I always love the account of Jesus’s baptism and the moment at the beginning of a new year when we remember our own baptisms. I’m not used to baptizing my feet, though. On Sunday, I grabbed a bowl and pitcher of water from the office area to use as we remembered. But sometimes a bowl is not a bowl, but a wall sconce. It was pressed glass, patterned, pretty. Since it wasn’t really a bowl, when I poured the water in, it passed right through onto my shoes. I was stunned. I recovered as best I could, substituting a chalice to hold the water for blessing.

After the service, I checked the “bowl” again and sure enough, no bottom. I am glad I’m not baptized because I’ve earned it or have achieved some level of perfection. I’m glad I’m regularly offered grace and trust that God keeps God’s promise in baptism—that I am family, that I belong, that I am loved, and that I am saved from anything that keeps me from that great love, real or imagined. That promise gets me back up to keep putting more Love in Action, step by step.

As you try new things this year, you may want to consider our Wednesday offerings starting on January 11 this week: 

Love Wins Bible Study: Matthew Speaks!, 7pm, in person the Gathering Place. Bring your bible and curiosity! We will look at Matthew chapters 1-4 this week. Rev. Elder Troy Treash, facilitator. Register HERE.

God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism Christianity, and Islam, 7pm online via Zoom. Please register HERE! Rev. Vicki Sheil-Hopper, facilitator.

You can find the first two messages of the year by Rev. Mona Lopez and Rev. Charles Graves in the links below.

January 1, 2023 Sunday Worship Service - Rev. Mona Lopez

January 8, 2023 Sunday Worship Service - Rev. Charles Graves

Perfectly imperfect,

Rev. Troy

Rev. Elder Troy Treash

Senior Pastor

RevTroy@Resurrectionmcc.org

Devotional & Prayer Facebook Group

Every Sunday and Wednesday

New Facebook Devotional Discussion Group: "Called Out"

The experience of growing up "different," having one's identity and relationships questioned or downright rejected, shapes the faith of LGBTQ Christians in ways those outside the community cannot fully understand. LGBTQ Christians need spiritual resources that speak to the unique joys and challenges of their journey.



E. Carrington Heath offers one hundred devotions on such topics as trauma, and more to nurture the faith of our LGBTQ siblings and help friends, family, and allies grow in understanding and faith.

Each Sunday and Wednesday, a new devotion from the book will be posted and discussed online. Join the group for notifications of devotion posts.

Join Our Facebook Devotional Community & Discussion Group

Resurrection Online Facebook Church Community

On January 15th, we are officially launching our new Facebook Online Community Group. Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church is focused on people and community. We're opening our church doors to widen the circle of our physical space and be available to a global audience who wants and needs the discipleship of Jesus in an LGBTQ+ accepting environment.

Our new digital discipleship extends beyond the walls of our church campus, bringing the hope of Jesus to all, right where you are.

We will have Online Ministry Team representatives in the Gathering Place before and after services on January 15th and January 22nd to welcome you to our new ministry. The group is currently "private" on Facebook and will be made public to all on Thursday, February 2.

We need content writers, videographers, reporters, and team leads. If you'd like to join the Online Ministry Team, please email Suzette@ResurrectionMCC.org for more information.

To request early membership, please visit the page HERE

Invitation to Join Bell Choir

You are invited to learn and practice playing the chime instruments. It's an opportunity of delightful celebration in musical expression. Rehearsals are held most Sundays after church from 12:30 to 1:30 pm in the Worship Arts room. It's helpful if you can read music but not necessary; just as long as you can count & tap your foot simultaneously.

Come with an open heart and a willing spirit! 

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

Imani Vida Drum Circle

Imani means Faith in Swahili, and Vida means Life in Spanish. We are a group of diverse individuals of the Greater Houston Area who love to come together in community and make music together. We make music through all sorts of percussion instruments...hand drums, shakers, rain sticks and even the sound of foot-stomping music. Drummers of all skill levels are welcome. No prior drumming experience is required to participate in our circle. Dancers are welcome too! We only ask that you bring your desire to be apart of our community drum circle. Meets 1st Saturday of the Month at Resurrection MCC at 1:30 pm. 

