15 October 2021

Greetings!

Peace and Greetings to you!

We continue this month with stewardship in the life of our church. We are also in the midst of our Stewardship 2022 Campaign titled: “Shining the Light Towards the Future.” I can’t think of a more appropriate theme than this one, especially as we begin our fiftieth year of ministry here in the Great Milwaukee Area.

You all should have received your stewardship packets and I hope you are taking this time to prayerfully review the information and prayerfully investigate what your giving will be for 2022. Now is the time to start returning your pledge cards to the church, either by dropping it in the basket on Sunday morning, as well as having the ability to go to our website and complete your 2022 please virtually.
 
We also continue our Courage Winter Madness Clothing Drive, now, through the end of the month. We are again collecting winter type clothing for our LGBTQ+ Youth, who may be homeless, out on the streets, or just in needs of warm winter clothing. Please consider joining our effort in providing our youth a warm winter. More information about our clothing drive can be found below.
 
In just a few weeks times, November 14th to be exact, will be our Annual Congregational Meeting in person. This is also the time we’re we come together and discuss on the business matters of our congregation. This year we will have the opportunity to vote on the slate of candidates to form our board of directors. If you have an interest in being a part of the leadership of this church and would like to be a part of the board of directors, take a moment to speak with me and complete an application, to be a candidate for our board. Board Applications must be completed and returned no later than Sunday, November 7, 2021.
 
Plans continue, as we join forces with our siblings at Angels of Hope MCC, hosting the North Central MCC US Network Gathering the weekend of November 19-21, 2021. While this is also the same weekend as the 50th Anniversary, we are excited that we can bring our network siblings together, after almost two years of not having a network gathering. I invite you to check out the information below or go to the event tab on our website for details of our Network Gathering.
 
DON’T WAIT until the last minute! Sponsorships and tickets are NOW AVAILABLE for our Annual Anniversary Fundraising: "A Night of Cabaret!" We are excited that we will be using the fabulous SKY LOUNGE in American Family Field, with our Emcees and Hostesses with the Mostess, Karen Valentine, Maple Veneer and Dita Von on hand, helping make this the best anniversary celebration ever.
 
I also hope you will plan to join us November 20 & 21, 2021, by getting involved through our sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, and attend our Fundraiser on Saturday, November 20th followed by a spectacular Anniversary 50th Anniversary Worship Celebration on Sunday, November 21, 2021.
 
Both these events will be held at the Sky Lounge in American Family Field. We are further excited to announce that our special guest preacher for Anniversary Sunday will be The Reverend Dr. Roland Stringfellow, Senior Minister at MCC Detroit. Reverend Roland is guaranteed to bring a powerful message, one you don’t want to miss. 
 
If all that isn’t enough to keep you busy, I invite you to join me this Sunday at 11:00am for In-Person Worship or later Sunday afternoon for our Virtual Worship Service, as we conclude our series COW TIPPING. We will conclude with answering the question: “Where’s the Kink in Your Hos?”
 
Virtual worship can continue be found on our Facebook and YouTube pages, in the later part of the afternoon on Sundays. We ask that you keep watch on these pages for when worship has been uploaded. Due to the high traffic on internet usage on Sundays, and now that all faith communities have started returning to in-person worship, uploads have been taking longer than expected.
 
For those in our church family, who continue social distancing, and have not returned to in-person worship, we hope you taking advantage of keeping connected through our virtual worship service that is available online Sunday afternoons. We invite you to take advantage and continue to worship with Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church virtually, until you are ready to resume with us for in-person worship. 
 
As always, I Invite you to take a moment to scroll down to view these announcements and the many other special announcements, connected to the life of our congregation and community, as we continue to be the vibrant, inclusive, and progressive community of faith that we are.
 
Regardless of how you continue worshipping with us, and as we move forward, you welcomed in our home and into our community of faith!
 
May God’s blessings continue to be with each of you!
 
In Christ!
Scripture: Ephesians 5:15–20 (The Inclusive Bible)

Keep careful watch over your conduct. Don’t act like fools, but like wise and thoughtful people. Make the most of your time, for those are evil days. Don’t continue in ignorance but try to discern the will of God. Avoid getting drunk on wine – that is debauchery! Instead, be filled with the Spirit, meditating on psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music to God in your hearts. Always give thanks to Abba God for everything, in the name of Jesus our Messiah.
This Sunday we BEGIN our Stewardship Series:
"BEING GENREOUS WIH OUR TIME"
Over the next several weeks, we will take time to explore how, as good stewards, we can continue BEING GENEROUS with our time, talent and treasures.

