping I do. Three broken iphone screens later and the universe needs me to take this class.
Five bucks is cheaper than a beer and you get a hell of a lot more out of this intense hour and a half class than from a beer. And you can just have a beer after class!
When I met our instructor Karl a.k.a. Kayrock, who has years of experience studying this “movement system” and spent some months training in Java, I didn’t ask him about the class, I asked him about the poster.
“I love this poster!”
Kayrock runs Kayrock Screenprinting, which was at Monster Island then moved to the GMDC building on Manhattan Ave. after the massive evacuation. Another multi-talented Greenpointer doing great things in the community. And your $5 is donated to the church.
White Crane was so on. We began by jogging around the basement of the church barefoot to warm up. Then we did a series of punch and kick repetitions that really got us pumped. After some stretching, Kayrock described the method as a the yoga of martial arts, and many of the stretches were similar and very relaxing.
Then the coordination training began. We did slide walk kicks across the floor, repeatedly. At first they felt awkward but after my body learned the movement and I started to get it, it was a lot of fun. I was able to focus on what I was doing in the moment, which is great for dealing with everyday stress and distractions.
After that we moved on to the “dance fighting with a partner” portion. That is not the technical name, but that is what it felt like. This is where martial arts really differs from yoga. In yoga you fly solo, on your own mat and work on an inward practice. White Crane is more dynamic in that your practice is outward and shared, and you must anticipate the movements of someone else, while trying to be coordinated yourself. Not easy, but even in the short time I was there I got better.
My fight dance partner was my boyfriend. If this isn’t a form of couples therapy I don’t know what is. At one point Jon and I were fumbling through one of the block then punch slide routines and he said, “You punch me, then I punch you.” I never thought I would ever hear that sentence much less it be a positive statement, but it was and we got better at fighting each other, gently of course.
We raved about the class all week and look forward to returning and getting better. I can’t wait until I can trip him so he falls on the floor! And he’s going to like it.
Try White Crane; you will be hooked. And watch this video I made. Aaliyah and Timbaland and trips and back flips make up for the poor editing.
White Crane: Unity of Body and Movement From the Island of Java
Thursdays @ 7:00-8:30pm
Lutheran Church of the Messiah
129 Russell St
Greenpoint
Greenpointers is excited to announce our first Greenpointers Holiday Market, December 17, 2011 from 12-5pm at Lutheran Church of the Messiah (129 Russell St). RSVP on Facebook.
RAFFLES GENEROUSLY DONATED BY: Fanaberie $25 Gift Certificates (2) Human@Ease 2 Week Membership GoodYoga 1 Month Cafe Grumpy $25 Gift Certificate Cato’s $25 Gift Certificate Word Brooklyn Book Basket Silk Road Cycles $55 Bike Lights
Freckle Mini- Facial (coconut oil face massage) (2)
1 Dozen NY Love Cakes
Dusty Rose $30 Gift Certificate
Greenpoint Heights $25 Gift Certificate
Also: $1 raffles from local businesses! Prizes TBA…
If you fill out this recipe card, you will get a free raffle ticket*! Your recipe may be included in the Greenpointers Community Cookbook. Download a printable PDF of the recipe card. To get involved in this project email greenpointers (at) gmail.com
*Limit 1 free raffle per person. You can buy unlimited raffle tickets.
• Greenpoint’s Ugly Art Room shows Head Space in Clinton Hill for Paper Garden Records’ Multiverse Playground Part III (104 Emerson Pl.) 11am-midnight $8, music, comedy, art RSVP
• An Evening With Craig Thompson @ WORD (126 Franklin) cocktail party, $40 Buy Tix
SUNDAY 9/18/2011
• Children’s Art Day @ The GIFT Garden at Greenpoint Shul (108 Noble) 12:30-4pm, arts & crafts, gardening & raffles More info
• Taste Williamsburg Greenpoint (No.11 betw. Kent & Water) 1-6pm, 40 local restaurants, breweries, winerie, music, $35-150, benefits Northside Town Hall - Buy Tix
• Brew n’ Chew Chew IV @ The Diamond (43 Franklin) 3-5pm, taste beer & food pairings from 7 teams, $30, proceeds donated to The MARK Project to support hurricane relief in the Catskills Buy Tix
