9 April 2021
Greetings!

Peace and Greetings to you!

As I reflected over this past week of the events from Holy Week through Worship this past Easter Sunday, it made me realize that it’s been 375 days since we’ve not been together, in person, for Sunday Worship. But then again, who’s counting!
 
However, this past Sunday, as we welcomed the victory of life over death back into our lives, we also continued the celebration of life! We celebrated the victory of hope that has been gifted once again, as we begin to look at what the “NEW” normal in our life will be, yet again, as people begin to get their vaccinations, but look at the ways we can start reuniting with one another.
 
It also has made me realize that as we continually discovery in every post-resurrection appearance, Jesus comes to the disciples wherever they were. He came to Mary Magdalene sobbing in the garden, even to the disciples cowering behind closed doors. At what was probably the lowest point in the Disciples lives, crushed by despair, consumed by grief, and overwhelmed by doubt, Jesus, sought them out. Even though they continually failed to recognize that it was him, even though they continued to hide and probably didn’t even deserve a second visit, Jesus still came to them again!
 
For many of us, when misery overwhelms hope, when faith dissolves to doubt, when fear replaces courage, when loneliness devours us, God finds us and comes to us wherever we are. We may not recognize God at first … but God comes. God comes to us over and over. It may be in the kind deed of a stranger, in words of encouragement from a co-worker, in the embrace of a friend, or even in difficult words of tough love from our family. God comes to us!
 
As we gather this Sunday, sadly still in a virtual context, we begin a new sermon series titled: “Traveling the Road from Easter to Pentecost!” We will take an eight week look at Jesus’ journey from the resurrected grave, up trough the Trinity.

This Sunday, we continue the story from where we left off last week but look at those who may have doubted Jesus. We even see Thomas, who was a doubter Jesus, believed when Jesus came back to them, while others ran out to tell the “Good News” to the world.
 
Join me this Sunday, for Worship ONLINE, starting at 11:00AM Central Time, either on our YouTube or Facebook, where we will ask the question: “Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up!” Following worship Sunday, you are also invited to connect with us, as we come together for our monthly Virtual Fellowship on Zoom. Information on how to connect to fellowship, can be found below.

Please know that YOU are each in the prayers of not only me, but our entire board of directors, in these difficult and unpredictable times in our lives. Blessing and Good Health to you! I look forward to being able to see each of you in-person in the very near future!

CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

Blessing to you!
Rev. Tory
Scripture: John 20:19–31 (The Inclusive Bible)

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were locked in
the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Temple authorities. Jesus came
and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, the savior showed them the marks of crucifixion. The disciples were filled with joy when they
saw Jesus, who said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God sent me,
so I’m sending you. After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive
the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.” It happened that one of the Twelve, Thomas – nicknamed Didymus, or “Twin” – was absent when Jesus came. The other disciples kept telling
him, “We’ve seen Jesus!” Thomas’ answer was, “I’ll never believe it without putting
my finger in the nail marks and my hand into the spear wound.” On the eighth day,
the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them.
Despite the locked doors, Jesus came and stood before them saying, “Peace be with you.” Then, to Thomas, Jesus said, “Take your finger and examine my hands. Put
your hand into my side. Don’t persist in your unbelief but believe!” Thomas said in response, “My Savior and my God!” Jesus then said, “You’ve become a believer because you saw me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs as well – signs not recorded here – in the presence of the disciples. But these have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Only Begotten, so that by believing you may have life in Jesus’ Name.
We invite you to join us for Sunday Worship, by joining us at our Facebook and YouTube Channels for our
WEEKLY SUNDAY WORSHIP ONLINE!

Connect with us starting at 11:00AM on our Facebook Page
or YouTube Channel. Links to our Facebook and YouTube pages.

THIS SUNDAY WE BEGIN OUR EASTERTIDE SERIES:
Join us over the next eight weeks, as we follow
the lectionary, traveling with Jesus from the
Resurrected Tomb to Pentecost and the Trinity.
We begin our series this Sunday asking:
"Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up!"
DON'T FORGET TO JHOIN US FOLLOWING ONLINE WORSHIP for our
Virtual Fellowship Gathering viz Zoom
SUNDAY, April 11, 2021
at 12 NOON via Zoom

Rev. Tory and the Board of Directors invite you to join them on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 12 Noon, immediately following online worship for our virtual get together and enjoy some congregational fellowship and social time!

We know that we all miss being together with one another, and having that ability to give one another a hug, pass the peace or have that ability to socialize with one another after Sunday Worship. So come join in for some great conversation and fellowship with one another!

DON'T BE LEFT OUT! Connect with us on April 11th at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82834642928
SHOP WITH SCRIP CARDS
ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR ORDER AS WE ENTER 2021!

You can still shop with SCRIP in 2021, 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.


GIVE AT CHECKOUT AND MAKE A MICRODONATION TO MILWUAKEE MCC

If you use PayPal for your purchases and other things, you can now provide a microdonation of just $1, YES $1, when you check out with PayPal. It’s east as 1-2-3-4!

This new program from PayPal,
Give at Checkout is an easy way
for consumers to give what they
can when they are able. Over time these small amounts can grow exponentially, offering charities a way to diversify fundraising efforts.

Simply go to your PayPal Account Dashboard and …
  1. God to the bottom right to the Make an Impact Section and click on Set Your Favorite Charity.
  2. Type in Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church and Click on the church name.
  3. Receive confirmation that Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church is now your FAVORITE Charity.
  4. Begin making an impact and/or make an additional donation.
EACH TIME YOU SHOP/BUY AT SMILE.AMAZON.COM YOU HELP MILWUAKEE MCC

Did you know that when you shop SMILE.AMAZON.COM you can help Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church receive a donation from Amazon, and at no additional cost or efforts to you?

Each time you shop Amazon Prime or Smile at Amazon, and have Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church as your designated Charity of Choice, Amazon will make a charitable donation to Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church.

Registering is easy by simply going to your Amazon account and designate Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church as your designated charity. Once you've done that all your need to do is log in via smile.amazon.com and Amazon will do the rest.
Since we have still been unable to pass the offering plate during this time of pandemic at worship in person, our giving continues to be down. 

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 ask that you please consider the options we have available for giving to the church, until we are able to be back in-person again.

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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