Agape' Metropolitan Community Church
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This Week's News and Updates
January 28, 2020
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Click here
to view last week's worship experience.
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“The Sorrow”
Rev. David Wynn
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
--Oriah Mountain Dreamer
I think the most difficult lesson, that I am still learning, about being with people who are in pain (physical, mental, spiritual) is that I can't fix it, and harder still, I shouldn't try to fix it. As a matter of fact, my trying to hide, fade, or fix someone else's pain can do more harm than good. We're just not qualified to fix others.
Now, you may be thinking "but David you're always going on and on about Tikkun Olam, repairing the world...how do we repair if we are not fixing?" That and many other things that are even more exciting than the 12 hour Super Bowl pre-game show will be revealed on Sunday morning :-), join us!
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We will gather this Wednesday at
7:00PM
to finish our Vision Boards for 2020. We will also play games and continue our discussion regarding what new topics we would like to add to our Wednesday gatherings.
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New Tuesday Psychic Class Offerings
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Feb. 4 - Psychic Development - Ribbons Exercise
Feb. 11 - Mediumship Development
Feb.18 - Psychic Development - Auras, Color, and Chakras
No Class on February 25
The cost will be $20.00 per student. Jayme can take cash or credit card. The classes are posted on her website:
jaymepsychicmedium.com
and
meetup.com
(Jayme Pyschic Medium Development Classes). Anyone is welcome to ask questions about the classes through Jayme's email:
jaymepsychicmedium@gmail.com
.
ABOUT JAYME O'DONNELL (from her website)
Jayme first started communicating with angels when she was a child. As this was considered "odd", she learned to tune out her feelings and visions. Jayme was always curious about psychic and other metaphysical topics, reading and learning as much as she could. When she was in her late thirties, the feelings and visions came back with an irresistible strength. She needed help to control and accept the messages she was receiving, and long story short, she took some classes and joined a development circle. The leader of the circle was also a medium, and Jayme found that she had an affinity for connecting people to their deceased loved ones.
It has been a spiritual journey and continues to this day. She became a Reiki Master and started learning more about the energy that surrounds all living things. She continues to develop and grow by training at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College of Psychic Sciences (located in the UK), as well as other courses around the US.
Jayme believes that we are all born with psychic abilities and that we can discover and strengthen our own natural intuition. She would like to help people to develop their own abilities so they can live without so much fear, worry, and anxiety.
Learning to strengthen our own abilities can bring peace and joy and often brings clarity and meaning to our own lives. Living in a more conscience way is liberating and Jayme would like everyone to be able to experience the best possible life.
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V.R. Eaton High School Drama Department presents:
"The Little Mermaid"
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Adults: $10.00
NISD Employee, Fine Arts Pass holder and Gold Card Member: $0.00
Students and Seniors: $5.00
V.R. Eaton High School
1350 Eagle Boulevard
Haslet, Texas 76052
(The theater is located in back of the High School Campus)
Taylor (Sydni) Wolfer-Stephens is the daughter of Mickey Howell, Patti Stephens and Leigh Wolfer (plus Karen Enox and Jeremy Phillips). She grew up as part of the Agape' Community and we are so proud of her achievements. We hope to see you there!
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We are having a Super Bowl Party!
We will begin to gather in the Social Hall around 5PM for the 6:30 kick off. Bring your favorite snacks and beverages. Beer and wine is acceptable, however, it will need to be served to you by a licensed bartender which we will provide.
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Happy New Year Everyone!
Just a quick update from your security team. It’s been awhile due to holidays and personal events but we are back on track for 2020.
First, we are extremely proud to let you know that Sgt. Stokes has been promoted to Captain and even though he is spread a bit thinner these days, will continue to support us with training and valuable input. Members of the team will also continue studies and activities through AIMS Academy training at Cedar Valley College and with additional online tools offered through FEMA and A.L.I.C.E. programs.
With this new year we plan to begin involving everyone. You may have noticed the new locks on the inside sanctuary doors. There are mechanisms at the bottom of the doors leading into the sanctuary. Each of these has a second piece that can be quickly slid inside to bolt the door to the floor and render them much more difficult to open.
We ask that if you sit near one of these doors to please consider if you could act quickly to lock that mechanism if needed. If you do not sit near one of those doors, please consider if you would be willing change where you sit on Sundays to do so.
Over the next several weeks we will work to develop some type of notification system should it be necessary to alert the congregation of any danger. We feel that this will likely involve our sound booth crew making an announcement during service. Our sound booth monitors all security team activity during services on Sundays. They listen in on radio communications as the team monitors all doors and parking lot activity.
As we continue to train and work with Capt. Stokes we ask that you remember to allow the security team to welcome and be aware of any unfamiliar guests. Do not bring unknown individuals into the church without letting a security team member know. Above all, do not allow any persons asking for food, rides or money into the church. Be polite and ask someone to get a security team member immediately. Speak to them outside until we can assist.