We BEGIN the series this Sunday with:
"BEING GENEROUS WITH OUR TIME"

REMEMBER ...
You can also connect with us for Virtual Worship on our Facebook Page or YouTube Channel,
Sunday afternoons through our
links below to our Facebook and YouTube pages.
Join us Saturday November 20, 2021
for
"A Night of Cabaret"
Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church's
Annual Fundraiser & Silent Auction
There is still opportunities to get tickets and/or to sign-up to do a sponsorship!

We are excited to announce that we are having our Annual Anniversary Fundraiser "A Night of Cabaret" on Saturday, November 20, 2021, this year being held at the fabulous SKY LOUNGE inside AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD!

This year Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church will also be celebrating
our 50th Anniversary as a Vibrant, Inclusive, Progressive Community of Faith, here in the Greater Milwaukee area. Being an important anniversary celebration for Milwaukee MCC this year, additional plans are being made to continue the celebration on Sunday morning, November 21, 2021, also in the SKY LOUNGE for our Anniversary Worship Celebration followed by a No-Host Brunch also to take place at the Sky Lounge following worship.

Complete details and information to obtain sponsorships and tickets for this awesome event can be found by clicking:
Join us THIS SUNDAY October 17, 2021
following worship for
BRUNCH WITH THE PASTOR
at
Riverfront Pizzeria

Join Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, every THIRD Sunday of the month at 12:30pm, as we gather at
Riverfront Pizzeria
509 East Erie Street
Milwaukee 53202

Our next brunch is THIS
Sunday, October 17, 2021!
for some good food, exciting conversations and awesome fellowship with one another.
North Central MCC US Network Gathering
November 19-21, 2021

Our MCC Network Churches haven’t met together (in-person) in over two-years, and we felt it was time to reconnect the Network Family back together again.

Join us for a Spirit-filled weekend as we reunite in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as we are hosted by Milwaukee MCC & Angels of Hope MCC Events and Gatherings will take place at both Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church and the Sky Lounge at American Family Field.

We are excited to have Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow (Senior Minister at MCC Detroit), and out other Network Clergy who will lead the programming side of our gathering.

For complete details and registration information you can click on this link:
2022 Stewardship Campaign is Happening

This we have decided to build our Stewardship theme on: “Shining Our Light Towards the Future.”

Through your continued gifts of time, talent and treasure have not only blessed our church, but the local community, and the wider world, for the last 50 years. It has been through the generosity of those who have made and make pledges commitments each year, that we have been able to extraordinarily expand our effectiveness as a community. We have been able to reach out in new ways with the radically inclusive good news of Jesus’ love, literally in Milwaukee, and around the world.

We invite you to think just what might be possible if everyone of us made our financial pledge as an act of faith and how much more your gift if able to do when we come together, just like the early disciples who responded to those who were naked, hungry, and imprisoned without counting the cost.

Your pledge is one, that is of your time, talent, and treasure, and we invite you to make your 2022 pledge starting Sunday, October 3rd through Sunday, November 28th.

You can complete your 2022 pledge card in person at church or for faster access you can do you pledge online by clicking on:
Courage Winder Madness Clothing Drive 2021

HELP US KEEP OUR HOMELESS LGBTQI+ YOUTH WARM THIS WINTER!

Starting October 3rd through October 31st help us by bringing winter clothing items for the Courage Winter Madness Clothing Drive 2021

Each year we will be collect
athletic socks, gloves/mittens,
hand warmers, hats and scarves,
as we help our homeless LGBTQI+
Youth keep warm during the cold winter Milwaukee months.

Don't have time to shop? No worries! Make a monetary donation toward our clothing drive and we'll do the shopping for you! Let's out do last year's efforts!
Calling ALL Potential
Board of Directors Candidates
 
Applications are now available for those individuals in our congregation who may be interested in serving in leadership as a member of our Church Board of Directors.
 
Applicants must be a good standing member. In you're interested being a part of our leadership, information and further qualifications, along with receipt of an application can be obtained by contacting Rev. Tory or any church board of directors member.
Order and Shop with SCRIP and Make it a WIN-WIN for Both You and Our Congregation!