For more information, please visit https://www.meetup.com/drummingcircle/

Start the New Year by investing in your Spiritual Journey and Relationship with our Creator. Each week the group will look at and discuss various aspects of God of Love.

What does Unity of the Divine, and Stewardship of the Earth have to do with our Interspiritual Quest? How do we have faith in the absence of Proof and still welcome the stranger to the table? Are we willing to be forgiving/forgiven with mercy and show compassion in our actions? These are just a few of the questions/dialogues we will share in the weekly meetings of the group. 

Jan 11, 2023 - Feb 15, 2023

7:00 - 8:30 pm VIRTUAL

Moderator: Rev. Vicki Sheil-Hopper

PLEASE REGISTER

Love Wins Bible Study: Matthew Speaks! Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30pm, Gathering Place January 11 -- April 12 (Skipping Ash Wednesday) Engage Matthew's account of Jesus with others growing in faith and community! 

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

Gospel Ensembel's Annual Concert

The Journey to Hallelujah!

Celebrating an era of music that is still changing the lives of all people one soul at a time. The concert will be in-person and live-streamed. Join us for a night of uplifting and soulful Gospel music.

February 25th 2023

5:00 PM

RMCC Sanctuary

PLEASE REGISTER

As we approach the season of restoration and renewal, let us do so by exploring ways the Psalms help to rejuvenate our minds, bodies, and spirits. The Book of Psalms are not just songs of praise, but food for our souls.

Jeffrey Campbell will facilitate this discussion of select psalms, using “Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation,” a book written by Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes, published during the heart of the pandemic. Participants will reflect on the words of the psalms and discuss how the psalms can be a refreshing source for healing, hope and freedom. 

Thursdays, December 8th - January 19th

Virtual

Check Planning Center for Full Schedule

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

Join us after service for In-Person Brunch Buddies, Sunday January 15th, 12:30 pm at Berryhill, 702 E 11th St. View MENU.

.

PLEASE REGISTER

Join us for virtual Brunch Buddies on Sunday at 12:30 pm at the same restaurant venue as in-person.

Join the Zoom here at 12:30 pm

Dining Out at Barnabys - January 13th

1936 Fountainview, Houston

7:30 - 9:30 pm

PLEASE REGISTER

Weekday Devotional and Prayer is held every weekday at Noon on Zoom. During these virtual gatherings, we participate in a daily devotional, scripture readings, prayer, and a time to check-in with our church family.

Click HERE to launch Zoom at Noon on weekdays.

You'll never know what you're missing until you do it! We have a place for you in our volunteer ministries. What are you good at? What makes you happy? Do you have a skill or talent that will benefit others? Visit our Connect page on the website and learn more about our volunteer opportunities and how to join us!

VISIT THE CONNECT PAGE HERE

Joining a choir is like getting a caged bird to sing! You know you love to sing, but worry if you are good enough to sing in a church choir. God thinks so, and so do we! Our choirs and musical groups are more than singing songs. We build deep friendships and a network of others that love doing what you love doing. Join us!

Sanctuary Choir - Traditional church music, more secular and familiar.

Gospel Ensemble - Woven with Gospel music and traditional African themes

Resurrection Choir - Combines modern and traditional music, and sacred genres, combining membership from both Sanctuary Choir and Gospel Ensemble

Practice:

Tuesday evenings 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm for Sanctuary Choir and Gospel Ensemble,

and 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm for Resurrection Choir.

Choirs alternate weekend service performances.

For Dance, Theater, and other performance-based ministries, reach out directly to Cassandra White via email.

Contact Cassandra White, Worship Arts Coordinator HERE for more information.

Amazing things happen when we pray for one another in times of grief and celebrate together in times of joy. Send Requests online here: COMPLETE ONLINE FORM or by texting the word RMCCPRAY to 97000. We hope this electronic method will make it quick and easy to communicate the struggles and triumphs you are experiencing in a way that can provide our Pastoral Care Ministers with the information they need to support and encourage you along your journey. The form allows you to provide your name, contact information, the information about your prayer request or celebration, as well as an easy way to request a contact from a Pastoral Care Minister (only if you indicate you'd like a contact). Based on your preferences we can communicate by text, phone, video chat, or even in-person visits when necessary. We want to hear from you!

