Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Communications Coordinator
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Approved Candidate
Experience
“Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
Communications Coordinator July 2016 - Present
Assist the Bishop’s Office of the ELCJHL and the ELCJHL
congregations and schools with English communication, locally and internationally. Including distribution of ELCJHL news, press releases, media kits, management of website and social media content, curating ELCJHL annual report, develop media strategy, coordinate media requests and event planning for visiting clergy, companions, and donors. Oversee a team of multimedia creatives.
The Training and Counseling Center at St. Luke's
CPE Chaplain Jun 2014 - Aug 2014
Unlike traditional Clinical Pastoral Education programs, TACC is one of the few centers nationwide that offers CPE within an inner-city setting. Instead of completing service hours at a hospital or hospice I was involved in ministry at the Church of the Common Ground and Central Presbyterian Outreach and Advocacy Center, located in downtown Atlanta. These nonprofits served the homeless, those struggling with substance abuse, mental illness and unemployment.
Saoirse Homeschool Academy
Homeschool Parent Sep 2002 - Aug 2014
I am responsible for planning a yearly objective, setting goals and reviewing previous years’ accomplishments for my two elementary-age children. I must obtain the required materials to meet those upcoming goals and tasks. I research new and proven curriculum that best fits the learning style of both children and my teaching style. I must creatively and enthusiastically, implement the lessons weekly. I also am required by the state to manage and maintain records of academic subjects and attendance.
Inspiritus
Fieldwork Intern Apr 2013 - Dec 2013
One part of the deaconess formation process is to complete 100 hours of fieldwork. To comply with my fieldwork requirements, I began working with Inspiritus ( formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia) ' "Friends in Hope" immigrant/migrant/refugee detention visitation program.
Created and organized an English & Spanish Bible study for female detainees. - "Words of Hope"
Delta Airlines
Flight Attendant, On Board Leader Oct 1997 - Sep 2007
Ultimate responsibility was the safe and comfortable passage of Delta customers. Managed a crew of three to 9 flight attendants while ensuring open communication with the flight-deck crew. Delegated tasks and oversaw the delivery of customer service throughout the aircraft in English and Spanish.
Florida Department of Children and Families
Case Manager Nov 1996 - Jul 1997
Handled Medicaid, Medicare and food stamp program for elderly and disabled citizens. Maintained a caseload of 300 recipients and met with them regularly to reestablish benefits. Kept accurate records of clients’ financial history and benefits.
Naples Daily News
Copyeditor Nov 1992 - Nov 1996
Edited world, national and local news stories while adhering to strict deadlines, daily. Also designed section fronts and inside pages.Volunteer Experience
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." ~ Luke 12:48
ELCJHL Deacon Training Program
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
– Present
At the request of the presiding bishop of the ELCJHL, I and five deacons from five countries were commissioned to create a diakonate training program for the church. I developed training, first for pastors to help understand the historical and modern role of the diakonate and how it might enhance the productivity of the ministry, then we were asked to create a training for the deacon candidates who were recognized by the church as having a spirit of diakonia.
Outreach and Renewal Committee
Southeastern Synod, ELCA
August 2014 – June 2016
The Outreach and Renewal Committee completes ministry reviews and grants outreach money to ministries across the synod with a focus on new starts, renewing congregations, multicultural/ethnic congregations, and poverty ministries. In 2013-2014 the committee advised and assisted several new ministries including an alternate worshiping community, a Caribbean ministry, and an ecumenical homeless outreach called Trinity Ministries in Memphis, Tennessee.
Christian Formation Director
The Lutheran Church of the Messiah
– (3 years 9 months)
Researched and implemented Christian education curriculum and recruited and managed volunteers. Taught grades preschool through middle schodol in a one-room schoolhouse setting.
Foster Parent
Neighbor To Family
– (2 years)
Education
Education as the Practice of Freedom ~ bell hooks
Network of Biblical Storytellers Conference
Storytelling, Continuing Education Credits 2013 - 2013
We are an ecumenical, deeply caring, inclusive community of pastors, Christian educators, storytellers and laity. We gather as a Network around our belief that the oral telling of the Holy Scriptures is of critical importance as the church grows and changes. We have dedicated ourselves to the study, internalization and performance of the ancient oral tradition of the scriptures.
University of Florida
Journalism, Bachelor of Arts 1990 - 1992
The University of Florida intends to educate, inform and provide updated information on UF activities through its social media site. All UF comments are made by UF designees. This site is not a public forum. Social media users may share ideas through commentary that is responsive to a UF post. The University of Florida reserves the right to remove any comments that are not responsive and therefore do not fall within this purpose. All such comments made by social media users reflect the opinions of the users and not necessarily those of the University of Florida.
Miami Dade College
Journalism, Associate of Arts 1987 - 1990
Miami Dade College is the largest and most diverse college in the nation. With eight campuses and more than 174,000 students from across the world, the College offers over 300 programs of study and several degree options, including vocational, associate, and baccalaureate degrees. MDC features numerous Continuing Education classes, online credit classes through the Virtual College, the New World School of the Arts, the School for Advanced Studies, The Honors College and Dual Enrollment.
Columbia Theological Seminary
Christian Education, Master of Arts in Practical Theology 2013 - 2015
Practical theology is the application of theology to everyday life.
Lutheran Diaconal Association
Diakonia 2013 - 2016
The LDA prepares women and men for servant leadership as Lutheran deaconesses and deacons. These people serve others in a variety of roles both within the church and within the community - wherever God leads them.SERMONS
... and other projects
Escape
November 2018
Last week my family and I had Thanksgiving dinner with friends who live in an eclectic neighborhood in West Jerusalem.
