This Week's News and Updates
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Wednesday Gathering - March 14- 7pm
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All Church Work Day - Sat, March 17
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All church work day on March 17
(if weather doesn't cooperate we will meet on March 24 :-).
9 am to 1 pm
Let's get ready for Easter!
You are invited to join us in some Spring Cleaning inside and out. One of the tenets of radical hospitality is the care of our spiritual home. It's more fun together!
There are tasks for all skills and abilities!
Your help is deeply appreciated and the company is excellent!
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Sunday Teaser - Rev. David
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"Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over." ~ Jesus
My grandmother was a master gardener... I mean there wasn't a program that "certified" and titled her as such like there is now, but plants responded to her. I took more than a few of my dying or, I swear, already dead plants to her for resurrection. In her care they were transformed.
I asked my grandmother once, how in the world she could bring these plants back to life, and she said "I just know how to help a seed out." And she did... she lived close to the earth and had a deep appreciation for the potential and power of the seed. She understood the connection between planter, soil, sun, water, and air. I found her once talking to a handful of seeds... "alright babies, let's get you beauties buried in the ground, that's where the magic starts."
I thought about that when we buried her. I think about that as we will encounter Jesus talking to his disciples about his death this week. I think about that as my wife runs me out to our labyrinth to see the lilies sprouting that our children planted in the ground last Easter... "it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over."
May it be so...
see you Sunday.
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T
hu March 15th 11:30am - 1:00pm
Lunch Social Event - LGBT
I-HOP Restaurant @ I-20 and Little Road, 5950 Interstate 20 W, Arlington, TX 76017, USA
Coalition for Aging LGBT Tarrant County sponsors "Let's Do Lunch!" get together in the SE-Arlington area on the 3rd Thursdays of each month.
Co-Sponsor: Agape' MCC
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Next Meet, Greet and Eat - Sun, Mar 25
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Meet, Greet, and Eat, March 25
We will be sharing baked potatoes and Salad!
Bring your favorite baked potato topping and/or your favorite salads, and/or your favorite dessert for our monthly family meal!
All are welcome!
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Throughout the season of Lent we have been exploring how to be “Right Here, Right Now” and how this deep practice of presence helps to re-connect us to God, ourselves, each other, and the living of meaningful lives.
Please plan to join us for Holy Week which culminates in our Easter Celebration.
The Wednesday Gathering, March 28
7 pm in the Social Hall
This gathering will be a Care Night where we attend to noticing those around us who we haven’t seen in a while or who are dealing with a life event and we want to let them know they are not alone. We will do this through prayer and reaching out via cards, calls, email, Facebook messages, and texts. We will also be stuffing eggs for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt. 😊
Passover Seder in the Jewish Tradition, March 29
7 pm in the Social Hall
The Seder, a festive holiday meal, actually means "order." It is called this because the meal is done in a certain order which takes us from slavery to freedom. The Haggadah - which means "the telling" - is the book used at the Passover Seder. The Haggadah explains the foods on the Seder plate, recounts the highlights of the Exodus, and includes songs, prayers, questions and vignettes.
It is a powerful teacher about transformation and how we grow into who we are called to be. Please RSVP to Rev. David at revwynn@gmail.com so we know how many to plan for.
Good Friday, March 30
7 pm in the Sanctuary
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. We will seek to learn more about the path of descent that leads to real transformation. It teaches us about the necessary cycle of life, death, and life that leads to wholeness.
Family Easter Egg Hunt, March 31
10am-1pm in the Social Hall and on “the back forty.”
Plan to bring your family for our annual Easter Eggstravaganza and hamburger/hot dog lunch. For those who feel called we are seeking donations and volunteers! We will have cards with items we need donated out this Sunday so check it out! If you have any questions or want to drop off donations check in with Amy Ashton or email Rev. David at
revwynn@gmail.com.
Easter Sunrise Service, April 1
7:15 am on the Labyrinth
The Sunrise Service is a gathering to bear witness to the end of the Easter Vigil that traditionally follows Good Friday, resurrection, and the returning of the light. This is a simple service of celebrating the beginning of a brand-new day and new ways of being. (In case of rain the service will move into the sanctuary).
Easter Morning Pancake Breakfast, April 1
8 am in the Social Hall
Come and Eat!
Easter Baptism and Blessing, April 1
8:45am in the Sanctuary
Darla Wright, long-time friend of Agape' and on active duty with the U.S. Army, will be receiving the Rite of Baptism on Easter Sunday followed by the blessing and christening of her God Son, Beau-D Gene Hamby, one of our Agape' babies. You are invited, as you feel led, to come bear witness and share this event with them and all the family. Your presence symbolizes our commitment as their spiritual home to ongoing support in their journeys.
Easter Celebration, April 1
10:30 am in the Sanctuary
Come and celebrate resurrection and the gift of re-connection with us! Jesus affirmed the inherent value and worth of every life and
taught us to do the same. It is through this kind of connection that we can face the future with the confidence that encourages us to
express our authenticity and unique callings and call that forth in others!
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An Update from Our Security Team
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Hello again.
