This Week's News and Updates
June 04, 2019
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Holy Envy: The Art of Renovation
This Sunday is Pentecost and the beginning of our summer series based on Barbara Brown Taylor’s book
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others.
The book itself has no destination per se, and no agenda, but it does have a point…BBT describes it this way, “ that when you engage anyone who is different than you, you will do that with more curiosity than fear, more hospitality than disrespect, and notice how that tenderizes a heart.”
I, however, in crafting this series do have an agenda…I want us to learn to ask different questions. I want us to find the questions that we’ve never thought to ask. I want us to do that in all areas of our lives but with a focus on what we might call our religion, our faith tradition, or our spiritual lives.
I’m going to leave this excerpt from BBT right here…in case you need something to stoke your courage. It’s Pentecost y’all! See you Sunday!
I once heard Laurie Patton, now president of Middlebury College, ask this in the best possible way. “What’s the question you’ll never know the answer to,” she said, “that you’ll never stop asking?” Isn’t that great? The question I’ll never know the answer to is whether my unshakeable sense of God’s presence is due to God’s real presence, my brain chemistry, my conditioning, or pure wishful thinking. The answer doesn’t really matter, since I can’t shake the sense of presence and don’t want to, but it does seem important to stay in a place of faith instead of certainty. Faith requires me to live with a great deal of uncertainty. Beyond that very large question, I return to others that unsettle me in meaningful ways. Who would I be if I had been born Maori in New Zealand, or a member of the royal family in Saudi Arabia? How much of my worldview—my entire encyclopedia of meaning—is due to an accident of birth? Since Christianity is part of my birthright, how do I balance my shame about the awful parts (imperial privilege, holy war, patriarchy, embedded anti-Jewishness) with my devotion to the glorious parts (wholesale love of God and neighbor, self-surrender, religious humility, divine union)? Am I really allowed to pick and choose, or does being Christian require me to own the shame along with the glory? Is part of my job as a Christian right now to do penance for other Christians who did great harm in Jesus’s name? I could fill up the rest of this page with questions that keep me awake at night. I wish they did not keep me awake, but I am glad to have them. They keep me on my toes.
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Don't forget to wear your
Pe
nt
eco
st
color(s) to church on Sunday!
(Red, yellow, orange or blue)
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MCC Moderator Town Hall Webinar Recordings
MCC General Conference will be held July 01-05, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. One of the major votes during this year's business meeting is to elect a new Moderator who will lead MCC into our future.
We are asking for congregational input for this important election.
Below are the links to the three recorded candidate forums recently hosted by the Nominating Committee and links to their resumes. We are requesting that you please review these videos and documents. We will send out a survey in a couple of weeks allowing everyone a chance to review the candidate information. Our Lay Delegate, Kevin Harkins, will vote the will of our community at General Conference. Thank you in advance for your help, support and prayers.
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(from left in alphabetical order)
Ms. Elizabeth Bisordi, Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Rev. Elder Tony Freeman
Click on the candidate's name below to view the Meet the Candidate Town Hall Video.
23 April at 7pm EDT / 23:00 UTC
7 May 2019 7PM EDT / 23:00 UTC
30 April at 7pm EDT / 23:00 UTC
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Wednesday, June 5th
is
...
Game Night!
Bring your favorite games and join us for fun filled night of laughter and maybe a bit of competitive spirit!
See you tomorrow night at 7:00PM in the Social Hall.
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Samaritan House Supper Club
Hola!
I wanted to take a few moments and share a little bit about Samaritan House Supper Club opening the invitation to anyone interested in spreading the blessings. I have had the opportunity and privilege to carry on Kathy Munn's legacy and it has been an honor. I'd like to share in this experience with you.
Agape' Samaritan House supper Club is every 2nd Friday of the month from 5 to 6:30pm. We serve pizza, dessert, chips and sometimes fruit. Food is provided all we need are individuals to serve food, spread love, smiles and acceptance. Normally there is extra food so we can sit and mingle with the residents, which they so enjoy.
We all have an area where we can serve and if you feel you are being lead to share your spark, I'd love to serve beside you. Please reach out to me either by phone or email, if this sounds like something you would be interested in doing.
Thank you,
Rebecca D. McDonell
817/495-1562
rdmcdo1@yahoo.com
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A.L.I.C.E.
A
lert
L
ockdown
I
nform
C
ounter
E
vacuate
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The main objective of the A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) program is to provide options increasing chances of survival during an “Active Shooter on Campus” emergency.
It is designed to be an enhancement to the standard “lockdown” system used for emergency situations.
Our Security Team will be providing additional training soon to our community customizing our response and defining roles during any perceived threat on our campus.
Thank you to our Security Team for the many ways you care for our community and keep us safe.
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Prayer for General Conference
God, Creator, Origin, Adonai, Provider, Healer, Shepherd,
amaze us.
Jesus Christ, Yeshua, Messiah, Immanuel, Prophet, Bread of Life, Cornerstone,
astonish us.
Holy Spirit, Ruah, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Wisdom, Spirit of Counsel, Spirit of Grace,
astound us.
REV. ELDER INES-PAUL BAUMANN
Council of Elders
Metropolitan Community Churches
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I have reached 100% of my goal for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk, for this, I am truly grateful. T
he Susan G Komen Organization has a goal to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths by 50% in the US by 2026.
Their mission statement reads: “Save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.”
PLEASE continue to sponsor SGK by donating to my walk!
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June 03 - Rayne Reagan
June 07 - Rebecca McDonnell
June 08 - Jackson Wynn
June 11 - Michele Kingston
June 11 - Erik Campbell
June 18 - Marcus Howard
June 19 - Michael Lummus
June 20 - Noah Nerio
June 21 - Alice Davidson
June 24 - Leigh Wolfer
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Sunday - June 09, 2019
The Gathering - Media
Call to Worship - Rev. David Wynn
Song of Welcome - "Power of Your Love"
Words of Welcome - Rev. David Wynn
Time of Greeting - Community
Time with the Children - Trish Ashton
Response - "This Little Light of Mine"
Song of Preparation- "
Ancient Words"
Sacred Text - Acts 2:1-6; 12-17 - Lisa O'Grady
Song of Response - "Ancient Words"
Time of Teaching - “The God Just Beyond Your Understanding" Rev. Wynn
Centering Song - "Fill Me Now"
Community Prayer - Rebecca McDonell
Prayer Response - "Fill Me Now"
Time of Offering - Cassy Batts
Celebration of Holy Communion - Rev. Robert Myers
Song of Sending Forth - "From This Very Place"
The Sending Forth - Rev. David Wynn
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