Now, these friends are informed American Kabbalists who spend part of their time in Connecticut where the husband teaches Arabic and Hebrew Literary Translation and his wife is a prolific, published author of historic fiction.
Before I tell you about our dinner, I need to tell you a little about the tradition from my North American perspective. The tradition of Thanksgiving is a widely known-mythical story of European pilgrims’ arrival to North America and the peaceful celebration of the year’s harvest or bounty topped off with a meal between the inhabitants of the land and the newcomers. What we know today is that the narrative is often used to distract us from the end of the story --- the land grab of much of the North American continent leaving natives on small, shrinking portions of land called, reservations.
I Don't Like Gates: A Sermon on Divine Enclosure
07 May 2017
Fourth Sunday in Easter
I don’t like gates, enclosures, pens, fences, walls.
I never have. It’s part of the reason I felt more suited to the call of deacon or the office of Word and Service, a position that is called to go outside of the walls of the church, mostly.
The feeling of being restricted bothers me. It bothers me, even more when others appear to be stuck, confined, or fenced in. I want to be free to live the life God intended and I encourage others to find that freedom as well.
I imagine if you are here today, in the Holy Land, restrictions and confinement bother you too, and that’s why you’ve come to walk with others toward freedom.
Jerusalem
Oct 23, 2016
"Self Righteous Humility"
First I want to thank you for allowing me, a newbie to Jerusalem, into this mission with many of you who have dedicated years, some, a lifetime to the work here. And, I am honored that Pastor Carrie and Bishop Younan both understand the office of deacon or deaconess as one called to “Word” and service.
For Pastor Carrie “deacon” means one who is trained to fill in when she is on vacation.
Let me tell you a little about the office of deacon. I am actually in the candidacy process or final requirements with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Southeastern Synod – Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi to be consecrated – not ordained – to the ministry of Word (the Gospel) and service (diakonia) or works.
Epiphany 2015
Jan. 4, 2015
Matthew 2:1-12
Church of the Common Ground
Seminary Student, Adrainne Gray
An Exchange of Gifts
Our Gospel reading today marks the beginning of Epiphany. In the liturgical church tradition, it is the moment when Christ is revealed to the Magi. The magi, Persian astrologers from the east, read the skies and see the star indicating Christ’s birth. The Gentile magi or wise men, set out to find the babe, first going to the most logical place, Jerusalem. Where the temple and all things powerful happened. But they do not find the baby there; they are directed by the star to continue on to Bethlehem where they find Jesus and Mary. Read more...
Parable of the Weeds
July 2014
Matthew 13:1-9
Church of the Common Ground
Seminary Student, Adrainne Gray
The Parable of the Weeds
In the remaining passage, Jesus pulls his disciples inside to explain the parable. He tells them exactly what each part of the parable represents, The Son of Man (Jesus) is the wealthy landowner, the kingdom is the world, the children of the good seed are of those of God’s kingdom and the children of the bad seed are children of the enemy.
But, if I may be as bold to call Jesus out on something, and that is, he doesn’t tell us directly who the slaves represent. I ask you, who do you think the servants are in this story? Read more...
Theology of Christian Education
Oct 14, 2014
Introduction to Christian Education
Seminary Student, Adrainne Gray
The Bible is a diverse source for much of my Christian doctrine. I can find what seems to be, conflicting passages on major doctrinal beliefs, such as the Trinity, the essence of Christ, and an indefinite human description for the nature of God. But according to some scholars it is within the overarching biblical narrative where we can look for the best responses to our human yearning to know God[1].
[1] (Migliore 1991)
Raising Lazarus
April 2014
John 11
The Lutheran Church of the Messiah
Seminary Student, Adrainne Gray
Good morning, I come to you as a servant of Christ and of this church; I pray that the gospel of the Lord be balm for the wounded, refuge for the newcomer. Amen
Derrick Kayongo was born in Uganda and lived a peaceful, happy childhood with his parents a seamstress and a printer; and his two sisters. But when unrest broke out at the end of dictator Idi Amin’s reign there was violence and bloodshed. Another casualty of war was the scarcity of common staples - commodities - like sugar, salt and soap. Read more...
Children's Sermon
March 24, 2013
Luke 22:38-43
The Lutheran Church of the Messiah
Storyteller, Adrainne Gray
Telling the Gospel
Last week Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem from a little town called Jericho.
Remember, he stopped to have a feast celebration with friends in Bethany?
Well, Jesus has made it to Jerusalem, and he and his disciples have another feast. This feast was to celebrate the Jews freedom from Egypt. As a matter of fact, this would be Jesus’ last meal. Read more...
Guatemala
May 2011
Matthew 13:31-33 & 44-52
The Lutheran Church of the Messiah
Missionary, Adrainne Gray
In our text today, we hear Jesus describing The kingdom of Heaven in three ways:
- How it will grow from very little into something very fine ( a mustard seed)
- How it is the necessary ingredient in a good, final product (yeast in leavened bread)
- How it is redemptive Jesus died for us all (a merchant sells everything for 1 good pearl) Read more...
A Metaphor of Practical Theology
(Click film icon for video)
Ideally, practical theology is the concrete collaboration of academics (research and method), theology and the practice of a faith community.
The Tanzanian runner (Simon) who held the running record represents the practical theologian in this video.
Simon is approached by a European endurance runner (Kilian Jornet) to help him break the record. Simon has grown up running Mt. Kilimanjaro and has studied the ways of the mountain - its nature, its topography. But the record holder brings more than physical knowledge of the mountain, he imparts the spiritual understanding of the mountain - he acts as a 'living web.'
