Agape' MCC News & Updates
May 11, 2021
View our 05/09/21 "Because I said so..." experience by clicking on the image below:
John 15:9-17
As my Abba has loved me, so have I loved you. Live on in my love. And you will live on in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I live on in Abba God’s love and have kept God’s commandments. I tell you all this that my joy may be yours, and your joy may be complete. 
 
This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer speak of you as subordinates because a subordinate doesn’t know a superior’s business. Instead, I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learned from Abba God. 
 
It was not you who chose me; it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure, so that whatever you ask of Spirit in my name Spirit will give you. This command I give you: that you love one another. 
Upcoming Events
In-person worship is back!
Join us for Sunday morning worship in our 
Agape' MCC Sanctuary at 10:30AM 
(masks and social distancing are required)

We are working on a plan for the return of Children's Sunday School and hope to have more information on this in the near future. The plan for our children will follow current CDC guidelines for classroom safety. Watch this space for additional information.
OR

Join us for Sunday Morning Worship
at 10:30AM on Facebook Live. We will continue streaming our worship services as part of our Sunday worship experience.

Click here to join us on FB Live.
Pentecost at Agape' MCC
May 23, 2021
Peace, Shalom, wholeness...these familiar teachings continue to be the ingredients of the ongoing peace movements around the world. When the Spirit of peace blew through the Pentecost crowd connecting and disturbing those gathered, we recognized a new beginning fueled by the visions and dreams of ordinary people in extraordinary times. The "Hippies" of Pentecost still resonate today with their countercultural spiritual movement that rejected the mores of mainstream life and pushed for an end to violence, exclusion, and materialism. 

Join us on May 23 for our own Pentecost Peace Movement. Wear your Hippie gear, bring a sign, (we'll have some available at Agape), get ready to sing some iconic peace songs, and get inspired for the days ahead! 


New sermon series to begin Sunday, June 6
Spirit Cafe'

It's Hybrid Wednesday at Spirit Cafe!

This Wednesday the Social Hall will be open at 7:00 p.m. for all who feel comfortable hanging out in person. We will be making Peace signs for our upcoming Pentecost Peace Movement Sunday (May 23). We could probably use some supervision and ideas from our ZOOM folks so help us out by joining us virtually! We have some supplies on hand but feel invited to bring your supplies if you have some left over from your last demonstration, march, or rally :-). See you soon! 


You can view the event on the Agape' Facebook page.

Click here join the Wednesday Zoom Meet Up
Enter the meeting ID: 816-8960-6902
OUT Ft. Worth is bringing the fun for the entire family! Gather your TEAM or just come fellowship and cheer!

About this event:
We are planning a FUN day for the entire family!

Gather your team and sign up for the FUN!

There will be two brackets, those teams with children under 18 and those teams without. We want it to be fair for everyone!

*Every player will get an OutFtW Field Day Shirt and Swag*

Some of our games include:
  • Tug a War
  • Spoon Races
  • Water Balloon Toss
  • Obstacle Course
  • And MUCH MUCH MORE

For those not competing, there will be plenty of games and a kid friendly area, including bounce houses.

There has been talk of a dunking booth with some of your favorite Drag Queens and Bar Owners also!!

Once you submit payment for you or your team, you will be sent an email with your teams final registration paperwork.
Community Corner
to·geth·er
/təˈɡeT͟Hər/

adverb

in companionship or close association.



Often times we can feel alone.

There are times in a crowded place, lonely is all we feel.

Lean into this place of togetherness.

Walk with me.
I will walk with you.
Based on John 5:1-16

God who defies our expectations, 

You told the man lying on a mat by the pool of Bethesda to get up, take his mat and walk. The religious and the righteous complained that the Sabbath forbade him from carrying his mat and they didn't see the miracle of healing that happened before their eyes. Holy God who challenges us, this miracle of Jesus shows us the miracle of Jesus upsets the powerful and gives power to those trapped in systems not rooted in your loving liberation. May we too realize our own complicity when we see Your liberating Holy Spirit move through this world and yet we respond with shackling those who You set free, with our own insecurity. Let us be comfortable with a Gospel of Jesus that throws away the comfort of the mat and that does the work of justice and healing when the religion of control says we should not. When the religion of the mat dismisses the cry for justice and empowerment for women. When it is deaf to the black and brown children of God who suffer under systems that crush them. When our trans siblings in Christ want to get off their mats and walk in the freedom of their gender identity only to have laws made against their very personhood. When we try to make peace and give life to Your creation but instead perpetuate environmental degradation that hurts the poorest and the most disadvantaged among us. 

We give thanks that You give us new mercy every morning to get up and walk away from our mats. Loving God, it's in Your nature to pull humankind forward to a more loving way each day. 

For that we give thanks and may our gratitude lead to constant renewal of the fires which inspire us and which lead Jesus to heal the sick and speak truth to the religion of Empire. 

May Jesus be real in our lives today and shake us out of the complacency of the mat which we make comfortable beds in. 

And when we leave the comfort of the mat, may we show others the way to the Christ who set us free and who sets us free day after day. 

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


PRAYER SUBMITTED BY:

REV. ALEX PITTAWAY 
Pastor, MCC Brisbane
Tuesdays at 8pm EDT / midnight GMT www.sanctuaryonline.live
Metropolitan Community Churches and ShopRaise

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  • Over 1,000 familiar retailers
May Birthdays

May 03 - Judy Hudson
May 07 - Mark Vega
May 16 - Helen Smith
May 23 - Teresa Mallott 
May 29 - Candy Davidson
May 31 - Tyler Spence