This year our Lenten Outreach Program is to support The GO PROJECT NYC.
The GO Project's™ mission is to shape the futures of low-income New York City public school children by providing critical academic, social, and emotional support starting in the early elementary years. It provides year-round educational and family support services to children who are performing below grade level and equips them with the confidence and skills needed to succeed at school, at home, and in life. GO was founded in 1968 by members of Grace Church and Grace Church School to solve a problem they saw: just a few blocks away in the Lower East Side, many students were living in poverty and failing to thrive in school. They saw an opportunity: use Grace Church School on Saturdays and during the summer to provide a high quality tutoring program for these students, and equip them with the skills needed for future success. GO has gone from serving 15 students to 650 across Lower Manhattan and Chelsea. GO continues to rely on community members for its work- experienced teachers, skilled social workers, dedicated volunteers, committed families, and enthusiastic students. There is more information on the bulletin board in the Common Room or at GOProjectnyc.org.
St. John's is going to support GO in two ways:
1. Our monetary goal is $3,000.00. You may make a donation by check; please make checks out to St John's in the Village with GO Project in the memo space. Donations can be made in person with the usual Sunday offering or mailed to St.John;s Epicopal Church, 224 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014.
2. We are collecting new and gently used children's books appropriate for children ages K through 8th grade. If you are buying books, please consider buying books in Chinese or Spanish. There is a box in the Common Room for the books. You can deposit books there on Sunday mornings, or come by the 224 Waverly Place office door between 2:00 and 5:00 Monday through Thursday afternoons.
We are grateful to GO for giving us the opportunity to serve. Indeed, GO's mission statement expresses our parish mission: Deepening of community, and connection between our personal journey and the gospel call to respond to the needs of others. GO offers us an opportunity to live fully into our understanding of stewardship, sharing of time, talent, as well as our understanding of Lenten practice which deepens our faith as we respond to need. It is my hope that (to quote Humphrey Bogart's Rick in Casablanca) "this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship", which will continue well past Easter. After all, Resurrection never ends.
May your Lenten journey be one of depth, wisdom and insight, bringing you at last to Easter joy,
Pastor Gwyneth