Continue to shop with SCRIP, making it simple and easy to shop virtually.

By purchasing and shopping with SCRIP Cards, you can continue to shop in your normal way, whether in person or virtually, while continuing to support Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church.

Order forms can be obtained by clicking below on the SCRIP ORDER FORM LINK below. You can mail your payment to the church by using one of your tithing envelopes or going online and using our online giving portal, noting in the comments that your payment is for SCRIP Cards. SCRIP Orders will be mailed to you once received.

Our NEXT ORDER DEADLINE is:
Sunday, October 24, 2021

Drop your forms and payment in
the basket on Sunday mornings, or you can send them in the mail to
the church.
DON'T FORGET TO HELP Pack the Pantry Sunday October 24, 2021

Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church and Angels of Hope Metropolitan Community Church have joined forces through our Outreach Ministry Programs in order to connect closer with our community partners in the LGBTQ Community.

Every Fourth Sunday of the month has been designated as
PACK THE PANTY SUNDAY. Pack the Pantry Sunday is a time for
you, the people of the church to come together and help support
our partnered organizations Food Pantries.

Our Pack the Pantry donations will go towards supporting:
VIVENT Health Care Food Pantries & Courage House MKE

Bring your items each Fourth SUNDAY and place them on the pantry table. If you forget to bring something this Sunday, you can bring your items on any other Sundays as well! You can also make arrangements to drop things off at the church by contacting the church office to set a drop-off time!

Click below to obtain a list of Pack the Pantry items:
A REMINDER ABOUT OUR CURRENT MASK PROTOCOL AT MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
In keeping with our commitment to inform you with the current protocols and decisions that are and have been made in relationship to the CORONAVIRUS, DELTA VARRIANT and MASK PROTOCOL.

As you’re aware, the DNA our congregation is comprised of many different variants. We have many who are older in their years, as well as those who have compromised immune systems. At the same time, we have folks who have had other illnesses that have affected their bodies in one form or another.

The board of directors and pastor have been in close communication over the past several weeks and after careful consideration, that beginning August 15, and until further notice, anyone attending any event (including worship) at Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, will be asked to wear a mask.

While we know that this may be an imposition to some, the board and pastor have the obligation of looking after the best interest of each and every congregant in our congregation, along with the responsibility or providing a safe and healthy environment.

For those who forget to bring a mask, one will be provided as you enter the building. We appreciate your sensitivity and respect to other individual’s personal wishes. If you aren’t feeling well, we ask you to please stay home. This includes fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

As hospitalizations due to the coronavirus and delta variant begin to start increasing again in Wisconsin, we wish to take every added precaution in order to keep everyone at Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church safe and well.

We thank you in advance for respecting the decisions that have been made. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to speak with any board member of our pastor.
If you auto-give, through your financial institution, or already give online, we THANK YOU. But, if you have typically placed your gifts in the offering plate each Sunday, we also offer other options when giving to the church.

There are several ways YOU can make either a one-time donation or even a recurring donation. Here are the ways you can make that happen:
  1. Through our Secure Online Giving Portal, or either of our two PayPal links. You can go to our Secure Online Giving Portal and/or our PayPal Giving Link for your regular offering or one time giving. You can also go through our regular PayPal Link if you’re wanting to start and set-up a recurring monthly giving for your offering. Click on either of the links below to make that happen.
  2. You can mail your offering via check or credit card by using one of the pre-printed offering envelopes that have been distributed to all our members. Simply insert your check in the envelope or complete the information on the inner flap, should you choose to donate by credit card, and return it by mail. If you are in need envelopes, please contact the church, either by leaving us a message or emailing us at info@milmcc.org. We will be happy to send some to you.
  3. You can send your offering via check in a regular addressed envelope to: Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, 1239 West Mineral Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204.
  4. You can go to our website at www.milwaukeemcc.org/giving to do your giving.
Click link above to do a regular
offering or one time gift through our Secure Giving Portal
Click link above to do a regular
offering or one time gift
Click link above to set up a monthly recurring gift
As a board, we are praying with you, and for you. We look forward to the day when we can once again gather and worship together. In the meanwhile, please continue to follow the social distancing guidelines outlined by health officials to keep you and your family safe.

Please prayerfully consider making a gift to support your church, so that we can continue to meet the needs of the congregation.

Peace and Blessings,
Milwaukee MCC Board of Directors
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