Security team members on duty will be wearing silver name badges. Also, if you do not know the security team they are: Michael Stevens, Becca McDonell, Gary Haub, Trish Ashton, Phyl Sasser and Lisa O’Grady (Lead).
We ask that at any time you may see a member of the security team doing anything that you allow them to act without interference. Please do not question or distract them as they may possibly be handling a situation in order to keep it from escalating. The goal is to keep any potential danger out of the sanctuary and away from both the children and congregation. Members have been trained on how to handle visitors. Please kindly allow them to do so. If you feel that something is wrong just ask if everything is all right and do not get involved unless specifically asked to do so.
It is imperative that if you feel that something is wrong outside that you do not get up and go towards the potential danger. Again, the team would be doing their best to keep it away from you and out of the sanctuary or fellowship hall. Think of how you can best assist from where you are. In a bad situation, we will need your help from the inside to keep danger out – not to help allow it inside.
We will have more training on that soon.
In the meantime, look around. Note your exits. Note the people around you that may need assistance to get to safety in case of a tornado or get out of the building quickly. You may be the best person for that job. If you are a member of the church who is physically strong, be aware of the things near you that you might be able to move into a place to block someone. Be aware of anything at all that you can use as a weapon if needed. Note where fire extinguishers and first aid kits are.
I hope these things do not sound extreme but unfortunately these are the very things we need to think about given there are many troubled individuals in this world. We pray for them while we pray for the wisdom to provide for our own safety and happiness as well.
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Weekly Meditation - "Let the Rug be Pulled Out"
by Rev. Teri Lubbers (12/16/2009)
There was a crazy-wisdom teacher in India named Saraha. He said that those who believe that everything is solid and real are stupid, like cattle, but that those who believe that everything is empty are even more stupid. Everything is changing all the time, and we keep wanting to pin it down, to fix it. So whenever you come up with a solid conclusion, let the rug be pulled out. You can pull out your own rug, and you can also let life pull it out for you. Having the rug pulled out from under you is a big opportunity to change your fundamental pattern. It’s like changing the DNA. One way to pull out your own rug is by just letting go, lightening up, being more gentle, and not making such a big deal. ~Pema Chodron, “Start Where You Are”
Everything is changing all the time. At the heart of most unhappiness, frustration and drama is a basic reluctance to believe this truth about our existence. I liken it to being at the beach and playing in the sand when my children were young. While the tide was out we would build these elaborate castles and sand cities. Then the tide would turn. Slowly it would creep up, each wave getting closer and closer, to threaten all our hard work. At first we would try to create barricades, barriers to keep the waves from reaching and demolishing our beautiful creations. Barricades never work.
Everything changes. All the time. It’s not good, or bad, it’s just how it is. But we get to decide whether we will spend our lives frantically trying to pin things down, shoveling sand barriers around us in hopes that we can hold back the sea. We get to decide that another possibility is to fully enjoy – in this present moment – all the amazing things, people, and abilities we have been gifted with. And then when it’s time, be willing to relinquish them to the returning tide, release them with grateful hearts, and let them go.
You might say, “But surely some of it’s a big deal, some things really matter!” I know it feels that way but none of our “stuff” – whether material, intellectual, emotional, relational, or even our spiritual ideas – is the ultimate thing. Letting go of all our constructs, all our “have to’s”, all our big deals gets us a little closer to the ultimate thing. The tide always returns to carry us – in our vulnerability and transparency – back to the One who is the Ultimate thing, in whom we live and move and have our being.
Prayer: Beloved, give me a new perspective today. Let me see my life, my world, everything, through your eyes. Help me to live with gentleness today, for those around me and for myself. Amen.
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02/16 - Tru Edwards
02/18 - Kevin Harkins
02/23 - Lynne Fratt
02/27 - Julie Korek
02/27 - Paxton Roberts
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Order of Worship
"Epiphany 5"
The Gathering
Call to Worship: Rev. David Wynn
Song of Welcome:
"Oceans"
Community
Words of Welcome and Time of Greeting: Rev. David Wynn
Time with our Children: Trish Ashton
A Response:
"This Little Light of Mine"
Community
A Time for Meditation
The Gospel Reading: Matthew 26:36-38 Lynne Fratt
Song of Response:
"There is a Longing"
Community
Time of Teaching: "Fear" Rev. David Wynn
Centering Song:
"Fill Me Now"
Community
Community Prayer: Kevin Harkins
Response to the Prayer:
"Fill Me Now"
Community
Bringing Our Gifts: Cassy Batts
Celebration of Holy Communion: Rev. Robert Myers
Song of Sending Forth:
“From This Very Place”
Community
Announcements and Benediction: Rev. David Wynn
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Agape' MCC is a Reproductive Justice Congregation.
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