This Week's News and Updates
September 08, 2020
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Click the button to view last week's worship experience.
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A Message from Rev. on the Edge |
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"Spiritual Bypassing"
Rev. on the Edge (David)
I don’t know what your experience of church/es has felt like…assuming you have any experience of church at all. It took me years of being away from a plethora of churches to realize that where they wanted me to be was “on the edge.” They wanted me to feel like at any moment I was going to say, do, feel, or be the wrong thing and then all hell was going to break loose. These were, what Barbara Brown Taylor calls, “Full Solar Churches.” All you had to do is stay in their version of “the light” and avoid their version of “the dark.” This was especially true when it came to complicated emotions. Anger is sin, sadness is a lack of faith, doubt is weakness, forgiveness is mandatory and must happen immediately…I once heard a preacher say to “never trust your feelings.” Psychotherapist, Miriam Greenspan calls this spiritual bypassing, “using religion to dodge the dark emotions instead of letting it lead us to embrace those dark angels as the best, most demanding spiritual teachers we may ever know.” I’m still working my way from the edge to being in balance…join me?
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Taking flight...
What an amazing concept, flying. It seems simple, if you are a bird. Flying, spreading your wings and taking flight, as a human seems impossible at times, even if it is in a figurative way. We humans often feel weighed down by the stuff and things that we accrue over time. Mental, physical, emotional stuff and things binding us
What if, even for a moment, we chose to be free from all the stuff and things that hold us down?
Can you do it?
You are challenged this week to try and find space to fly. Decide how to let go a little and just be free, even if for a short time.
Fly, Blackbird, fly.
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Together we can ensure that communities receive the resources needed to prosper.
Please encourage your friends and family to respond to the #2020Census.
#ShapeYourFuture
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God of many names,
We confess that it is often difficult to see you in our world today. Our sisters and brothers suffer violence, discrimination, oppression and marginalization while living in fear for their very lives. We remember that each one is created in your image, deeply loved by you and called “very good,” and so we continue to pray for justice – for justice to roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. We want to be your instruments of peace, dear God, and we pray that the noise we make on behalf of your people will be like beautiful music in your ears. Give us courage to stand, and having done all to stand, to keep standing in solidarity with those whose voices have yet to be heard. Give us hearts of love when we feel surrounded by evil. Give us perseverance when we grow tired. Grant us wisdom to speak effectively, to live authentically and to be your presence to the outcast and to the stranger. Mostly, God, help us see you in people, in trees and flowers, in water and air and in all your creation. And may all we do bring about seeds of peace, love, joy and happiness. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN.
PRAYER SUBMITTED BY
REV. DR. JIM MERRITT
Director of Eastern European Affairs
Global Justice Institute
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Holy Laments - A Worship Experience
Monday, 14 September, 2020
11pm GMT / 7pm EDT / 6pm CDT
sponsored by the TX-New Mexico Network
The season of pandemic continues. Meanwhile, we rage against the world machine to produce and self-support. in this worship experience we practice lamentation, the Holy wailing that culminates in praise of God, in whom we trust. join in prayer, recitation, singing, and calling upon God's benevolent grace.
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MCC Richmond's Centering Community
Mondays @ 11pm GMT / 6pm EDT (UTC-4)
(Richmond, Virginia, USA)
A time of shared meditation and mindfulness practice open to all. No previous experience necessary. Come just as you are!
Meeting ID: 789 140 7100 Password: 953527
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MCC Toronto (Ontario, Canada) invites you...
to a 15 minute time of reflection on Facebook Live each Wednesday at noon Eastern, UTC 4pm (UTC-04). Rev. Jeff Rock and Rev. Deana Dudley share inspiring reflections, scriptures and prayers to support us through these difficult times.
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Sept. 15 - Ken Martin leads an informative session on Gender.
Sept. 29 - Book Club Discussion: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
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Democracy, Values and the 2020 Election
Voting Our Values Forum Sessions - weekly on Wednesdays 12-1PM EDT / 11-1PM CST
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Agape' Worship
September 13, 2020
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Prelude
Call to Worship: Rev. David Wynn
Song of Intention: "Gather Us In"
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Song of Response: "In the Secret"
Time of Teaching: "Spiritual Bypassing", Rev. David Wynn
Centering Song: "There Is A Longing"
Community Prayer
Prayer Response: "O Christ Surround Me"
Time of Giving
Celebration of Holy Communion: Rev. Robert Myers
Closing Song: "LifeSong"
Benediction: Rev. David Wynn
Join us on Facebook live every Sunday at 10:30 for our virtual service.
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09/01 Mickey Howell
09/06 Seth Wynn
09/12 Lisa Davenport
09/16 Larry Hollis
09/21 Faith Ashton
09/22 Gail Russell
09/22 Trigg Davenport
09/23 Letty Cruz
09/25 Vida Trevino
09/27 Carolyn Acton
09/29 Saige Ashton
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AGAPE' METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
is a reproductive Justice Congregation.
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