Just over a year ago, whether you had heard or not, a man had walked into our fellowship hall and helped himself to a box of donuts and several sodas then walked out to a waiting pickup truck where his friend sat with the engine running. Nothing was lost except some donuts and sodas but that man had been to Agape' a few times and he felt comfortable enough to boldly walk in a take what he wanted.
I began to wonder if maybe one day he’d come back and take something more valuable or one day come armed and have people hand over their money or worse, hurt someone.
I contacted the Forest Hill PD and the next thing I knew I was corresponding with Sgt. Chris Stokes about forming a security team. Since then he has worked with us on a regular basis and we have come a long way. Agape' MCC still has arms open wide to all - but our eyes are open now as well.
Initially, Sgt. Stokes and I discussed forming a core group and talked in detail about it. I want to explain a few things about that- It was strongly advised that our Board of Directors was not part of the team. Mainly, on Sunday mornings they are very busy with the administrative responsibilities of the church and we need to let them focus on that. Additionally, they are the leaders of our congregation to whom we are going to listen to in the event of an emergency and we will need them in that position should anything happen.
If you have had some other training through your job, experience, or if you are a large or strong person you will definitely be part of the plan we will have for inside the building and you will know what to do after our drills. For example, we may need you to move heavy objects or get people out.
Our core security team’s hope is to catch anything out of the ordinary outside and communicate things inside. That would trigger plans that we all will already have in place and folks, when all is said and done, EVERYONE will have a part.
Sgt. Stokes and I met with Rev. David and BOD Vice Moderator, Cassy Batts this week. Next week we will meet with the BOD and in the coming weeks an officer will come to Sunday school and talk to our children. Children’s training will be a game that will result in knowing what to do.
Soon, we will be meeting with all of you as well to share a plan for what we will do in the event of tornadoes, fire, protestors or disruptions during service.
This is nothing to be nervous or afraid of. The activities will be educational and FUN! Most importantly - in the end we will have a plan.
Thanks and if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask!
~ Lisa R. O’Grady, Agape' Security Team Lead
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GRACEGRAYSGOODDEEDS Fundraiser!
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Mark your Calendars
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Fat Daddy's Sports and Spirits Cafe, 781 W. Debbie Ln., Mansfield, TX
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Agape' MCC community will be launching our new foundation that will give a voice and financial help to those people in crisis who are traditionally under-served and overlooked and have nowhere else to turn.
We need your presence and your help getting the word out!
Keep an eye out for more details!
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Online Giving through SimpleGive
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Simply click the SimpleGive logo below, the SimpleGive link at the bottom of every Agape' MCC web page, or you can go right to our giving page by
clicking here
. This will take you to the secure giving link, and allow you to make your donation. If you choose the eCheck/ACH option (rather than credit or debit), our church will pay less in processing fees and receive more of your generous donation.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Calendar of Events
Wed, Mar 14 - 7pm Wednesday Gathering
Thu, Mar 15 - 11:30am Let's Do Lunch! @ I-HOP I-20 at Little Road / 6:30pm Agape' Grief Support Group
Sat, Mar 17 - 9am-1pm All Church Work Day!
Sun, Mar 18 - 10:3oam Worship Service
Mon, Mar 19 - 6pm Worship Team Meeting
Wed, Mar 21 - 7pm Wednesday Gathering
Thu, Mar 22 - 6:30pm Agape' Grief Support Group
Sun, Mar 25 - 10:30a Worship Service / 12p Meet, Greet & Eat
Mon, Mar 26 - 6pm Worship Team Meeting
Wed, Mar 28 - 7pm Wednesday Gathering
Thu, Mar 29 - 7pm Passover Seder Meal
Fri, Mar 30 - 7pm Good Friday Service
Sat, Mar 31 - 10am-1pm Family Easter Egg Hunt!
Sun, Apr 1 - 7:15am Easter Sunrise Service / 8am Pancake Breakfast / 8:45am Baptism & Blessing / 10:30 am Easter Celebration
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- Mar 03 Zachary Roberts
- Mar 06 Melisa Price
- Mar 13 Chris Kalish
- Mar 15 Rachel Cox
- Mar 16 Joe Rice
- Mar 22 Rose Wolfer-Stephens
- Mar 25 Sandra Hardin
- Mar 29 Denise LaRae
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The Gathering
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Media
Call to Worship
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Rev. David Wynn
Song of Welcome
- "I Am" -
Community
Words of Welcome
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Rev. David Wynn
Time of Greeting
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Community
Time with our Children
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Trish Ashton
A Response
- "This Little Light of Mine" -
Community
Song of Preparation
- "Feels Like Home" -
Community
Scripture Reading
- John 12:20-33 -
Judy Hudson
Song of Response
- "Feels Like Home" -
Community
Time of Teaching
- "Yes, It Is Radical!" -
Rev. David Wynn
Centering Song
- "Hear Our Prayer" -
Community
Community Prayer
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Kevin Harkins
Prayer Response
- "Hear Our Prayer" -
Community
A Time of Offering
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Cassy Batts
Celebration of Holy Communion
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Rev. Robert Myers
Song of Sending Forth
- "God is Holding Your Life" -
Community
The Sending Forth
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Rev. David Wynn
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