If you haven't downloaded the church app, it's important that you do! Each time you attend a service in person or virtually, please CHECK IN so we know you were here. Using the church app is easy! You can find detailed instructions here. We hope you will download it and stay connected!

Pride Charities, our partner agency which operates the food pantry at Resurrection MCC, relies on donations and financial support for the food needed to help the 175 families we assist each month. Please consider picking up a few extra extra bags of rice, beans, cereal, Vienna sausages, canned chicken, canned spam/lunch loaf, canned corn, canned green beans, canned peas, or any of the items found on this list. We are now accepting clothes at this time. To keep you, our volunteers, and our community safe, please place your donations in your trunk or back seat, pull up outside the pantry, stay in your vehicle, and our volunteers will remove the items from your vehicle. Volunteers will also be working inside the Clothes Closet this Saturday from 9 - Noon If you'd like to help sort, hang, and organize clothes, please be sure to wear a face mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you.

Text Giving is a great way to give electronically. The first time you'd like to give in this way, just text the word GIVE to 281-346-9444. You'll receive a text back asking for the amount of your donation. After you've entered that, you'll receive a link to provide your name, email address, as well as your debit/credit card or bank account information. That's it! And the next time you'd like to give, all you need to do is text a dollar amount to that same phone number, hit send, and you're done! If you'd like to contribute to a special fund, send a text with the words GIVE LIST to 281-346-9444 and you'll receive a reply asking how much you'd like to give, and then another text asking to which of our special funds you'd like your donation applied (i.e. General Gifts & Tithes, Foundation First Activities Building Fund, Texas Winter Storm Relief, Pride Charities Food Pantry, La Casa de Todos).

Narcotics Anonymous is every Tuesday at 7:00 pm on our campus as well as on Zoom. This Twelve Step recovery program offers hope and freedom from active addiction in a safe space for the LGBTQ community. This support group meets regularly in order to help one another learn a new way of life through sharing experiences, strength, and hope. All are welcome to come and learn more. For more information, please contact Patrick at 281-908-9729.

Narcóticos Anónimos (en español) es todos los miércoles a partir de las 8:00 pm en la Capilla Resurrection MCC. Asegúrese de usar una máscara cuando esté en el campus de la iglesia. Es un grupo de recuperación de 12 pasos que ofrece esperanza y libertad de la adicción activa en un lugar seguro para las personas LGBT. Estos grupos se unen para ayudarse mutuamente a aprender una nueva forma de vida, compartiendo su experiencia de fortaleza y esperanza.



re:MIND Depression & Bipolar Support Groups in-person meetings are now on Fridays at 12:00 pm in the Chapel. Online meetings are available at www.supportgroupscentral.com/reMIND. Click ‘Not Yet a Member’ and set up a free user account. Find a meeting and click ‘Register’ to sign up. Please note: If all spots are filled, click ‘Join the Waitlist’. You will receive an email reminder the day before and 15 minutes before your scheduled meeting. Please confirm or cancel. Meeting dates will be updated monthly. If you need assistance signing up please call (888) 799-0907 ext. 2 or email info@remindsupport.org. Spaces are limited so sign up today! Spanish Support Groups are available here.

Overeater’s Anonymous meets Saturdays at 9:30 am in the Chapel and will still offer the zoom meeting on Saturdays at 9:30 am on Zoom. Meeting ID: 402 391 084, Password: 176233. Phone in option (use same Meeting ID as above): +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston).

Toastmasters is every Monday, from 6:30 - 8 pm online on Zoom. Impress your clients, your boss, or even a potential employer during your next job interview. Speak with confidence in one-on-one situations and in presentations for groups of 20 to over 200. Surprise yourself by becoming a member of Toastmasters and see how your personal goals will come true. With Toastmasters you will learn by doing as you improve your public speaking skills in a super supportive environment. Join us for our very own Toastmaster Club right here at Resurrection MCC. Contact Horacio Rodriguez at 954-662-4926 or Toastmasters@ResurrectionMCC.org for details. www.toastmasters.org