Living OUT During Covid-19

Dear First Alliance family,

We continue to miss you all and pray that the day we get to gather back together comes soon. Our staff continues to pray for health and protection along with sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading in our own personal evangelism and service of those around us. I know that I have been so grateful for the wisdom from God’s Word and the Spirit’s gentle and clear leading during this season of figuring out how to engage and love my neighbors and others.

Before I get into our OUT update, I wanted to share something from my heart. During this season, I have been exploring other ways to experience intimacy with God than my normal patterns of devotional time with some great worship and delicious single-origin coffee. I came across this prayer as I’ve been exploring some liturgy, which is very new to me. I thought it was great as we continue to look OUT, along with UP and IN, during this time.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory forever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I am grateful to partner with you in God’s mission, declaring His love for all the world starting here where we are placed, whether it’s Wilmore, Nicholasville, Versailles, Lexington, or another town nearby. As we continue to partner together in moving OUT towards the world in mission, here is a way you can practically serve…

“Drive By, Drop Off” Food Drive- THIS Wednesday, the 22nd, from 1-5pm

We will be hosting our 3rd food drive to support Wellington and Booker T elementary schools. We will be ready for your donations this coming Wednesday from 1-5pm on the “apartment side” of our church. You can drive up and even stay in your car! If you would like to stay in, please place your food in your trunk and just open it up and our team will collect the items. Here are the needed items for this coming food drive…

  • Frozen vegetables
  • Frozen chicken nuggets
  • Frozen pizzas
  • Bread
  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Breakfast Foods
  • Fresh fruit (if available)
  • Snack food
  • Activities for kids: board games, craft supplies, etc.
  • Hygiene supplies

Also, if you are willing to participate, we will shoot short video responses again! Please be prepared to answer this simple question when you drop off your items. “How do you or have you seen God move during the Covid-19 pandemic?”. This can be shot through your (open) car window and we will shoot for only a sentence or two, please! The staff working the “Drive By, Drop Off” will shoot this video answer on their phone. This may be a part of a future Sunday worship service.

As you plan to participate with First Alliance in the food drive, we also wanted to share some quick stories of how God is on the move and how our community is making an impact!

  • Even though we had to cancel our mission trip to Peru, our small deposit was funneled into Covid-19 relief in Trujillo, Peru and our partner, Inca Link, has fed 230 families for one month! Even when plans change, God moves in mighty ways!
  • We have gotten notes from multiple medical professionals that thanked us for the unique gifts to “Rest Well”. These “Rest Well” gifts include an encouraging note from a peer, a note and prayer from First Alliance to them, and a gift card for a great meal when they are home and off work so they can rest and refuel! Our God desires to lift our spirits and carry our burdens!
  • The family resource center coordinators we have been partnering with at Booker T and Wellington elementary schools have both shared their gratitude and shock at our tremendous response through our food drives for the families they are caring for. God is at work in our city and we get to be a part.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and participation during this unique season. The First Alliance staff and I are so grateful for how you all have stayed engaged and even explored new ways to be a part of community and on mission.

We miss you guys!
Zach